A History of the Fairmount High School Proposed Restoration Fairmount High School closed its doors to students for the last time in 1986. That same year James Dean’s former Biology teacher Hugh Caughell began a campaign to “Save The Stage”. Mr. Caughall realized that the main goal would be to save the entire school for historic and architectural reasons, but understanding the enormous undertaking that a project like that would entail, he focused on a project to remove the stage where James Dean had performed in so many school productions, and reassembling it in a new cement block building where it could be used once again by the community for shows and productions. Mr Caughell passed away in 2003, never giving up on his dream. Over the years there have been numerous attempts to “Save The School” with plans to renovate it into useful functions such as Housing, a Community Center, Performing Arts Center, Restaurants and Shops, Municipal Building, Town Library or a Museum. The first fund raiser took place at the school as a “Cruise In & Sock Hop” sponsored by the “Madison-Grant Youth Sports Center” and “Magic City Street Rods” in May of 1989 and drew nearly 100 cars. The event raised about $2,000. In February of 1990 the “Magic City Street Rods” presented another fundraising event at “Pierre’s” Night Club in Fort Wayne with a performance by former teen idol Tommy Sands. At the show David Loehr set up a display of rare James Dean memorabilia from the exhibit at The James Dean Gallery which had just opened in Fairmount two years earlier. After expenses for that show, little or no money was raised for the project. In April of 1994 a group of Fairmount business owners and concerned citizens formed “Historic Fairmount” a non-profit organization with the goal of preserving important buildings in town. The group later took over ownership of the school with hopes of raising money for the restoration. “Historic Fairmount” was joined by “Historic Landmarks of Indiana” with director Wayne Goodman taking the reins and bringing national attention to the project. From 1991-1993, “Historic Landmarks” had placed Fairmount High School on its list of 10 most endangered landmarks in Indiana, getting the cooperation of actor Martin Sheen as a spokesperson for the project. In the next several years potential developers took interest in the project including the “Stenz Corporation” in Indianapolis who presented the town of Fairmount with some interesting plans and proposals for the building. In 2001 while on tour, popular singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright visited Fairmount and after seeing the condition of the school offered to do a benefit concert to help with the project. Wainwright teamed up with James Dean Gallery owner David Loehr who presented the concert at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana on August 31, 2002. Following the concert Loehr was able to present “Historic Fairmount” with a check for nearly $4,000. Everything seemed to be moving along smoothly with “Stenz”, when the project suddenly came to a halt. Wayne Goodman and “Historic Fairmount” then made a connection with the California based company “Historic Properties” under the direction of successful developer Ray Willey. “Historic Properties” took over ownership of the school in 2003 and began a series of fundraisers assisted by such celebrities as Pat Boone, Shannon Doherty, Rosie Greer, Mickey Rooney, Jaime Farr, Richard Kiel and others. Willey and his group made great strides and raised enough funding to stabilize further deterioration by having a rubber roof put on the building to keep out the harsh Indiana weather, and by shoring up the south wall with large steel beams to keep it from collapsing. After several dedicated years “Historic Properties” ran out of time and funding and the building was returned to the “Madison Grant Youth Basketball League” who couldn’t afford to fix it up or tear it down. With the building settling into further deterioration it became obvious that the goal of saving the school was becoming a nearly impossible task. In 2010 the Fairmount Lions Club purchased the stage and in August of that year Lions Club official Jake Roth oversaw the dismantling of the stage and its removal from the school, and had it put safely into storage in the event that the school should fall down or burn. On Monday January 14, 2013 Roth presented a proposal to the Fairmount Town Council to have the stage rebuilt in the large new pavilion in Playacres Park where it could once again be used for performances and community events. The Council gave their approval to the Lions Club to move forward with the project. Now, 27 years later, Mr. Hugh Caughell is somewhere looking down, smiling and laughing with that infectious hearty laugh of his. It looks like his dream to “Save The Stage” may finally become a reality. On July 3, 2013 a large section of the school collapsed and got National Media attention. Then on August 29, 2013 another much larger section of the school collapsed. It is now an urgent situation to remove the remaining asbestos and lead paint filled building. The estimated cost of razing the building is half a million dollars which no one involved nor the town of Fairmount has. By David Loehr
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 15:13:41 +0000
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