Opinion: Ridges demolition not the only option

Standing dark and alone atop the hill of the Ridges is an abandoned building that has fueled much disagreement between Ohio University and the Athens County Historical Society and Museum (ACHSM). Building 26, also known as the TB ward, is the only unoccupied building on the old hospital grounds. While other buildings on the property have been turned into a museum, academic buildings, or even just used as storage, the abandoned tuberculosis ward has stood empty since the asylum closed its doors in 1993.Despite significant attempts from the ACHSM, this building is planned to be demolished by the end of March, costing Ohio University an estimated $450,000. The demolition of the building was first originally planned to be completed by Halloween, and then pushed back until after November. An exact date has still not been released for the building's demise.The building was erected in 1924 for the treatment of mentally ill patients with tuberculosis, as these patients needed quarantined, which was the reason for its location away from the main building. The building later housed the Beacon School during the 1970s to help people with developmental disabilities.The plan for the demolition was developed over concern for the students that often break into the building and run the risk severely injuring themselves. Although the university has made numerous efforts to close off the building to prevent vandalism and trespassing, these measures have been proven unsuccessful. The building is filled with unstable floorboards and asbestos-lined walls, as well as lead paint, which could potentially cause severe health concerns.Demolition, however, is not the only resolution to this problem. It would be much simpler and cheaper to prevent trespassing. The fence that once blocked access to the courtyard of the building has since been removed. The broken windows and piles of brick, tile and dirt provide easy access for those intent on getting inside. Other measures could be taken to make it more difficult to get into the abandoned building instead of destroying its history.You can’t blame students for having extreme curiosity about the old hospital. Anyone living in or around Athens has heard folklore and the “forbidden secrets” of the Ridges. In 2000, before the Ridges was remodeled for use by the university, a Halloween tour of the property was planned. The tour, however, had to be canceled because of the thousands of people who showed up, forcing police to disperse the crowd. Building 26 could be preserved rather than demolished, and be used to hold these types of activities for the community, even if only once a year. This could prevent trespassing and offset the costs of maintaining the property.According to a recent article in The Athens Messenger, Ron Luce, Executive Director of the ACHSM, explained that the university created a Vision Ohio master plan for the Ridges in 2006 that called for the demolition of many of the buildings at the Ridges.The plan states that the Ridges would undergo “selective demolition” to make way for new academic and research buildings as well as student housing. The diagram in the plans shows that this demolition would include much of the main complex, but not including the portion that holds the Kennedy Museum of Art and the front wings of the building.There’s something to be said for preserving history. The ACHSM has fought to persuade the university to find some other use for this historically significant structure. At one time, the state of Ohio had many large public mental institutions, including asylums in Cleveland, Cincinnati, Columbus, Toledo, Akron and Dayton. The Ridges is the only one of these mental hospitals that still resembles its original condition.Demolition of Building 26 would jeopardize the history of the Ridges, as some of the original structure has already been destroyed. A fire destroyed the grand ballroom during the 1920s, part of the farmland was sold to the university in 1960 to build the Convocation Center, and the reservoir and four of the decorative lakes surrounding the hospital were destroyed in the late 1960s when the Hocking River and State Route 682 were rerouted.The Ridges was one of the first places I visited in Athens and it is where I would spend my next year working as a graduate assistant. I explored the area, took pictures and walked up to the cemetery and Building 26. Despite my curiosity, I didn’t feel the need to break into the building, but appreciated the mystery and beauty of its history. While working at the Ridges, I have developed sentimental feelings for the structure. While walking between buildings to and from work, I can’t imagine any part of this beautiful and historic property being demolished rather than preserved.The ACHSM began a petition titled, “Restore the buildings at the Athens Asylum and maintain them for posterity,” that now has over 700 supporters. Even though it seems unlikely to change the minds of the university to prevent this demolition, students and local residents should take the necessary actions to preserve this great town.