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Bonnell hears its last hurrah

Changes continue to happen for the Harrisburg School District and with the new contraction happening at the high school, new memories will be made. But these changes mean saying goodbye to a piece of history.

Bonnell Gym has been a giant in the sporting realm of the Harrisburg school system and last night marked a moment in history as the very last organized sporting event took place.

The building known as "Building C" will be demolished at the end of the school year. Many memories have been made within those walls and the end will be bittersweet.

"That gym has been here a long time and has always been a great place to host wrestling matches," said Greg Langley, Coach of the Harrisburg Bulldog wrestling team. "I would have loved to have it stay, it has served us well over the years."

Research was done by the journalism students in the 2002-03 school year in celebration of the 100th graduating class.

Construction on the section of building, then known as Bonnell Hall, began during the 1921-22 school year. The project was finished <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">two years later</span></span> for the 1923-1924 year.

Wrestling has been a big part of school sports for a long time, Harrisburg's team was initially introduced in 1920 and replaced shortly after in 1923 by basketball, but reintroduced a few years later.

Close to 70 years later Aaron Baily becomes the first Harrisburg Bulldog wrestler to medal at state.

Bonnell Gym has had its fair share of events besides sports. During the 1935-36 school year Amelia Earhart gave a presentation to those in attendance and Roy Acuff and the Grand Ole Opry stars performed in the gym, sponsored by the Egyption Shrine Club in 1953.

"It is a good gym for a lot of sports, the high walls help keep things contained," said April Horning, Physical Education teacher at the high school. "I played varsity girls game in the gym until 1977, then they moved them to Davenport Gym."

Though the school isn't planing any demolition until after the school year, many showed up Tuesday night to pay homage to the highly revered gymnasium, during the final wrestling match hosted in the building.

The gym will continue to be used throughout the school year for physical education classes and other school events. But never again will wrestling match be had within those walls.

"It is a tradition and a lot of people have memories here," Assistant Varsity Coach for the girls basketball team, Jacob Morse said. "Though, it will be good to see something new."