MASON CITY – Most of Mason City’s older elementary schools are gone, renovated, changed forever. Thousands of children have fond memories of attending school in these old, historic buildings.
Progress and change are unstoppable, sadly, sometimes. The cost to maintain, make modern, accommodate the handicapped, simply appears to not be within the ability of local budgets for old schools. Madison Elementary School, on the south side of Mason City, will not be serving students much more, if at all. Entering the building, it still has that smell of radiator, school lunch, carpet, kids. Very distinct. You can almost hear the kids racing through the halls, laughing and yelling.
As the school shutters for good, and a possible wrecking ball looms in the future, NIT was able to go inside and grab a few photos for nostalgia’s sake.
(All photos property of NIT)