SILER CITY — Paul Braxton Gymnasium, the historic community staple for recreational sports and other uses, was demolished Monday.
The gym had various damages and needed repairs for its structure, the Town of Siler City said.
The town has started planning to build a new gym on the property, but it hasn’t set dates for construction.
The building was torn down less than a year after the town first proposed the idea to do so in May 2024.
In January 2024, the town hired an engineer to complete an analysis on the gym. The analysis was shared with the Chatham County Inspections Department, and afterwards, the county gave the option to hire a design professional, obtain permits and complete recommended repairs or the building would likely be condemned.
In response, the Board told then Interim Town Manager Jack Meadows to seek estimates for the gym’s demolition.
Yet, in an October Board meeting, Meadows presented an update on the gym, confirming no findings of asbestos in the building. The Board directed the town staff to submit bid requests to contractors for the demolition of the gym.
In December, the Board approved the gym’s demolition and selected North Carolina-based KBS Earthworks for the job.
Paul Braxton Gymnasium received recent interior renovations in 2021 which included refinishing the hardwood floors, repainting court lines and remodeling the bathrooms (new floors, windows, baby changing stations and partitions).
Pictures taken from inside and outside of the gym will be framed in memorial. A location for the images has not been decided yet.
The gym has an extensive history.
It was built in 1930 and was operated by the former Siler City High School, now Braxton Manor and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, until 1956. From 1957 through 1977, the school and gym were used for elementary school grade levels and renamed in honor of Principal Paul Braxton, who served as principal for the high school and elementary school from 1931 to 1968.
According to the former Siler City High School’s National Register of Historic Places registration form, the first basketball game was played in the gym in 1934.
The town acquired the property in March 1994. Since then, it served multiple purposes, predominantly as a home for youth athletics but also for voting polls, homeschool recess, the Chatham County Senior Games and other local events.