Besides Fruitland Elementary,  Eastgate Elementary was one of the oldest buildings in the Kennewick School District, and Friday, it came down in pieces.

The demise of the school was not a surprise,   the Kennewick School Board had planned for at least a year to build a newer version.  But unlike most of the renovations done to such schools as Vista, Hawthorne and others,   Eastgate is getting a completely new school. It's being built directly behind the old structure.

Friday, hundreds of current and former students stopped by during the mid-morning hours to watch as the final tear-down occurred.    For weeks workers were removing any and all materials that could be taken out, and Friday, the walls came down.  For many, it was a bittersweet time, as the school - based upon it's age - had seen tens of thousands of students pass through it's doors.

Thanks to Angela Carr of Kennewick, a former student,  Newstalk 870 got some pictures of the 62-year-old building as it was razed.

Eastgate was the most Eastern-located school in Kennewick,  it sat next to the Benton County Fairgrounds.   It went online in 1952, the same year as it's partner, Westgate Elementary - which sits on 4th just West of the Kennewick National Little League Baseball fields.

It had one of the largest student populations,  school officials said last spring it held 562 students.  Rather than remodel the existing structure, as was done at such schools as Vista,   it was decided a newer, larger building was needed.

Eastgate didn't have a lunchroom, as when it was built in the early 1950's students still ate in their classrooms.  The new school will have the latest features and space to bring it alongside the other schools in the district.  The gym was not big enough to house the entire student population at once during assemblies or presentations - especially if parents were attending a function.

Many current and former students said they will miss the courtyard area, which featured aging pine trees and was a favorite sitting spot.   The current students will attend Fruitland this year while the brand-new school is being built.   Here are some images provided by Mrs. Carr of the final demolition process of a legendary Kennewick school building.

A sad reminder - a welcome students sign
A sad reminder - a welcome students sign (A. Carr photo)
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What's left of Eastgate Library
What's left of Eastgate Library (A. Carr photo)
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