Then-Above, Class of 1927 columns in place in this April, 2019, Chronicle file photo.

“They got “demo-ed”- because they were about ready to fall over.” was how Steve McAdoo, South Tama Schools maintenance supervisor, explained the recent removal of the entrance columns at the South Green Street entrance to the South Tama Middle School in Toledo.

The columns were placed at the entrance to what was then the Toledo Public School by the Class of 1927.

“They were dangerous, they were going to be falling over, so instead of somebody getting hurt we needed to have them down,” McAdoo said. “They didn’t want to rebuild them, so we took them down,” McAdoo said.

He said South Tama Schools Superintendent Jared Smith authorized the work.

Smith told The Chronicle, “After carefully weighing the pros and cons, Steve indicated that removal was our best option. After hearing his rationale I agreed with his opinion. Safety of students and staff is our number one concern, and Steve indicated that the pillars were a safety concern.”

Now- Entrance ot South Tama Middle School in Toledo on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019. Chronicle photos/John Speer

McAdoo said the “class of 1927” insets from the columns were saved.Also he said some of the bricks were repurposed for use in the recent repairs to the chimney on the east side of the middle school. Ciro Dilorio Masonry and Landscaping, Marshalltown, was the contractor for the chimney repairs.

The engraved insets from the columns remain.

Ciro Dilorio Masonry and Landscaping work on middle school chimney on which some of the recovered entrance columns bricks were used for repairs.