By Jennifer Stultz
Tri-County Tribune Editor
jstultz@cherryroad.com
Three years ago a summer storm caused the roof of the high school gym in Sawyer to cave in, destroying a community gathering place and part of the home of Patsy Aubley-Janzen. This year, on Tuesday, March 18, another storm with 70+ mph wind gusts spitting snow balls every which way blew out the southern wall of the Sawyer School gym. Bricks exploded across the south lawn of the former schoolyard and across Lorraine Street, some of them reaching the yard of Leon McCullough who lives on the other side.
“There was just a big whoomph,” Janzen said. “I was here in my front room and I knew it was that south wall of the gymnasium. We had been looking at it just the other day, wondering if it was bowing out a bit. I went out to look and sure enough, there were bricks scattered everywhere and that wall was completely gone.”
Janzen said that even with the wind gusts, the temperature dropping, and snow flakes whipping in the wind, several people stopped by shortly after the wall blew out and started tossing bricks off the nearby street.
“I called the fire department but before I had that done, people were out there, pitching those bricks off the highway and cleaning off the road so there would not be any accidents. That is just how it is in a small town. I am so thankful for them,” Janzen said.
She has lived in the schoolhouse home for more than 20 years. At one time she even taught some classes in special education there.
“My daughter grew up here,” she said. “She had a whole gymnasium to play in, her baby grand piano is still back there on the stage. She and her friends used to give community plays on that stage. Just as late as three years ago we still had the local boys come play basketball in the gym. We had plans to restore it yet, but I guess now it will all have to come down.”
Janzen said she had been working with local construction contractor David Bronson on plans to restore the gym and school house. Now that future is somewhat diminished.
On Saturday, many from the town of Sawyer came out to do further cleanup of the fine mess left by the spring storm. Many hands picked up bricks and swept the schoolyard clean of debris. For now, the elementary school addition to the Sawyer school complex was still safe for Janzen to live in, but the gym wall and roof are no more.
Other damage caused by the Wednesday, March 19 winter storm included an overturned truck in Kiowa County on U.S. Highway 54/400. The City of Greensburg lost power on the east side, affecting the stop light; some in Stafford County also reported electrical outages.
