Video Journal: Rome Free Academy Demolition

[ddavids1957]

Sad, but thank you for posting it. I graduated in 1975 Will never have a chance to find my old locker, or ever see the principal's office again (where I spent so much of my time :-)! I was responsible for the morning announcements....

[gargoyle2bad4u]

It's a crying shame that the old RFA was torn down. The school board could have taken the 42 million it cost to build the new RFA and renovated the old one. I cry every time I drive by the spot where the old school once stood.

[heyyouthere4]

They should have saved the old building. It was a fine art deco structure and could have been turned into condos. The shoddily-built new building was the problem.

[kcrae82]

graduated the last year it was up 2002

[MyFreedomChannel]

My former husband attended RFA until 1976 - dropped out years before we met. I wonder if he's still in Rome after all these years.

[sk8rxpbdude]

its a shame. i live across the street and got to see this. never went to the school but still a shame

[roman61]

This video is a sad example of how Rome, NY has deteriorated over the last 50 years. Historical places being lost without preservation and renovation because the local economy just can't support it. RFA '79.

[tbirdtman123]

i go to the new rfa now it sucksnothin beats the old one my mom cried she was a class of 82 and now its gone! assholes!

[Tampaslice]

I graduated from RFA in 83' and this made me sick to my stomach to watch! Being born and raised in Rome this High School was a monument to all Romans. Once Griffiss AFB closed Rome went down the sewer pipe. I get back to Rome once a year and 24 hrs after getting home I'm ready to leave!

[deus1138]

I want to thank the person who posted this video. It was very hard to watch this, but I'm glad I got to see it.

The first thing I noticed early in the video was the demolition of the old band room. I know I speak for a lot of people when I say there are a lot of fond memories of that room and Herb Geller. Everyone loved Mr. Geller.

[Kcufkcaz]

shitsux

[sanniti1978]

I was also from the class of '75. I was going to go back after 34 years mainly to see my old school where I had enjoyed some of the best times of my life. Rome is a sad little town. Wasn't the old part of the school a historical building (dating from mid 1800s if I remember correctly). Anyway, Rome is known for demolitioning historical sites. I don't know all the facts but it is just plain wrong if you ask me.

[michaeljgondek]

This video forced several emotions. failure. Political failure.

[skip1lp]

Damn that it is pretty sad I went there back in teh early 80's my dad was stationed at Griffis. I have some fond memories of that place.

[rbo47]

You can't save everything. I was the class of '75. Haven't been back and don't care about that little mob town on the Mohawk River. At least a parking lot will have a positive cash flow. It was rotting and falling down when I went there. If you don't take care of things,...

[DJMONKAY]

I haven't been back to Rome in a while

why are the taring it down? Last I heard they were using the school for some elementary or something

[LiveYourLife39]

They were going to use that school for an elementary school, but they had to clean it out and there was asbots [[ i spelled that wrong]] in the walls and tiles. And it was too far into the walls and floors. So they decied to just tear it down, they would have have to do that anyways. The stadium is still there and i believe the gym is also.

[DJMONKAY]

Thanks for answering my question =) ... are they going to rebuild another school in its place or something?

[WakeMeupinAnarchy]

This video makes me so sad. I was one of the last graduating classes from that building. It is sad to see it go. They could of left the old part at least.