Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

McRae Gym Dedicate; Alumni Dignitaries On Hand

Members of the McRae Alumni Association were on hand for the dedication of the new McRae Middle School gym Tuesday, Oct. 24.

The Prescott School Board met at the gym to "show it off", as improvements have been made to renovate and upgrade the facility.

When the McRae School was in existence, it had two state championship basketball teams. The state titles were won in the seasons of 58-59, and 60-61.

Prescott Superintendent Ron Wright acted as tour guide and told those on hand the gym floors had been stripped and would be varnished and sealed, with the school's logo painted on.

The McRae representatives asked if the district could also add the information about the two championship seasons on the floor and were told this would be no problem.

The meeting began in the lobby, with its new burgundy and white tile floors sparkling. On the right, just inside the door, is a counter where snacks can also be served.

On the left is a cabinet where memorabilia from the Gov. Thomas McRae family will be housed, including a portrait of the man responsible for the school in the first place.

The alumni association bought a new scoreboard for the gym, which now has its weight room and other facilities separated for the first time in years.

Representatives with the association told the board it should be proud for changing the name of the school back to McRae.

When integration occurred the changing of the school's name from McRae to Prescott Middle School hurt the black community deeply. However, in spite of the hurt, there were no riots or acts of violence because of the change.

Wright said the district could put the school's name on the exterior of the gym, once it has been made to match the foyer. This is expected to be done by the spring of 2001. At this time, he added, there will be an official dedication of the facilities.

In talking about the gym, Wright said the flooring is unusual in that it's white oak, and not maple as most schools use these days.

The boards are longer in the McRae gym than they are in other gym floors as well. It would have been more costly to the district, Wright said, to replace the floor instead of renovating it.

Before anything was done, though, contractors, with Wright along side them, checked to make sure the foundation was still solid.

The gym, he said, was built in 1954 and is a Butler building, one of the best metal building companies on the market, even today.

The sub-floor was replaced, with the gym also treated for termites before any serious renovation work began.