Demolition of Ross Abney Complex is underway

Because it had been deemed a safety hazard, the city of LaFayette began demolition of the Ross Abney Complex at the old high school on Thursday, July 27.

According to City Manager David Hamilton, city crews are cleaning out the inside interior and then will knock down the walls and roof.

Hamilton said the demolition would take up to 10 days to complete.

Once the demolition is complete, the ruble will be separated, with a portion of it being sent to the landfill while the concrete blocks will be used for fill material.

The fill material will be used to raise an area at the new dog park — located near the site — to help fix a drainage problem.

There are currently no plans — nor funding at this time — to construct anything at the site, but plans for future development at the site are still active, Hamilton said.

Hamilton said there was not enough funding in this year’s SPLOST to construct a new pavilion complex, but once the city has the funding, the planned pavilion will begin construction if the city still sees opportunity at the site.

Hamilton said the Ross Abney Complex is a safety hazard that is in bad shape, so it was time to demolish the structure.

Looking back, looking ahead

The Ross Abney field house was home to the old LaFayette High School’s concessions, band room and weight room. The city’s future plans include rebuilding it into an updated structure with two winged pavilions on each side, all the while honoring the past contribution to Johnny Cash.

The Ross Abney complex, often referred to by locals as the old LaFayette High School stadium, is located at 101 First St. in LaFayette.

Future site plans were discussed during the February City Council meeting, where rough first-draft graphic designs of the building were presented.

“If we are going to use Ross Abney, we’ve got to use it,” Councilman Ben Bradford said.

Bradford said he has talked to several people in the community regarding the Ross Abney complex, as well as the walking track and field.

Bradford said the feedback he got concerning the property is that a lot of people do not feel safe there. “It’s kind of a scary place,” Bradford said in February.

“This is not, by any means, a final proposal,” Bradford said of the firstdraft photos.

“What we would like to have is a core building over there that could be used as a gate area if you are going to have events, because eventually the whole thing will be fenced, so that you could have an event there and it can be controlled,” Bradford said.

The idea would be to have the gate area two stories and have picnic areas on the right and left wings.

On the second story, there could be a dedicated area that is themed in honor of Johnny Cash’s contribution to the facility.

The late Walker County Sheriff Ralph Jones arrested Cash in 1967 after Cash crashed his vehicle into the woods off Mission Ridge Road. Cash said that his arrest in Walker County turned his life around.

On Aug. 13, 1970, Cash returned to the area and performed a benefit concert in LaFayette. The concert drew thousands into the city. The money the Cash concert raised went to building the Ross Abney stadium.

For years residents have been wanting the city of LaFayette to acknowledge Cash’s contribution to the city and make that slice of history a part of LaFayette’s brand.