The front lawn of Technical High School in St. Cloud was filled with students, staff, alumni and community members Tuesday afternoon, all coming together to reminisce on and say goodbye to the building which has been part of the community for the last 102 years.

 

Led by former school board member Bruce Mohs, the ceremony included words from Supt. Willie Jett, Principal Charlie Eisenreich, Alumni Association member Jim Dahl and Chuck Rodell from the Lake George Neighborhood Association.

 

“This is a bittersweet moment,” said Jett. “The pride and tradition of being a Tech Tiger still remains. Although we’re saying farewell to the building, its central place in our community will long endure.”

 

A new ‘Tech Torch’ was lit, and a graduate from each of the decades the school has been open from the 1940s on reflected on their time there and gave tribute to what Tech means to them.

 

“As fall approaches we look forward to a new building and a new Tech,” said Eisenreich. “We know the Tech High School tradition isn’t about the building, it’s about the people. We will continue that tradition for another 102 years.”

 

“This is a historic place,” said St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis. “And the aspect of place is so important. Tech High School is not just a place, it’s the stories. It’s the story of a community. It’s a story of this place.”

 

“We now have a new place, and there will be new history and new memories.”

 

As a symbol of the transfer of the building from the school district to the community, a ceremonial key was presented to Kleis from Jett and Eisenreich.

 

“We will be stewards of place and stewards of history and heritage,” said Kleis.

 

The ceremony concluded with the lighting and placement of candles on the building’s front steps.

 

The City of St. Cloud is working with a developer to redevelop the property, and hopes to repurpose the historic portions of the building.

 

Next year returning students will attend the new high school being built on the south side of the city.