It’s NOT a 1927 Gym!

    A careful read of the original blueprints of Central’s historic 1927 building reveals that it was built as an auditorium, not a gym.  The title on the blueprints reads “10th Ward Central High School Auditorium.”  Indeed, there are no basketball goals in the original plans, and the basketball floor was a later addition according to A.J. Kent, a 1938 graduate who played on the basketball team.
    Many of the stories told of the building in recent months have been about community gatherings, music, entertainment, graduations, and community-wide functions.  This makes great sense when you see this as an auditorium and not a gym.  This also explains the later addition on the north side of the building to accommodate bleachers.
    So, starting today, Central Speaks will refer to this as the “1927 CHS Auditorium.”  And, as the community moves toward re-establishing this as a center for community activity, recognizing that a lot of great basketball was played there over the years, the designation “Auditorium” seems somewhat appropriate.