Work to be done on local treasure
by Peter Jakey–Managing Editor
It’s been seven months since Dr. David Dargis of Alpena purchased the Grambau Education Center (GEC) from Rogers City Area Schools for only $5,000.
The school district decided to move on from the tough decisions of what the future has in store for the nearly 100-year-old building.
That now rests on the shoulders of Dargis, who is ready to bear the load of trying to save the community treasure. His immediate plans are to host an open house, while long term, it needs a lot of work to bring a better future, starting with finding grants to repair the roof.
Dargis is currently working with Presque Isle County treasurer Bridget LaLonde, who facilitates the Presque Isle County Land Bank, although there is nothing additional on that front to report other than Dargis submitted some estimates. The roof repairs could be as much as $300,000.
Water is most certainly the enemy with puddles in place on the second-story stairwell just last week, and all the way down into a first-floor room that was once used for Head Start that has a wood floor that is buckled and beyond repair. He said the floor looked that way when he inspected the building seven years ago.
On the other end of the building on the second-floor, ceiling tiles collapsed from another leak that has been temporarily fixed.
And who knows the extent of water damage to areas not visible.
Dargis has already put more money in the GEC than he handed over to RCAS with a new security surveillance system; $5,000 in temporary repairs to the roof; and $3,000 worth of cleaning.
“I would like for it to be presentable,” said Dargis, standing on the stage, his voice echoing through the dust-covered gym. “There are so many people who have memories here, if just for that…I cannot imagine this building being torn down.” He looks forward to providing tours or letting folks just browse at their leisure through the library and the bookless shelves, but at the top of one shelf, a painting of settlers was left behind.
In the central office, the only area being heated at the moment, there are broken windows on a door and in the office area, presumably from an unwanted visitor a few summers ago as the glass has been cleaned up. Dargis does not believe it happened on his watch.
“It has good bones,” said Dargis, when asked what he thinks about being the owner. “It’s a good structure with a lot of potential.”
He also was asked what his future plans are. “I’m in the business to make money, like when I bought the Bingham school building (Alpena).” It was purchased for $312,000 by the no
“I made less money than I thought I would get, but I made some,” said Dargis. “I’m not using the money and going, woo-hoo, let’s go to Jamaica and buy myself a Cadillac. I’m reinvesting it.”
He made a little money selling the projector from the planetarium to a party in Korea, but has done research about how much it would cost to return it to its original glory. The structure in the room and the seats are in good shape, but other equipment is outdated and is no longer operational.
There has been some interest in GEC, but no offers at this point. The former high school building was dedicated June 4, 1928.