BEAUMONT, Texas — Former students and staff gathered in May 2024 to bid one final farewell to Central High School.
The building, which once housed Central High School in Beaumont, was torn down back in June 2024, and a photojournalist secured a rare opportunity to document its final days.
Joe Sasser has been a photographer for over 40 years, he describes Central High School as unbelievable and impressive. He says the sheer magnitude even beats that of the White House.
"It was the bees knees. There was nothing like it anywhere," Sasser said. "It was a humongous building that's three stories, and then there's a basement under here. To me, it always reminded me of a governmental building because it was impressive."
For decades Central High School sat as the crown jewel of education in Beaumont. It opened in 1930 with a price tag of $900,000.
"It was marble walls, marble floors, marble columns, plastered walls," said Sasser.
Joe Sasser captures Central High School's final days
Sadly, mold would cause Beaumont Independent School District to shut it's doors and the last graduating class left in 2018.
Soon after, Sasser and his camera came along.
"When I heard just by a fluke that it was coming down I contacted BISD," he said.
In February 2024, Sasser would be one of the last people to step foot inside the building before demolition began in June. He was able to capture the beauty and history inside and out through his photos.
"He opened everything up for me and said it's yours. I was the only person in the building which is a really neat feeling," said Sasser.
He says while the aroma of mold filled the hallways, it didn't bother him because he wasn't about to stop for anything.
The school will hold a special place in the hearts of many former students.
"There's people that can say this is a part of my childhood and now they can't because it's gone," Sasser said.
12News spoke with BISD officials about their plans for the land where Central High once stood. They say they're still deciding what will come next.