Tuesday, February 02, 1999

School arson steals hands, hearts

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Wall covered with student handprints must be torn down

BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Wilson Jr. High art teacher Barbara Brune said when she found out the wall had to be torn down: "I just stood there and cried like a baby." (Dick Swaim photo) | ZOOM |

        HAMILTON — Splashes of red, green, blue and yellow grace a wall inside Room 204. The colorful collection of handprints, which has been growing since 1985, pays homage to former Wilson Junior High School students who touched the building that touched them.

        Their handprints and other artwork survived a $1 million Jan. 15 arson at the school — but all of it must be destroyed in the cleanup.

        “If we were able to save it, we'd love to do that. But to avoid any future problems, it's the only thing we can do,” said Harold Bryant of the cleanup company, Servpro of Northwest Cincinnati.

        While the school's 850 students continue classes at nearby Hamilton High School, every surface in the four-story Wilson building is being cleaned, sealed and resurfaced to repair soot damage and eliminate smoky odors.

        Loss of the students' work is devastating to teachers.

        “These kids' handprints were frozen in time, and each one represents a child who was here, and a moment that can never be repeated,” said Debora Nibert, a part-time art teacher.

        The school, built in 1934, suffered from dark, drab walls. About 14 years ago, art students of Joyce St. John, who now teaches at Hamilton's George Washington Junior High School, tried to beautify it.

        “The building was their canvas,” said Mrs. St. John.

        One of the few students who signed and dated his handprint was Ian Zink, who is now a 17-year-old Hamilton High School junior.

        “It makes me upset — really upset — that it's going to be destroyed,” Ian said. “Whoever did this doesn't have respect for anybody.”

        Two youths, a 15-year-old Wilson student and a 17-year-old Hamilton High School student, have been charged with setting the blaze.

        The school is expected to be ready for reoccupancy by late March.

       

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