Ohio U demolishes historic building

ATHENS (AP) — Preservationists lost a battle as an historic — and supposedly haunted — building on the campus of Ohio University began to fall to demolition crews.

Community members had fought to save the 88-year-old Ridges Building 26. It was built as a tuberculosis ward to a historically significant state mental hospital that operated on the property for more than a century beginning in 1868.

The Athens Messenger reports that portions of the building were reduced to piles of rubble as demolition began Thursday.

The university decided to tear down the vacant structure because it had become an “attractive nuisance,” frequently subject to trespassing and vandalism.

OU obtained the building and others collectively known as The Ridges from the Ohio Department of Mental Health in a land swap.