Dear Editor, Today, I learned of a tragic death in the Box Community, north of Vian.

On July 31, the old Box School building by the Box Cemetery was demolished, bulldozed and burned. There was no memorial service with stories, laughter and tears – no last rites nor final farewells! There was no notice of its final demise, no discussion, as it seems as though a very limited number of people were in the know about the planned destruction. Perhaps the Box Cemetery Association members and a few others with a vested interest in the land where the school sat?

In her Box Cemetery book, Verley Sykes gives an excellent history of Box School and describes “The old Box School building as a community landmark.”

I have fond memories of attending Box School reunions there with my dad, Doyle Houston, his sisters, family members, teachers and classmates. It truly WAS a Landmark on Blackgum Mountain!

Yes, it was in need of much repair from years of deterioration, BUT, was it beyond repair, beyond saving? No one, other than the select few involved in making the decision to tear it down, was aware of or informed about tearing it down.

Why was there not a notice in the Vian paper, a meeting to discuss the future of the Box School building? People should have been at least given the opportunity to participate in a discussion about it, or made to feel like they did. The manner in which this went down gives a much less than transparent appearance, more like something underhanded, shady, secretive with an ulterior motive.

Many people were emotionally attached to the school and deserve to know why this happened, there are lots of question marks here. The community needs to keep an eye open for any new activity on the school land. Time will most likely shed light on the truth behind this tragic travesty and any/all involved.

Goodbye, old friend, your memories remain.

Clay Houston