It stood for 122 years Granger faces final days

Editors note: Demolition of the historic Granger Building began last week. This story captures the final hours leading up to the demolition.

Dawn was breaking over the streets of Reedley when local farmer Fitzgerald Kelly drove up to the Granger Building shortly before 6:45 a.m. on Dec. 3. He found a man from Tracy waiting to climb into the cab of a John Deere excavator.

Within a couple hours, the big piece of equipment with a forked claw on its long arm would rip into the buildings roof and brick walls.

Kelly one of several passionate preservationists who wanted to save the 1892 Granger Building said he harbored no ill feelings for the excavator operator or other workers from a demolition company.

His reference to soldiers seemed appropriate since the debate over the Granger Building had become something of a battle between preservationists and officials of the Kings Canyon Unified School District and the city of Reedley.

Some preservationists had used harsh, blunt words in their earlier efforts to save the building, and that pattern continued on demolition day. Phrases such as they . . . lied to us and trail of destruction were uttered as a tide of frustration rolled over supporters, who gathered at the Granger Building on Dec. 3.

The structure had stood in the heart of Reedley for more than a century and came to represent an important link with the citys history much like the nearby twin water towers and the Reedley Opera House.

Kelly was mindful of the Granger Buildings history as he waited for demolition to begin.

It was once the biggest warehouse west of the Mississippi, he said. Its 122 years old, and its coming down. Just amazing.

Kelly was angry, he said, because he had received assurances from KCUSD officials on Dec. 2 that demolition was not scheduled to start the next day. As he stood in front of the building, Kelly called the office of KCUSD Superintendent Juan Garza, talked to Garzas administrative assistant and told her that he had been lied to the day before.

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It stood for 122 years Granger faces final days