Daily Herald building coming down after 54-year history: 'This is the best way forward'

Kerri Bartlett, The Daily Herald
·2 min read

The Daily Herald building constructed in 1968 is on its way down as contractors began the demolition process on Thursday.

The front wall of the building that once made way for esteemed national politicians, locally-elected officials, a stream of customers and a newsroom full of reporters crumbled under the weight of a bulldozer in the late afternoon. The fall breeze wafted dust and debris high in the air as metal and rock fell to the ground on 1115 S. Main St. in downtown Columbia.

The Maury County Commission approved the demolition of the building earlier this year after reversing its decision to renovate the structure into a second court complex. After heated debates about what to do with the aging building, commissioners ultimately decided costs to renovate the site would be too high to accommodate the space needed for a new court complex.

The renovation would have cost taxpayers an additional $19 million-plus, an increase of about $9 million from the initial estimate, commissioners determined.

Related:Judicial center moves forward at $30 million, no cost to taxpayers

Doing an about-face, the commission then approved this summer the construction of a new justice facility for $30 million on the property.

A rendering for the Maury County Justice Center shows what the building could look like.
A rendering for the Maury County Justice Center shows what the building could look like.

According to contractors Harness LLC on-site, the complete demolition will take a few days. The inside contents will be removed and then remaining walls and metal beams supporting the building.

“It just made more sense to put it all in one place,” Sumners said. “The Grand Jury will still be held at the existing site. We’ve heard for eight years how much we need a new courthouse, and the state will probably make us eventually add another judge.

“This is the best way forward,” past budget committee chairman Scott Sumner said.

The new Maury County Judicial Center will house additional courtrooms, meeting rooms and offices for administrative staff and judge chambers. The commission ceremoniously broke ground on the new structure in late August.

The 175-year-old Daily Herald newspaper and its current staff moved into a new location at 609 Garden Street in August.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Herald: Daily Herald building coming down as contractors begin demolition