By By Matthew Nascone
The demolition of the YMCA's gym started at 6:30 a.m. last Saturday and will not end until Jan. 12, 2006.
Workers with J &L Home Enterprises out of Brewton are ripping up the 79-year-old pecan floor and its support and replacing it with an Olympic-style floor.
YMCA sports programs director Ross Terry said the renovation of the gym floor could not come any sooner. He said all the employees at the Y have been anxiously awaiting the start of construction.
"I am relieved they have started because that was a big safety issue and I believe it saved the basketball season," he said. "I am so glad it has started."
Terry also said people stopped by the gym to pick up a piece of the past.
"It is an old floor and some of the residents went to school here and wanted a piece of their old school for memory sake," Terry said. "We have put aside pieces of the floor that we will sell as souvenirs at a later date. The money will help pay for the new floor."
Terry said the centerpiece of the old pecan floor is being saved. It will be used as a plaque to honor the people and organizations that donate money to the YMCA.