Participating in the official ground breaking for Thrasher School's first gymnasium are, from left, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jesse Register, Hamilton County Commissioner Richard Casavant, "grand benefactor" Dr. Keith Dressler, Thrasher Principal Jean Trohanis and Signal Mountain Mayor Jim Althaus. Click on photo to enlarge.
photo by Irby Park
Officials with the Hamilton County Schools, County Commission, Signal Mountain Town Council and Thrasher Elementary School gathered today with parents and students for groundbreaking ceremonies “officially” moving the first dirt for Thrasher’s first gymnasium.
Thrasher Principal Jean Trohanis, welcoming the crowd that gathered behind the school for the ceremonies, said a gymnasium has always been a goal of the school since it was built in 1961 and County Commissioner Richard Casavant said it was a community effort that made it a reality.
Commissioner Casavant said, “A stronger word than I is we.” He said the county should have paid for the gymnasium “but the people of Signal Mountain made it happen” by raising the money.
He added, “By the way, we have one more even bigger project and I hope you can support it and make that happen,” referring to the proposed new high school for which Signal Mountain and Walden are looking at putting up $10 million for the construction.
Almost 200 contributors provided funds toward the $456,000 gymnasium that is designed as a multi-purpose building for use of the school and the Signal Mountain community.
Ms. Trohanis said the new gym is expected to be completed by October for use in the coming school year.
Linda Benton, PTA president, said the gymnasium has been a dream, but with the groundbreaking it will soon become a reality. She introduced the “grand benefactor,” Dr. Keith Dressler, who came forward, she said, after the bids were opened and were higher than expected and promised to provide “whatever it takes” to build the gym.
Dr. Dressler, an orthodontist, told the crowd gathered for the event, “Without you, I couldn’t have done my part.” He said it’s the children and families of Hamilton County who have “gotten me where I am” and “I feel fortunate to be able to do my part.”
Lee Ann Williamson, gym chairman, recognized several “key players” in making the project a reality including the Hamilton County Commission and Commissioner Casavant, the Town of Signal Mountain and Mayor Jim Althaus, Hamilton County School Board and Chip Baker and Hamilton County Department of Education and Dr. Jesse Register.
Mr, Baker, referring to the mountain as “a little slice of heaven,” said what makes the school so special is its teachers and faculty and the parents who support the school. He added, “We have another project ahead of us” and urge residents to “keep the ball rolling.”
Dr. Register told the students who gathered at the site for the groundbreaking to “note all the adults standing around you” who support the school. The gymnasium project started as a “will of the parents and faculty” and grew into a “will of the community” to make it happen.
He said it was private funds that built Lookout Mountain Elementary School, that built the downtown elementary school and now is building the Thrasher gymnasium.
Ms. Trohanis said the physical education teachers are ready for the opening of the new gym this fall.
Thrasher School physical education students performed and said "Thank You" for the new gymnasium. Click on photo to enlarge.
photo by Irby Park