EAST BANK, W.Va. — The demolition of Calvert Field in East Bank began Friday.
The concrete homestands at the decades-old stadium in eastern Kanawha County are coming down after an engineer found the approximately 80-yard stands structurally unsound.
The demolition includes the stands on the west side of the stadium, the press box on top and the fieldhouse underneath.
Kanawha County School Superintendent Tom Williams originally announced East Bank Middle School would have to play their home football games this season at Riverside High School but worked on a different option following outcry from the community.
The school system is now spending $150,000 for the demolition and installation of temporary bleachers, locker-rooms and restrooms so the home games can be played at Calvert this season.
The demolition is being done by Rodney Loftis & Son.
Calvert Field is just off state Route 61 nestled between the CSX main line through southern West Virginia and the Kanawha River. The field house is underneath the stands. East Bank High won state football championships in 1964 (AAA), 1971 (AAA), 1973 (AAA), 1989 (AA), 1990 (AA), 1993 (AA) and 1996 (AA).