Saying Goodbye to a Marlow Legend

A small crowd gathered on Main Street on Monday afternoon as demolition began on the Marlow High School Auditorium building in preparation for the new Performing Arts Center that is part of the $34million bond issue passed earlier this year.

The auditorium, built in 1928, was the setting of countless memories for students, faculty, and community members for over eight decades. The decision to demolish it to make way for a new facility was precipitated by the success of Marlow’s band, speech/drama, and vocal music departments, which had outgrown classroom and performance space.

“I understand the emotions this will evoke in many people,” Superintendent Corey Holland said in a column published in The Review’s July 14 edition. “The auditorium has served our district well for nearly 85 years. It has been a wonderful gathering place for learning, performances, and celebrations.”

Chatter on social media included community members wondering if they could somehow get a brick from the building as a keepsake.

Holland said in his column – and again on Monday – that the school administration is working on a way for bricks to be available.

“We plan to allow anyone who would like to get a brick from the building to do so,” Holland said. “We are working to find a way to put a marker on the outside to celebrate how [the auditorium] bridged our district’s history from the Depression era to the current era.”

Demolition of the auditorium is one of many changes taking place on Marlow Public Schools campuses, with improvements being made at both Marlow High School and Marlow Middle School.

For more information, and to view renderings of proposed buildings, visit www.marlow.k12.ok.us and click on the “2021 Bond Information” page.