Chattanooga church, plagued with asbestos and other issues, to be demolished
Friday, March 5th, 2010
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, the old Central Baptist Church at 800 McCallie Avenue has been demolished. According to Gordon Hall, director of grants for the Salvation Army, the old church building was facing a large number of problems, making it more cost-effective to tear down the building rather than repair all of the issues facing the building.
The roof was damaged, the floors were not structurally sound, and the building was rife with both lead-based paint and asbestos. In addition, the building had been badly damaged during a fire several years ago.
Asbestos exposure is conclusively linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer. There is no known cure for this disease, which typically lies dormant for up to fifty years before an individual begins to suffer from mesothelioma symptoms. Sadly, the majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis. The cancer affects thousands worldwide, with less than 3,000 new patients diagnosed each year in the United States alone.
The church building was dedicated in 1909, and was designed by the famous Chattanooga architect R.H. Hunt. The church has not been used for decades. In fact, according to local news reports, “The last service at the Central Baptist Church on McCallie Avenue was on Wednesday night, May 28, 1958. The congregation then moved to the Woodmore section of Brainerd”. The historic bell of the church was salvaged prior to demolition.
