The Eventual Demolition of the DMHU Complex

The museum was the last department to move out of the old DMHU complex in 2022 for a new home in the former high school classrooms. With no action taken on the complex, the alumni kept asking me what held up the demolition of the complex. DMHU stands for Deaf Multi-Handicapped Unit. The old name has been replaced with today’s ACE (Alternate Curriculum Education).

To find out more about the current status of the DMHU modular buildings, I investigated and learned that $175,000 had been allocated for demolition and removal, but no action has been taken since then. I got the opportunity to ask Site Superintendent April McArthur for more information.

April checked with the business manager on the status of the demolition project. The new date has been determined. It is at some point in 2025. The boarded-up buildings stick out like a sore thumb. Naturally, we hope we will finally see real action to take down with bulldozers.

After the approximately 20 buildings are demolished and removed, we will build a new warehouse to receive non-food items such as computers, furnishings, athletic equipment, etc. In addition to the future warehouse, there will be new playing fields for football, baseball, soccer, and softball stretching from the proposed warehouse to Arlington Ave.

The DMHU building project began in 1970. For proof, I saw the sidewalk etched with that year. The last phase of the DMHU building was finally finished in 1973. They have been there for 55 years. Initially, the modular buildings were supposed to last 25 years. Yet, they have stayed twice as long.

Kevin Struxness, ‘76, MA

Editor, CSDR Old Times

18 October 2024