Sometime next month, the Raymond Riddick Fieldhouse will be demolished to make way for a five-story freshman academy as part of construction of a new Lowell High.
Dedicated in May 1981, the fieldhouse served as the site of some of the most memorable exploits in Lowell High athletics for the past 41 years.
Basketball, volleyball, track and field, cheerleading, swimming, wrestling and gymnastics athletes starred there over the last four decades.
I didn't want the old building at the corner of Arcand Drive and Father Morissette Boulevard to go quietly into the night so I got in touch with administrators, coaches, former coaches and former LHS athletes to get their memories.
The result is a 2,200-word story, perhaps the longest newspaper article I've ever written, to be published Sunday in The Sun.
On Tuesday, several people quoted in the story gathered inside the Riddick to have their picture taken. For many, it was their last visit to a place they spent a decent chunk of their lives in.
Wrestling coaching legend George Bossi was there. Watching Bossi interact with coaches past and present was a treat. He was joined by girls cross country/track coach MaryBeth McKenney, former wrestling coach Tim O'Keefe, former girls cross country/track coach Tim Patterson, former boys basketball coach Scott Boyle, former girls basketball coach Mike Crowley and athletic director Dave Lezenski.
In all, I interviewed 11 people for the story.
Just 50 or so feet behind the Riddick, a new athletic hub is being built. The building, reportedly to be called the Raymond Riddick Athletic Center, will be spectacular and state of the art. It will be ready to host sports this fall.
It's an exciting time to look ahead. Who will be Lowell High's next great athletes over the next several decades? What will the place sound like when thousands of fans are screaming? What will the facility look like when the doors open for the first time?
So much to look forward to.
First, though, it's time to take a look back at four decades of memories.
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