When it comes to healthcare, most would find Sullivan County to be in need of more specialists and even general practitioners. On the flip side, when it comes to decrepit buildings, there are more than what anyone knows to do with. With the $750,000 grant received by the Town of Fallsburg, there’s an opportunity to do good on both observations.

The building, the former Fallsburg High School located at 36 Laurel Avenue, South Fallsburg, caught enough attention from the grant administrators at the Restore New York Communities Initiative to join the company of 49 other projects around the state. The idea behind this renovation is to turn the property into a 5,000-square-foot healthcare facility.

It is hard not to recognize the significant history that now-decayed building holds in the hearts of Fallsburg residents as the former high school – where hundreds of young minds achieved academic greatness  as well as former athletes competed for gold amongst their peers. But like a ghost town, that is all that remains of the building… memories. 

The purpose for that building has long been replaced by the high school’s current location, but perhaps a plaque would be appropriate to keep those memories alive. So many communities throughout the area are built on remembering history thanks to the diligent work of historians, community members and financial donors. 

Regardless, this move from a beaten down building to necessary infrastructure should be welcomed. The Sullivan County of today needs more. It deserves more. With talks of this demolition portion of the project kicking off within the year, we are hopeful that the densely populated area of Fallsburg will be set on the path towards better access to healthcare.