Interview: Lewis County Manager Ryan Piche talks local government involvement interest in restoring former Lyons Falls School

LYONS FALLS- Lewis County government has an interest with getting involved in hopefully restoring the former Lyons Falls School.

This development is according to the County Manager, Ryan Piche.

According to the Lyons Falls History Association, the school was ultimately closed in 1983. Since, the historic landmark has fallen into all sorts of disarray.

"And unfortunately there's a lot of structures like that throughout the county where, you know, the county is in a position where we could foreclose and take the property for back taxes," said Mr. Piche. Listen to our latest on-air coverage with the County Manager from Wednesday, May 1, 2024:

"But once we do that, we now have the expenditure of taking care of it, fixing it up and getting it back on the tax roll." 

Ryan Piche image.

However, Mr. Piche tells us this scenario is a unique case that seems to "make a lot of sense" for local government to get involved and try to get the building cleaned up and restored. 

It's reported the building contains hazardous substances, including asbestos.

The current building was erected in 1927, according to the Lyons Falls History Association.

This served as both the elementary and high school for the youth of Lyons Falls until South Lewis High School was built in 1963.

The building continued to serve as an elementary school until its closure. 

The ultimate goal with potentially restoring the former school, according to Mr. Piche, would be to have a developer market the building and make it productive for the community.

Image via the  Lyons Falls History Association.