GRUNDY COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — An old Middle Tennessee schoolhouse went up in flames — and investigators believe it was possibly the work of an arsonist.
Over the weekend, a massive fire gutted the old Palmer Elementary School in Grundy County. News 2 obtained video of the former school on fire Sunday afternoon and it shows the auditorium collapsing. Crime scene tape surrounds the campus.
"Got a lot of memories in there," resident David Scissom said. "Lot of memories."
Scissom said that he attended class in the building until 1967.
"It's heartbreaking," he said. "I'll be 71 years old next week and it's hard to see everything go like that."
Investigators said that they were checking with homeowners to see if security cameras could provide any clues. A former school board member said that there was no insurance on the structure.
The building was a staple in Palmer and stood for over 98 years, according to the Palmer Fire Department. However, firefighters said that the building has been destroyed.
News 2 has reached out to the director of Grundy County schools for comment. Investigators added that over the summer, they worked about nine other fires in the Palmer area.
They have asked anyone with information to give them a call at (931) 383-0770.