Protesters rally to stop demolition of historic building in Reedley

REEDLEY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Protesters in Reedley are trying to save a historic building from being torn down.

The building stands on 10th Street near I Street in Reedley and is said to be the birthplace of the company Sun-Maid Raisins. The trustees of the Kings Canyon Unified School District voted unanimously last week to tear it down. They previously bought the building for $1 from the state.

The school district hopes to turn the Granger building into a district office. But local historians have a different vision for the 122-year-old warehouse.

Dozens of people gathered on 10th Street Sunday to hug the building that they say has stood the test of time.

"The warehouse is the most historically-significant building that's still standing in Reedley. It was built in 1892. The store sacked wheat grain in preparation for being shipped by rail to distant markets," said Kenneth Zech, a local historian.

Local citizens and historians marveled at the building's bricks that were handmade by Chinese laborers in 1892. The warehouse was most notably used as one of the first packing houses for Sun-Maid.

"It really needs to be preserved to continue telling that story to those who live here and to people who visit our community," said Zech.

The school district plans to tear down the building in the immediate future. They argue the building -- that's been vacant for nine years -- is not structurally sound. But the dozens of protesters disagree.

"It has survived five major earthquakes that leveled parts of the San Joaquin Valley," said Fitzgerald Kelly of Reedley.

The protesters are pushing for the building to be repurposed into a library. But school district officials have told Action News that would tack on an extra $6 million to the current construction plans.

Granger building supporters are asking members of the public to reach out to the city and the school district to stop the demolition. However, it is set to be torn down in the near future.