The Demolition and Construction Process
A Haunted School?
Demolition of the school began in September 1990. The team in charge of this step was Torres Trucking and Excavation, but this was no ordinary demolition project. Workers claimed to hear the sounds of children laughing, talking, and tumbling bricks echo through the hallways, despite the school being empty. These strange happenings led to rumors of the school being haunted. Some said that the ghosts of past students and teachers were haunting the construction workers in order to stop demolition and protect the original school building. The suspicions were furthered one day when five pieces of heavy machinery failed one after the other and ladders began to shake while workers were using them. Some of the workers were so spooked that they refused to step foot in the building again.
There is much debate in the Metz community about whether or not the ghosts were real. Regardless of any disbelief, the "hauntings" of Metz have garnered national attention. The Metz ghost stories have been featured on TV shows such as Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories, podcasts such as Night Owl, and multiple lists of haunted places to visit in Austin.
A Tragic Accident
Unfortunately, the demolition of Metz was not all smooth sailing. On October 10, 1990, Otto Guiterrez (age 49) died while working on the site. As a part of the demolition team, Guiterrez was working when an unsupported section of the second-story brick wall fell and crushed his head. The incident was put under investigation by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Eventually, they fined the Torres Trucking Excavating and Demolition Co. for not bracing potions of the building and ensuring that workers were wearing protective headgear. The other construction workers and architects on the project said that this was an isolated event; it is rare for a worker to die on a construction site.
At the end of the day, this was a horrific event. Otto Guiterrez was remembered fondly by his friends and family.
The Construction Timeline
Once the demolition finished, construction on the new Metz building began in February 1991, contracted with Landmark Organization, Inc. Under the plan set by the PTA, the goal competition date was May 31, 1992, having the students return to school the next September. There was originally a more accelerated schedule, but the PTA decided against it for fear of shoddy construction and going over budget.
In the end, the goal completion date was met. The new school building was finished, and Metz Elementary was ready to have its eager students return to school in fall 1992...