Paris, Tenn.–City of Paris employee John Smith is at the controls of the front loader as the city began demolition of the former Holy Cross Catholic Church on W. Wood Street in downtown Paris Thursday morning. The building also formerly housed the Church In Paris for several years. In recent years, it has been used for storage by the city.
According to the cornerstone, the building was constructed in 1921. City employees said they will save the cornerstone and look for a possible time capsule that was placed there, too. City Building Inspector Mike Brown, whose family has belonged to Holy Cross for many years, said if there is a time capsule, it will be opened by church officials since it may contain religious items.
City workers will be busy for the next two days on demolition and carrying the debris away. The lot may either be used for more parking or as a grassy lot. Its use is still being determined, Brown said. (Shannon McFarlin photo).
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