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Burt
Administrator
USA
9140 Posts
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 Posted - 01/11/2009 : 12:06:29 PM
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Replica of old Easton high school stirs memories
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By Mike Melanson
Enterprise correspondent
Posted Jan 10, 2009 @ 10:04 PM
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EASTON — Replica of old high school stirs memories
If you look inside the model of the old Easton High School, you can see Mrs. Carter’s second-floor business classroom with tiny figures representing teacher and students.
The old Easton High School — later named in honor of its benefactor, Easton resident and former Gov. Oliver Ames — was built in 1895 and was the town’s high school until 1957.
Now, thanks to the Class of 1953, which commissioned a model train enthusiast, a replica model of the old school will be on display at the Easton Historical Society, 80 Mechanic St., at an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. today and after that as well. Admission is free, and there will be light refreshments.
Oliver Ames donated $60,000 for Easton to build a high school on Lincoln Street. The construction was completed below budget, and Ames told the builders to add something nice with the remainder of the funds.
So they added a marble rotunda inscribed with names and quotations from classical literature at the school’s entrance, said Frank Meninno, Easton Historical Society curator.
The Class of 1953 asked model train enthusiast David Griswold of Waterbury, Vt., to get involved after alumna Ruth Millett saw his model train displays while vacationing in Florida.
Joe Camara, 74, who is vice president of the Class of 1953, then took pictures for the model-maker of the four sides of the former high school, which later became Easton’s junior high and middle school until 1997 and are now apartments.
“We’re hoping to bring back some memories and get people talking about it, just stir up some interest and some old memories,” said Dick Bissett, 74, Class of 1953 president.
Meninno said the model has stirred memories and a lot of personal stories about days gone by, from the whist fundraiser to the first combined senior-junior prom — and that’s important for preserving an era of the town’s history.
“If you don’t get people talking, eventually the stories and memories will go away, and you won’t get them back,” he said. |
--Burt Lewis
EastonMass.com |
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oldnative
Junior Member - More than 100 posts
127 Posts
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Posted - 01/13/2009 : 12:59:57 PM
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| Anyone? Did they preserve any parts of the rotunda or the big staircase that went to the second floor when they remodeled the school into apartments? Or perhaps the library? And what became of the gym? And, in the printed article a "whist fund raiser" is mentioned. Does anyone still play whist? I've not met anyone who even knows what it is since I left New England many years ago. It was the thing to do between and after classes at Stonehill. Not quite so intricate as bridge, but a fun game! |
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Ellen
Advanced Member - More than 1000 posts
2491 Posts
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Posted - 01/13/2009 : 2:07:02 PM
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| oldnative, I believe that the rotunda was preserved and the gym was being used by the YMCA and is presently being used by recreation. I'm not sure if the gym is still being used by the Y, because Frothingham, which is across the street, was recently purchased by the town for recreation and elderly services. At the present time the library is renting Frothingham until the repairs are down at Ames Library. |
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jaybo
New Member - More than 50 posts
70 Posts
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Posted - 01/13/2009 : 3:35:22 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by oldnative
Anyone? Did they preserve any parts of the rotunda or the big staircase that went to the second floor when they remodeled the school into apartments? Or perhaps the library? And what became of the gym? And, in the printed article a "whist fund raiser" is mentioned. Does anyone still play whist? I've not met anyone who even knows what it is since I left New England many years ago. It was the thing to do between and after classes at Stonehill. Not quite so intricate as bridge, but a fun game!
I live in Maryland, but during a visit 4 years ago, a resident was kind enough to let us in for a quick look-around. The rotunda is just as beautiful as in 1965 when I left. Her apartment was in the basement, in the front, to the right as you are facing the building (from Lincoln St.) The apt. seemed to take up the space that was the Art room, Art storage, and some kind of storage under the stairs - it was a very well-laid out floor plan. We peeked down the hall on the main floor - I'm pretty sure the library is an apartment. If you do a Google search on "Schoolhouse Apartments North Easton floorplan" it might still be out there. |
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oldnative
Junior Member - More than 100 posts
127 Posts
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Posted - 01/13/2009 : 6:19:43 PM
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| Ellen & Jaybo, thanks for the replies and info. I did Google that site, and the floor plans & pictures of general apartments were available. No pix of the rotunda, though ;o( and nothing mentioned about the current usage of the gym. I started school at the NEG school in 1946 as a 4 year old and as an 11 year old moved into that OAHS building to begin 7th grade in 1953. The rotunda was awe-inspiring, and its space was pretty much off limits to anyone but seniors! Imagine - a building used as a school for 100 years! Original cost $60,000 AND it came in under budget! There are, indeed, some incredible memories associated with that building and the teachers who ruled it! As for the Frothingham Hall, that's where I went for Brownie and Girl Scout meetings, and the ball court was later used by the OAHS girls varsity and JV basketball teams to both practice in and for games when the school gym was being used by the boys' teams. We weren't particularly offended, but I wonder how well that would fly today? ;o) I really must visit the Historical Society the next time I come "home" for a visit. |
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parker
Advanced Member - More than 1000 posts
USA
1182 Posts
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Posted - 01/14/2009 : 07:59:27 AM
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| When I first saw this article I thought it would be a model of the original high school on this site (a looming Victorian structure that would scare away the Addams family). To me this was the middle school where I spent 5th and 6th grades in the mid 70's. The Rotunda was a work of art, and too nice for us scruffies to appreciate. I believe Doug King has kept/restored it intact but am not sure. This was a great old school, we played bombardment(dodgeball) on the front lawn and bball and foursquare on the paved playground. For outdoor gym, we would all walk to Frothingham with Mr.Trinque, the PE teacher, since there was no grass or playing fields. The indoor gym was also the cafeteria at lunch,where we had a few memorable food fights. |
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Mr. Mom
Senior Member -- More than 400 posts
816 Posts
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Posted - 01/14/2009 : 09:32:48 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by oldnative
Anyone? Did they preserve any parts of the rotunda or the big staircase that went to the second floor when they remodeled the school into apartments? Or perhaps the library? And what became of the gym? And, in the printed article a "whist fund raiser" is mentioned. Does anyone still play whist? I've not met anyone who even knows what it is since I left New England many years ago. It was the thing to do between and after classes at Stonehill. Not quite so intricate as bridge, but a fun game!
You can see a great aerial photo of the building here:
http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCC&cp=r09t2n9275k9&style=b&lvl=2&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&scene=3569912&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1
(You might have to click the "birds eye view" option. You can also click on the directional arrows to view the building from different angles.) |
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oldnative
Junior Member - More than 100 posts
127 Posts
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Posted - 01/14/2009 : 5:44:27 PM
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| WOW! Thanks to Mr. Mom I got to check out the school from stem to stern and then just wandered around town a bit. Saw both my grandmothers' places on Lincoln Street, and they look as different now as the high school does! There are McMansions where the Ames' cow fields and barns were and where the 'Northend Gang' played baseball. The blueberry patch has 2 or 3 huge homes covering it, and the lovely old cemetery behind the Unity Church is now "The Village Cemetery"! Times change, and the wheels of progress roll on and over much of the old stuff and old ways. I am so glad there is a new generation AND new people in town to work along with oldsters and concerned groups to preserve whatever is worth preserving. Not everything old IS worth saving, but folks who post on this site are doing a GREAT job of promoting and sharing info. Kudos to all! and THANK YOU! |
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jvankin
Starting Member - Less than 50 posts
8 Posts
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Posted - 03/04/2009 : 12:29:30 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Burt
Replica of old Easton high school stirs memories
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By Mike Melanson
Enterprise correspondent
Posted Jan 10, 2009 @ 10:04 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EASTON — Replica of old high school stirs memories
If you look inside the model of the old Easton High School, you can see Mrs. Carter’s second-floor business classroom with tiny figures representing teacher and students.
The old Easton High School — later named in honor of its benefactor, Easton resident and former Gov. Oliver Ames — was built in 1895 and was the town’s high school until 1957.
Now, thanks to the Class of 1953, which commissioned a model train enthusiast, a replica model of the old school will be on display at the Easton Historical Society, 80 Mechanic St., at an open house from 1 to 5 p.m. today and after that as well. Admission is free, and there will be light refreshments.
Oliver Ames donated $60,000 for Easton to build a high school on Lincoln Street. The construction was completed below budget, and Ames told the builders to add something nice with the remainder of the funds.
So they added a marble rotunda inscribed with names and quotations from classical literature at the school’s entrance, said Frank Meninno, Easton Historical Society curator.
The Class of 1953 asked model train enthusiast David Griswold of Waterbury, Vt., to get involved after alumna Ruth Millett saw his model train displays while vacationing in Florida.
Joe Camara, 74, who is vice president of the Class of 1953, then took pictures for the model-maker of the four sides of the former high school, which later became Easton’s junior high and middle school until 1997 and are now apartments.
“We’re hoping to bring back some memories and get people talking about it, just stir up some interest and some old memories,” said Dick Bissett, 74, Class of 1953 president.
Meninno said the model has stirred memories and a lot of personal stories about days gone by, from the whist fundraiser to the first combined senior-junior prom — and that’s important for preserving an era of the town’s history.
“If you don’t get people talking, eventually the stories and memories will go away, and you won’t get them back,” he said.
Is this the Oliver Ames Jr. Sr. High that is being discussed here? I went to seventh grade in that school in 42/43. At the end of 6th grade in the elementary school which was on Main Street (but up on a hill) across from the businesses Gordon's drug store, meat market, cobbler, etc. we "graduated" by walking up to the Jr./Sr. High. It was all in one building and yes, not a modern box at all. The Jr. High was kept separate from the Sr. High but we were in the same building. Does anyone remember? |
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sailor
New Member - More than 50 posts
70 Posts
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Posted - 03/04/2009 : 10:17:34 AM
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Yes, that is the old high school. North Easton Grammar was the school on Main St.
The old high school is called various things by people depending on what it was in their time. To me, it will always be the Easton Middle School. I've heard others refer to it as "The Lincoln Street School" |
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oldnative
Junior Member - More than 100 posts
127 Posts
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Posted - 03/04/2009 : 12:27:59 PM
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Dear Miz Jean,
What a delight that you have found this website and have such fond memories of Easton. Welcome! So many people who contribute to this site have "younger" memories than you or I have, but as you can see, they are so good about sharing. Burt has taken some great videos of the Ames Free Library (as you and I know it) just prior to its current renovation process. As for the schools, I too 'graduated' from North Easton Grammar School by walking up the Lincoln street hill to the OAHS that then housed grades 7-12. Mary V. Harvey (of the Charles Harvey's Market family) was my 6th grade teacher...and I would strongly suspect that the Miss Craig librarian you remember is indeed related to Jimmy Craig the Olympic ice hockey star. The Craig family lived on North Main Street not too far past the intersection with Canton Street, and the Harvey family lived further along North Main heading toward Long Pond. Many of us would love to hear more of your memories. There are several folks associated with the Easton Historical Society who might be more up on residents you'd remember and would like info about. |
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jvankin
Starting Member - Less than 50 posts
8 Posts
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Posted - 03/04/2009 : 1:34:01 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by oldnative
Dear Miz Jean,
What a delight that you have found this website and have such fond memories of Easton. Welcome! So many people who contribute to this site have "younger" memories than you or I have, but as you can see, they are so good about sharing. Burt has taken some great videos of the Ames Free Library (as you and I know it) just prior to its current renovation process. As for the schools, I too 'graduated' from North Easton Grammar School by walking up the Lincoln street hill to the OAHS that then housed grades 7-12. Mary V. Harvey (of the Charles Harvey's Market family) was my 6th grade teacher...and I would strongly suspect that the Miss Craig librarian you remember is indeed related to Jimmy Craig the Olympic ice hockey star. The Craig family lived on North Main Street not too far past the intersection with Canton Street, and the Harvey family lived further along North Main heading toward Long Pond. Many of us would love to hear more of your memories. There are several folks associated with the Easton Historical Society who might be more up on residents you'd remember and would like info about.
Would like to connect with the ones from my time!
I had Miss Harvey for 6th grade. She lived in the opposite direction from me. I lived up the hill on Main Street from Fred's Pond where we skated. Some Harvey's who were connected to the market lived diagonally across the street from me next to or a house down from the Catholic Church. The McCarthys (coal company) lived on my side of street across from the Catholic church. Charlie McCarthy was in my class in 4th grade. I thought it interesting that he had the same name as Edgar Bergan's dummy.
Miss Craig was my English teacher in 7A. Miss Lamphear (I'm pretty sure that was her name although am uncertain about spelling) was the librarian.
Thank you so much for your interesting reply. Want to hear more and connect with any others who remember to share. |
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Replica of old Easton high school stirs memories
