This School House Memorial is dedicated to all Rensselaer students. It represents the memories we all have of the school buildings which at one time stood on these corners. This cornerstone and the bricks surrounding it came from the primary building.Lincoln Grammar School 1882-1991
Primary Building 1892-1979
Grammar Building 1882-1939
High School 1912-1980
The buildings were still being used as schools when I moved to Rensselaer. The current high school was constructed before the middle school, and I remember these buildings being used as the middle school. Since my kids were too young to be there, I did not pay a great deal of attention to what was happening.
I recall them being empty, I recall an auction in which I think I bought a few desks, and I remember them being destroyed (and picking up some bricks).
If you have special memories of these old schools, feel free to share in the comments.
I walked past the school which stood where the current Library twice a day on my way to school. It always looked so large (and a little creepy). At that time, I could NEVER imagine myself being "grown up" and going to high school - of course at that time I thought 5th graders were giant and old!
ReplyDeleteI was late coming home for a few days when they were tearing the old school building down. I loved to watch and would rest my back against the First Christian Church parking lot iron fence (lots of memories about that fence and the walking commute to school too). It was impressive to see one of the massive brick chimneys come crumbling down, and then, after a few days, all that was left was the substructure.
If I was ever actually inside the building I have no recollection of it.
I have a vague recollection of riding the bus to the schools...the buses parked along Van Rensselaer Street. I was in elementary school at the time, so I had to go from there to Van Elementary, but I don't remember whether I had to transfer to a different bus. I do remember getting out of the bus and walking around, but I don't know if that was a regular occurence. I also remember being in the gym for a musical program or something like that. Memories are very fuzzy...
ReplyDelete