The Helen E. James School was constructed in early 1914 and dedicated on September 4 of that year. Mrs. James was at the ceremony. The last high school class in the James School graduated in 1971. The building regained life as an elementary school and most recently housed pre-school through grade 3 students. The James School rounded out 100 years serving students of the town in 2014, when all grades moved to the new Anne T. Dunphy School in September. The building was razed in 2022 to make way for the new Public Safety Complex.
Looking back at its time as an elementary school, the last major renovation was completed in 1987. Joseph Mattel was the architect for the renovation that added a handicapped accessible entrance, a stair tower, and an elevator. The June 2, 1986, traditional “groundbreaking” occasion was captured in this photograph of school Principal Dorothy Ladd purposefully taking a scoop from the big pile of dirt with her shovel.
A memorial plaque with this photograph and a certificate of appreciation for Principal Ladd are part of the Meekins Library Local History Collection. Photographs of the building were taken in 2021 and 2022. Daria D’Arienzo, Meekins Archivist and building photographer. #throwbackthursday; #tbt
Posted to Facebook 9/7/2023
