Grade School Building

W. Gray · December 13, 2015, 06:48:26 AM

This is a June 2014 view of the old grade school on Randolph. I keep hearing, or reading, that someone is going to tear this building down.

Anyone know of any progress being made?

Mom70x7 · December 13, 2015, 06:51:29 AM

I'll see if I can find some pictures and post later. Harrod's bought the building and are slowly tearing it down. My Jim is helping; he's taking out the wood and some fixtures and sorting it for them. They've had several good bonfires burning some of the stuff.

W. Gray · December 13, 2015, 07:09:38 AM

Thanks, some photos would be great!

frawin · December 13, 2015, 07:17:39 AM

I attended School from First thru the 8th grade in that Building, it saddens me to see it like it is. My wife and I both Graduated from the 8th grade in the Auditorium. In the Early days all of the students from all of the Rural Schools came into Howard to graduate, because the County Superintendents office was there. If memory serves me correctly, Ruth Flory Sexton, was the County Superintendent.

W. Gray · December 13, 2015, 07:32:05 AM

I knew at one time when that building was erected. In the late thirties, maybe. Do you recall?

The high school replacing the stone structure was built on that same lot facing Pennsylvania. Did you attend that school? Do you recall when was it torn down?

Do you remember when the new grade school was built on the south part of the lot?

patyrn · December 13, 2015, 01:43:14 PM

The newer building on the south side of the property was not an elementary school. It housed the cafeteria, the industrial arts department, drafting room, agriculture/welding shop, and the FFA. The grade school that is now being torn down was always the grade school. I think the cafeteria building was built in the mid 1950s. My sister was a 1955 graduate, and that building was new during her high school years. Before that, Howard didn't have a cafeteria. I assume the students either brought their lunches or walked home for lunch.

There was a number plate with a date on the north side of the grade school building, and my husband thinks it said 1937. One of his friends thinks the building wasn't finished until the 1939 school year, but we have no proof of that.

W. Gray · December 13, 2015, 02:03:40 PM

Quote from: patyrn on December 13, 2015, 01:43:14 PM
The newer building on the south side of the property was not an elementary school. It housed the cafeteria, the industrial arts department, drafting room, agriculture/welding shop, and the FFA. The grade school that is now being torn down was always the grade school. I think the cafeteria building was built in the mid 1950s. My sister was a 1955 graduate, and that building was new during her high school years. Before that, Howard didn't have a cafeteria. I assume the students either brought their lunches or walked home for lunch.

There was a number plate with a date on the north side of the grade school building, and my husband thinks it said 1937. One of his friends thinks the building wasn't finished until the 1939 school year, but we have no proof of that.

Thanks for that info. I always thought that area was rather small for a grade school.

Mom70x7 · December 13, 2015, 09:59:06 PM

Here's some pictures from October 2015. You can see where Jim's been taking out the window woodwork. The other photo is from just this last week. They are tearing down the south portion.

W. Gray · December 14, 2015, 09:08:31 AM

That block will never be the same once it is down. Thanks for those photos.