Washington Grade School and the Restoration Project Begins



2002 door, kitchen to left

The trees  Late Wednesday afternoon I got off the bus across from Wheelock Library and noticed that the trees on the parking, and other trees on the grade school block, had been cut.   I had not known the construction business for the restoration project was going to take down so many of the trees.  Wednesday afternoon I looked up the project on the internet and found the tree study information.  A few of the trees were reported as being in Good Condition.  On Thursday Morning, when I took snapshots, I noticed three small Gingko Trees  were still present.  On a Facebook page, Building For Achievement, are photos of the project so far. 

The school interior  After some unhappy wondering I realized the cut-down school trees might express the torn-out school interior, because the old school interior will be torn out..   Each person, from so many years, has recollections of the school. 



2002 Tree near lunchroom

Much of what we learned there, we have forgotten.  It was the lament of the teachers, that the students forget what they learned over summer vacation and need to relearn it.  Maybe that was the meaning of the series of spelling books, each with a number on the front along with the same large pencil.  Do we remember any spelling lessons?  Many of us learned to spell many words.  And we retain many recollections of our time at Washington Grade School.  

The Lunchroom I think I understand that, with their regrets, the architects and the school officials decided to reestablish the lunch area on another side of the building.  This afternoon the construction people are shattering out the windows of the lunchroom.   We stand on the lunchroom stairs in the nineteen fifties in many of my school class pictures. 

2002 - 100-year-old classroom