SWAMPSCOTT — With just days before it is set to be demolished to make way for a new school building, Swampscott’s Stanley Elementary School opened its doors for past and present students, teachers, and mentors to walk through the halls one last time Wednesday afternoon.
Students took to the walls with markers, signing their names, writing messages to teachers, and drawing pictures. Past and present students, staff and teachers walked through the school, reminiscing about classrooms and even the creepy basement. The school was built in 1929 and an additional section was added in 1959 and is only structured to fit up to 200 students.
“I’m going to miss the cozyness of the school, the detail inside the character of this old building,” said Brian O’Donnell, who taught fourth grade at Stanley for 11 years. “You don’t see chalkboards like these in classrooms today, you don’t see the hardwood floors like we have, you don’t see the lockers that are like a closet in the back of the classroom, it’s what makes this school unique and it will be missed.”
“The community here was small. We used to be able to walk everywhere, throughout the neighborhood, everyone knew each other’s family and friends,” O’Donnell continued.
Kathleen Huntley, who has been the school’s principal for four years, stayed on the first floor of the building, greeting all those who came through the door one final time.
“You can really feel the emotion in the air. We want the kids to know the buildings are gone but the community still exists. It’s nice to see so many people come out here,” said Huntley. “There are memories literally rooted into the ground of this elementary school.… For 93 years Stanley has witnessed generations of growth, sadness, success, and failure.”
Huntley said Wednesday was “bittersweet” as the excitement of the new school building mixes with the sadness of closing the door on so many memories.
The demolition of the school building was approved by the town in an Oct. 19, 2021 special election, where voters greenlit a $98 million plan to unite three elementary schools in the town. The new school building will be constructed on the Stanley lot on Whitman Street, with the goal of opening in time for the fall 2024 school year.
During the rebuild, Kindergarteners will be attending class in the library of the Hadley Elementary School. The library space will be divided into two new classrooms, and the town has an agreement with the YMCA to use a space in their building as a classroom for first through fourth grade classes.
Magella Cantara can be reached at [email protected].
