Friday, August 14, 2009

Herbert Gray School Old Town, Maine


I attended K-6 here as my mother did. This building is no longer there. I was always amused that over the side doors it was engraved BOYS and on the other GIRLS. I guess early in the 1900's the sexes could not use the same doors. I was sad when it was demolished. It was a fine brick and granite structure. The groups of five windows in the front were different rooms. Bottom right was my 1st grade, then clockwise...2nd, 3rd and 5th.
44°56'12.16"N
68°39'14.37"W

9 comments:

  1. Betsy Huyett ParadisAugust 28, 2009 at 10:53 AM

    This image must have been taken when it was new, it looks so crisp and fresh. I also attended this school K-6 and my son was there for a couple of years. The playground was the place to be in the summer too. It's very sad to drive by and see the empty lot.

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  2. The playground had some real kid killers on it when I was young. You could fry an egg on the slide. I am lucky to have children after the jungle gym and the merry go round had holes in the floor. I did get to kiss my first girl there, so all wasn't bad.

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  3. I remember many of my teachers. Miss Bray was kindergarten, Mrs. McKay 1st grade, Mrs. Goodwin 3rd, Mrs. Priest 4th and 5th. Mr. Bouchard was principal. The wading pool was the place to be on a hot summer day. Short cut to school was through the Indian path. The puppet shows were great. Trips to the basement for bottles of Grant's milk. Those were the good old days.

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  4. Mr, Bouchard retired not long after I had him half day in 6th grade. He probably was the first teacher to inspire me to love history. I had milk "on tap" as I recall in the basement and I kissed my first girl in that pool. I forgot about the Indian path. It is amazing I did not get fried on the metal slide "more" and the other death trap playground equipment would now be used for torture. We would all play hard during recess and run to the water fountain to share germs.

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  5. I remember the Indian path too. It was dark and quiet and smelled like moss. I went to Herbert Gray from 1st grade through 5th grade. Mr. Bouchard was my brother's 6th grade teacher and my mother's teacher. Mrs. Rand was my last teacher there and the teacher who left the greatest impression on me. I had a lot of personal and family problems my 5th grade year and somehow she new and was so nurturing. When they tore that perfectly beautiful building down, my mother took a few bricks for a keepsake. That empty space where our school used to be is so bare and sad. Thank you Betsy for giving us an opportunity to remember together.

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  6. I attended Herbert Gray but it was K-3 when I went. I still can't believe it isn't there anymore. 4th and 5th grade were in Helen Hunt School. I can still remember the painting on the walls as you walked up/down the stairs.

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  7. Trudy Thibault DeCantuSeptember 29, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    I just discovered Herbert Gray is no longer there. I attended fifth grade in 1961. Walked the Indian path from the Penobscot reservation. Still remember how cold it was crossing the bridge. Also remember a little store along the way where penny and nickle candy was sold...

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  8. Does anyone remember Mrs. Bloomenstock? Not sure if I spelled that right. I had her in the 4th grade I believe. Would have been around 1978-1979?

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  9. I had her half day 6th grade in 1969-70

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