Symonds School 1881 - 1928

1816-1885 •Owned a tannery in West Keene.

•Donated land for the new school.

•In 1881, the new school opened,

named for Mr. Symonds.

•Mr. and Mrs. Symonds donated the

bell for the school.

This was Mr. Symonds’ house in West Keene in the 1800’s.

A new school was erected on Park Avenue in 1881.

The School had: •2 rooms divided by a folding wall •A dry cellar used for indoor recess •An attic used for a sewing room •40 desks •A bell donated by Mr. Symonds

The school cost $4,400. It was dedicated on December 16, 1881.

The community was very proud of their new school.

When the school opened in 1881, there were 25 students.

In 1906, two rooms were added to the school. In 1920, a cooking and dining room were added in the basement as well as a wood shop.

Keene in the 1880’s when the 1st Symonds School was built.

Keene in the 1920’s when our school was built.

In 1927, there were 192 students in 4 classrooms. It was time for a new school.

Our bell is the same one that hung in the bell tower of the old school. We still ring it when we graduate.

•Formally opened on August 28, 1928 with an Open House.

•Cost $75,000

•Has a copper “time capsule” buried in the corner stone. It

contains pennies and pictures.

•Was the only school in Keene, other than the High School,

which had a gymnasium.

•Had the largest playground in Keene! It

was the same length as the Graf Zeppelin

– 776 feet long.

•Had a skating rink to use in winter.

The new school had: • 8 regular classrooms – 1 for each grade •There were 4 classrooms on each floor +

•A nurse’s room •A teacher’s room •Supply closets •An Auditorium/gymnasium •A Principal’s office

•In the basement was: •A cooking room •A dining room •A sewing room •A wood shop

•Each floor had its own drinking fountain! Main Floor

2nd Floor

Basement

Auditorium Gymnasium

Hallway

Classroom Grade 4

Classroom Grade 3

Classroom Grade 2

Classroom Grade 1

Classroom Grade 8

Classroom Grade 7

Classroom Grade 6

Classroom Grade 5

Front door

Door

Door

Teacher’s Room

Cooking and

Dining room Sewing room Woodshop

Nurse Principal

Stage

Teachers •Rachel Dushuttle (Marshall)– Principal, Science and Math (her estate created RMOLL) •Doris Reney – English and History •Ruth Raymond – Geography, Physiology •Gertrude Thomas – Grade 5 •Pearl Loiselle – Grade 4 •Ruth Bragg – Grade 3 •Besse Lane – Grade 2 •Ethel Myers – Grade 1 •Adolf Pressler – Manual training •Gladys Holman – Domestic Science •Harold Drew – Physical training

(later Principal of Keene High School.) •Alma Reed – Drawing •Geneva Howe - Music

A special duty was “Color Bearer” – the student who put up and took down the flag every day.

September 10, 2008