I had to drive down to Hempstead today to take some small prints of the Milky Way to a children's Library. They will use them as incentives to get kids to read books about space this summer. On the way back home I passed this building which was being demolished. So I got out of the car with my camera to take a look around. Turns out that this is the Rhodes Elementary School. Or was. It was built in 1911. The school closed in 2004 and has sat empty since then. 108 years, and now it comes down. They sure aren't building school buildings like this anymore, with such wonderful architectural detailing.
They plan to build a modern new elementary school in its place, and that should reduce overcrowding in the school district.
Kudos to you for working with the Children's Library. It is a shame that they could not repair and update the old school. Thankfully some of the old schools in Milford, like Fort Trumbull, have been repurposed rather than torn down.
ReplyDeleteJoan
Thanks, Joan. I don't know why they couldn't continue to use that building. Perhaps the heating, electrical and water systems would have had to all been updated. The kids in Hempstead have been learning in TRAILERS that the school district has installed. They say the new school will allow them to get the kids out of the trailers...
ReplyDeleteNice to read that you're contributing photos to the Children's library. I don't like to see old buildings demolished but this one probably makes more sense. Hope they rebuild soon for the kids' sake! betsey
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