Green School, 1985

Group Will Consider Reuse Plan for Green School

By Jane Lopes, Editor, Middleboro Gazette

If you have driven by the Green School and thought, "What a neat place for ..." there is a committee waiting to hear from you.

The 19th century former schoolhouse, which sits on what was the town green in colonial days, has been renovated by a group of volunteers with donations from the public, many of them local residents and former residents who attended the one-room schoolhouse before it was closed in the 1990s.  The school was threatened with demolition, in part because of a heating oil leak, but the volunteer group stepped forward to save it.

Meeting with the selectmen earlier this month, Town Moderator Wayne Perkins said the building is "tight to the weather."  Structural work has been done, a new roof has been installed, and the building has been painted.  It needs windows and a main door, Mr. Perkins said, as well as interior renovations.

"Some electrical work has been donated, and others are waiting to come forward," Mr. Perkins told the selectmen.

He said the informal committee including himself and former selectmen Lincoln Andrews, Bruce Atwood and Neil Rosenthal is regrouping in an effort to bring the renovations to a conclusion and help find the best reuse for the building.  He asked the selectmen to appoint a representative to the committee and said the School Committee will also be asked to participate, since the building is still under the School Department's control.

The selectmen appointed Selectman Allin Frawley, who works in construction and who volunteered for the job, to serve on the committee.

Built in 1871, the Green School sits on the green across from the First Congregational Church.  The Sproat Tavern, which entertained such celebrities as Benjamin Franklin in colonial times, once stood between the school site and the church.  Colonial militia trained on the green at a time when the area was considered the center of town. 

Mary Sproat's Green, 1870s

The earliest known image of the 1871 Green School is a painting by Middleborough artist Mary Sproat (1837-1888) formerly in the collection of Attorney George Decas of Middleborough.  Sproat's depiction of the Green School was probably completed in the 1870s or early 1880s and captures not only the newly-built schoolhouse, but the neighboring Barton House and barn as well.  The 13 x 21 inch oil on canvas painting depicts the three structures aligned along the south side of what was once a portion of the Training or Lower Green at Middleborough with East Main Street conspicuous as the roadway in the foreground.   The school is clearly recognizable with its twin entrances (one for boys, one for girls), central window and triangular louvered vent in the gable peak.  Three sides of the schoolyard are fenced.  Next to the school is the home which still stands at 247 East Main Street.  The house was most likely built following January 1870 at which time the land was purchased by Elvira Barton of Providence, Rhode Island, from William Davis of Middleborough.  Mrs. Barton was the wife of Ernest J. F. Barton and the mother of Ernest F. Barton, both of whom were engaged as fresco painters.  The house was later owned by Henry L. Thomas (1897-1906), Walter C. Thomas (1906-43) and Clarence E. Benson (1943-45).  The barn, prominently located at the center of the picture, is no longer extant.  It is possible that the radical changes which transformed the south side of the Green in the early 1870s prompted Miss Sproat to document them on canvas.

Green School, 1938

The following series of photographs, provided courtesy of The Beauty of Middleboro, depicts students of the Green School enjoying recess in September, 1938.  The teacher at the time was Hilda G. MacKeen.  At the time, the school housed grades 1 and 2 for the eastern section of Middleborough.

 

 

 

Christmas at the Green School, 1925

On December 18, 1925, Esther M. Spooner, the teacher of the Green School, with her pupils and their parents celebrated Christmas at the schoolhouse on East Main Street and the occassion was recorded for posterity in the pages of the Middleboro Gazette.

Friday afternoon, under the joint auspices of the teacher, scholars and the P. T. A., a very pleasant time was enjoyed by the Green school and about 45 of their parents and friends. The entertainment by the children consisted of two cantatas, Christmas carols and songs with Mrs. Grace Rorschach at the piano. The first and second grades presented “Old Santa” and the third, fourth and fifth grades presented “Christmas Gifts” with a proficiency and verve that showed what sympathetic instruction can accomplish with the ready imagination and enthusiasm of the children. The children, now freed of every care, gave their undivided attention to the handsome Christmas tree and with eager eyes expectingly awaited the many surprised its beautifully decorated and well laden branches held in store for them. The teacher had arranged for each pupil to provide one present for a designated classmate thus exemplifying the Christmas spirit of giving, while generously remembering all of them herself. Nor were the parents and friends forgotten as the P. T. A. had provided a gift and candy for everyone present, young and old.

Miss Spooner, the popular teacher, was the recipient of numerous gifts from both parents and pupils showing the high esteem in which they hold her; and as a token of their appreciation of her co-operation with the P. T. A., in all their efforts to make the association a success, Mrs. Annie Sears, the president of the association, presented her with a gold piece.

The committee appointed by the P. T. A. to provide gifts for all were Mrs. John B. Gagnon and Mrs. Herbert A. White.

Source:
Middleboro Gazette, "Green School", December 25, 1925, page 1.