History of West Elementary School, part 2
Andover is about to open the 4th version of the West Elementary School. Today, writer Barbara Bunn shares the second of two posts on the history of the school.
Welcome or welcome back to History Buzz! If you’re a subscriber to the Buzz, thank you! If you’re new here, or you haven’t become a subscriber yet, please sign up for a subscription to have History Buzz delivered directly to your inbox. If you can, please consider a paid subscription to support the research and writing that make History Buzz possible.
History of West Elementary School, part 2
~Barbara Bunn
The author of this article was a student at West Elementary School many years ago and then returned to the school as a teacher. I even taught fifth grade in a classroom that had been my 2nd grade classroom with Miss Dunn. If you went to West Elementary can you name all your teacher? I can!!! (Answers at the end of this second post on the school.)
You can read the first post by clicking here.
WEST ELEMENTARY 1956-1970
Shortly after the opening of West Elementary in 1952, the enrollment increased and fifth and sixth graders had to attend Stowe School in the center of Andover. The first addition was added in 1956 and this allowed each grade to have two classrooms. This addition added 6 more classrooms.
Just as in 1952 the addition was not ready for the opening of school in 1956. Once again Miss Dobbie wrote in her report to the Superintendent about the problem of her school not being ready in for the opening in September.
The West School was faced with a serious problem when it became evident that the additional 6 rooms planned to house grade four, five, and six would not be ready for use in September. Plans were made to begin school on double sessions. This period of double sessions was most trying. However, through excellent cooperation from my staff the problems were minimized and once the routine was established the double sessions ran smoothly.
The upper grades were finally moved into the new wing in December of 1956. Although the new library was not completed in until later in the school year, each grade level now had two classrooms.
The town population continued to grow. After much discussion and debate it was decided to add to West Elementary again instead of building a new school elsewhere in West Andover. Land was acquired to enlarge the site to approximately 30 acres. Ground was broken in 1968 and the building was completed in 1970. This addition included a media center, a cafeteria, an auditorium, a faculty room, a gymnasium, two large classroom pods as well as offices.
District lines were changed again and this allowed the administration to take students from Shawsheen and Sanborn that were overcrowded. Students in Grade 5 and 6 who had been attending West Junior High were returned to their home schools.
1970- 2022 WEST ELEMENTARY
This new addition in 1970 added a total of 24 rooms which doubled the size of the school.
But still the population of the town grew and it became evident that more space in all the elementary the schools was needed. Instead of building additions a different solution was made. The school system decided to reconfigure all the schools in Andover to K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. Therefore, another change came to West Elementary in 1988 when it became a K-5 school.
In 1995 the number of students in grades K-5 at West Elementary was listed as 939! The building of High Plain Elementary in 2002 helped change the overcrowding of this school.
The current West Elementary has seen many changes within the building. Walls were added to the pods, walls were painted many times, staff changed, technology arrived, and many different programs were added.
While it will be sad to see this school come down like the 1st West Center School in 1848, this school also worked hard to educate the children of Andover.
With the new West Elementary School #4 slated to open in 2024 a new chapter for the students, the staff and the families of West Elementary School will start.
Now, the question you’ve been waiting for: If you went to West Elementary can you name all your teachers? I can!!
My teachers in West Elementary:
Gr 1 Mrs. O’Hagan; Gr 2 Miss Dunn; Gr.3 Mrs. Cronin; Gr 4 Mrs. Hart; Gr. 5 Miss Puzio
Gr 6 All sixth graders were at Stowe School.
Thanks for reading! If you have memories of your elementary school times, or Andover’s West Elementary School, please leave comment. We love to hear from History Buzz readers!
~Barbara
Resources:
Andover A Century of Change by Eleanor Motley Richardson for the Andover Historical Society
Andover 1956-1971 Published by Andover’s 325 Anniversary Committee
Andover- What It Was - What it Is 300th Anniversary
West Parish Center Walking Tour written by Barbara Thibault 1989, Updated 2015
The Minutes of the Chandler School District Meeting from 1803-1864 owned by William Trow property of Andover Center for History and Culture
Andover Townsman March 5, 1937; April 5, 1951; August 1952; September 4, 1952
Andover Historic Preservation Website
West Elementary’s pods caused shifts in both teaching methods and school culture. When my mother heard that students frequently sat in circles on the carpeted floor, she took me out to buy “slacks.” I had previously only worn dresses to school.
Does anybody know what happen to the "Time Capsules" that we buried in the center courtyard?