The Shawsheen School, part 1
The need for a larger school in Shawsheen Village Andover grew fast thanks to the success of the American Woolen Company
If you’re a subscriber to the Buzz, thank you! If you’re new here, or you haven’t become a subscriber yet, hit that subscribe button 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.
Today we’re pleased to welcome back History Buzz writer Barbara Bunn!
The Shawsheen School, part 1
Do you recognize this beautiful building? Yes, it’s the Shawsheen School in Andover, Mass., which was built in 1923 to address the need for a bigger school in Shawsheen Village.
The Shawsheen School sits on Ann’s Lane off Magnolia Avenue. The land was a gift from William Wood, President of the American Woolen Company and creator of Shawsheen Village.
The need for a larger school grew fast thanks to the success of the American Woolen Company.
With the construction of the factory and the village, the population of the area increased. As more families moved to this area there was a need for a larger school.
The school that was being used for this area was the Richardson School which was a three-room building built on the corner of Iceland Road and Lowell Street in 1848 for 150 students. As the village grew it soon became overcrowded.
The Shawsheen School
The new school was designed by architects Ripley and LeBoutillier of Boston. Addison LeBoutillier lived in Andover from 1905-1931. He designed many homes in Andover including an addition to Punchard High School. In designing the Shawsheen School, LeBoutillier used the same red Flemish brick that is seen in most of the buildings of the era in Shawsheen Village.
The school had 12 classrooms, and an auditorium with vaulted ceiling. A combined gymnasium and cafeteria were in the basement. When school opened in 1924, the School Committee voted to name the school after William Wood who declined the honor, and the building was named the Shawsheen Village School. Sometime during its long history, the word Village was dropped, and it became simply the Shawsheen School.
When you drive up to this school, even today you will pause and marvel at its beauty, 100 years later.
The large windows, arched doorways, and double chimney gable ends are just some of the architectural elements that will grab your attention. The cupola-lantern that adorns the building is a symbol of the “lamp of enlightenment.” The façade contains two large medallions, the seal of Massachusetts and the Seal of Andover. There are keystones over the doorways of the American Bald Eagle, Owls that denote wisdom, and the state flower, the Mayflower, used as rosettes on the arch windows.
The first principal was Miss Genevieve McNally who had been a teacher at the Richardson School and Miss Anne Harnedy became principal in 1929. The number of grades has varied through the years. There were eight grades in 1925; seven grades from 1927-1930; in 1931 there were only six grades. When the school closed as an elementary school it housed pre-K to grade 2. Moira O’Brien was the last elementary school principal in 2015.
Thankfully, the school was built with room for expansion because an additional 4 rooms were needed in 1956 with the WWII baby boom impacting the whole town. During this time, 1952-1962, the town also built 5 new schools and two additions which also indicates the growth of the town.
Since 1924 the outside of the building has not had significant changes. The addition that was built in 1956 blended nicely with the main building. Meanwhile the inside of the school has undergone changes in the structure as well as how the building was used.
A significant renovation came in the 1970s which created a loft area above the auditorium for a media and library area. Some walls were removed, and rooms were painted in bright colors and other design changes were made when the open concept system was embraced by the town. The inside certainly does not match the outside at all.
I’ll be back in two weeks with part 2 of the story after the school closed in 1981.
Thanks for reading! Do you recall Shawsheen school? Or do you have memories of your elementary school, in Andover or elsewhere? Leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!
~Barbara
This email made my day!..
Knowing the History of a landmark that I once attended as a youth is Great!
I remember skinning my knee vividly on that playground & 20+ years later teaching Andover Youths baseball through Dan Gram's summer program on those same playgrounds and field.
Shawsheen school has changed the landscape for generations. Let it be known. . .
Tom, so glad to hear that you liked my BUZZ about Shawsheen. Part 2 will be coming out at the end of January. I would love to hear some of your substitute stories!!!