I hope everyone had a pleasant Mother’s Day this past Sunday and found a way to connect with that all important person in all our lives. So last week I wrote about the first two high schools in Somersworth and I promised to return to the subject this week and talk about school building number three.
Unlike the other two high schools, that would be located in the same place where Hilltop apartments can be found today, our third high school required a new building plot as well as some extensive planning. That planning would begin in 1948 when Mayor Romeo St. Laurent would form a 12-person committee to examine the needs, wants and possible sites for such a project.
It had become obvious to both the residents and municipal government of Somersworth that the old high school was fast becoming inadequate to meet the educational needs of the growing community. It would not be until 1950 that things would move into a new phase with the first of three proposed plans being drawn up by the firm Hersey, Phaneuf and Snodgras. It would take another six years, a change in mayor and $450,000 before that plan would become reality. The site that was selected for the building was where the high school is still located today and at the time was referred to as Memorial Field. The ground was broken in April 1955 and the firm of Caron Construction from Manchester would begin the year-long task of building the then state-of-the-art educational center.
On Sunday June 10, 1956, the culmination of a lot of hard planning came to fruition with the dedication of the new building. The principal of the new high school was John Hibbard, who was at the time one of the youngest of the 26 people to have held the position since 1850 when the first high school was constructed in the city.
Also present were 1,500 residents of the city who all took their seats in the brand new gym. Also present was Mayor Edward S. Charpentier, who had won election the previous year and Irving W. Hershey, who is recognized as the architect of the final school design that was chosen. That design featured a state-of-the-art machine shop, wood shop, science lab and commercial department to mention but a few and was a vast improvement on conditions at the old high school that would become Hilltop Elementary School.
Over the past 76 years, the school and the building have seen many changes. Additions have been made and the Career Technical Center received a complete upgrade in 2016, when the entire center was renovated and equipped for 21st century learning.
So there you have it, the (very) brief history of the three buildings that have over the years made up the Somersworth High School. So many have graduated and gone on to aspire to higher things. This year’s graduating class will be no exception to that rule, I am sure.
Police Memorial Week honors one of our own
This week marks Police Memorial Week and I’d like to extend a huge thanks to the Somersworth Police Department for its dedication to the city. You may not be aware, but Somersworth lost one of her own officers in the line of duty. The sad event took place Sept. 4, 1979 at around 5 a.m. As officers unsuccessfully attempted to detain a suspect who it was believed had stolen a car from Dover, a chase occurred. That chase ended tragically at the intersection of High Street and Pinecrest Drive (now Crest Drive) when the 16-year-old who was driving the stolen vehicle crashed into the cruiser driven by 25-year-old Officer Donald Kowalski. As a result of that crash, Officer Kowalski was rushed to Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries a short time later.
Each year during this week, Officer Kowalski is remembered for his service at the New Hampshire Statehouse, where two officers represent the Somersworth Police Department in ceremonies that remember those officers who have fallen in the line of duty.
A little closer to home, if you look up as you drive past Citizen’s Place on High Street next to City Hall, you will see the Police Memorial flag, which is raised this week each year so Officer Kowalshi’s sacrifice that morning is never forgotten. May he rest in peace.
Indonesian Cultural Center opens this weekend
This weekend will be something of a busy one as there are two events scheduled to happen. One is a large neighborhood yard sale that will take place on the seven hills that rise high above the city and include Prospect Street where you can find the second of our high school buildings. The other is the opening of the Indonesian Cultural Center that is located at 156 High St. The Cultural Center will provide many services for members of the Indonesian community that chose to call Somersworth home. Members of the public are encouraged to come and take a look at this new venture for the Indonesian community beginning at 3 p.m.
That’s all I have for this week. As always, please stay safe, be kind to one another and keep sending me your memories and thoughts as my mailbox is always open.