Franklin Celebrates Brick School Renovations
By J.D. O’Gara
On Friday, October 13th, the Town of Franklin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of renovations to the red Brick School, one of the oldest continuously operating one-room schoolhouses in the nation. Franklin Town Counselor Tom Mercer welcomed the group, which included teachers and students from the school. Mercer pointed out that the site, formerly known as the Meetinghouse School, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The building is currently being leased by the 4H ALARM (A Lot of Amazing Robot Makers) Robotics Club and was more recently used as a school by the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School. Mercer introduced one of thebiggest advocates for the school’s renovation, Town Counselor Deborah Pellegri.
“I think that the townspeople should be very happy, whether they went to this school or not, their money, from the CPA and the states helped to do these renovations,” said Pellegri, who thanked the townspeople, adding a plug for a history of Franklin book housed at the Franklin Historical Museum. Pellegri’s own daughter attended Kindergarten at the tiny school, and Pellegri, speaking on behalf of the town counsel, promised to “take care” of the beloved building.
Mike D’Angelo, Director of Public Facilities, discussed renovations, noting the building was “covered in lead paint,” and that his team had replaced boards, windows, gutters and was finishing up on roof venting. He thanked Signs by Cam, for donating the new sign, as well as recognized Steve Dunbar, who heads up the robotics club leasing the building.
Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator, reiterated thanks for the new sign, also thanking members of the Community Preservation Committee, who “made it clear from the start that this was project number one, and now we move from there to the Franklin Historical Museum, restoring the cupola on top.” Hellen also thanked the Franklin DPW, the Town Counsel, Town of Franklin staff, and the Franklin School Committee. He lauded the power of the Community Preservation Act in making projects like this possible.
On Friday, October 13th, the Town of Franklin held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of renovations to the red Brick School, one of the oldest continuously operating one-room schoolhouses in the nation. Franklin Town Counselor Tom Mercer welcomed the group, which included teachers and students from the school. Mercer pointed out that the site, formerly known as the Meetinghouse School, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. The building is currently being leased by the 4H ALARM (A Lot of Amazing Robot Makers) Robotics Club and was more recently used as a school by the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School. Mercer introduced one of thebiggest advocates for the school’s renovation, Town Counselor Deborah Pellegri.
“I think that the townspeople should be very happy, whether they went to this school or not, their money, from the CPA and the states helped to do these renovations,” said Pellegri, who thanked the townspeople, adding a plug for a history of Franklin book housed at the Franklin Historical Museum. Pellegri’s own daughter attended Kindergarten at the tiny school, and Pellegri, speaking on behalf of the town counsel, promised to “take care” of the beloved building.
Mike D’Angelo, Director of Public Facilities, discussed renovations, noting the building was “covered in lead paint,” and that his team had replaced boards, windows, gutters and was finishing up on roof venting. He thanked Signs by Cam, for donating the new sign, as well as recognized Steve Dunbar, who heads up the robotics club leasing the building.
Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator, reiterated thanks for the new sign, also thanking members of the Community Preservation Committee, who “made it clear from the start that this was project number one, and now we move from there to the Franklin Historical Museum, restoring the cupola on top.” Hellen also thanked the Franklin DPW, the Town Counsel, Town of Franklin staff, and the Franklin School Committee. He lauded the power of the Community Preservation Act in making projects like this possible.
