St. Martin's & Maine Avenue Schools

            As the U.S. was coming out of the Depression of the 1930’s, Millinocket saw new growth including a new post office and a new school. Under the leadership of Father Quinn, a funding campaign began for the construction of a Catholic parochial school, St. Martin of Tours school. It would be a brick structure located beside the St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church and be constructed mostly by volunteer labor. (At that time the original Catholic Church was where the parking area beside Maine Avenue Manor is currently located). The Sisters of the Holy Rosary Order were brought to Millinocket to teach at the new school, and the original rectory became the convent. In the 1950’s, more space was needed for the teaching staff, and a new brick convent was built in 1958 (now the Thrift Store).

In the fall of 1939, the school’s first two classes, a sub-primary and a first grade were located in the church basement as the new school wasn’t ready. As work progressed, each fall a new group of pupils entered and the previous students were promoted to the next grade. This school would eventually have thirteen large rooms (on two levels with winding wooden staircases) for instruction including a commercial room, home economics space, manual training and wood shop areas and gym in the basement area.

The high school classes were held on the second floor of the two-story brick structure, with younger students being schooled on the first floor of the building. After the first classes entered in1939, twelve years later, the first class graduated. The graduation ceremony for the ten students was held on June 18, 1951 at the Millinocket Municipal Building with the Rev Bishop Feeney, presiding.

The last St. Martin’s graduation was held in 1969. Since this was the beginning of a population boom in Millinocket (GNP growth bringing in new employees and families), the town of Millinocket leased the former St. Martin’s school building and renamed it as Maine Avenue School. This school had a team-teaching system for fifth and sixth graders. (A similar system was also at Granite Street School, 5^th & 6th grades). There was no playground area at Maine Avenue School so there was no recess. Students at all the elementary schools at that time (Aroostook Ave., Granite St., Katahdin Ave. and Maine Avenue either walked or were bussed home for lunch and back again.

Maine Avenue School operated for six years before closing in 1975. What would have been the 1975-76 Maine Avenue fifth graders attended Katahdin Avenue School while the upcoming sixth graders (along with the same at Granite Street School) moved to what became the Millinocket Middle School (original Stearns High School Building along with grades 7- 8-9 from the Junior High). At the same time Stearns High School students going into grades 10-11-12 would start attending the new Stearns High School (former Millinocket Junior High School building). Grades K-5 would be housed Aroostook Avenue, Katahdin Avenue and Granite Street Schools. Students, teachers and furnishings were moving all over town! It was a bit confusing!!

The museum has a complete set of St. Martin of Tours yearbooks that may be viewed and also some copies for sale ($10 each). In the museum store is book on the history of the Millinocket schools Millinocket Schoolhouses…A Look Back in Time available, $20.00 each. There are many photos!

St. Martin's

Maine Avenue Shool