The New School

The 1931 Millinocket Town Report of Supt. of Schools W.M. Marr stated, “Year after year we have kept reporting that the schools were over-crowded and still no provision has been made for more school rooms. In 1928, there were 1638 registered; in 1929, there were 1690; in 1930, there were 1737 and this year there are 1834 registered. It seems to me that if we are going to give our boys and girls a special deal, we should build another school house this year. In order to accommodate all the grade children and allow the high school pupils to attend both forenoon and afternoon sessions, it will be necessary for us to build an eight-room building. At no expense to the town, the school committee has had plans drawn up for a new school building, and careful estimates submitted for its construction. This has been done so that work on the new building may be started as soon as possible after town meeting. The architect has told us that he feels certain the building could be completed by the beginning of school next September.”

  After a yes vote, work soon began on Katahdin Avenue School on the site of the original Millinocket High School (corner of Katahdin Ave. and School Street). The new school would have eight classrooms, be fully equipped, have a capacity of 320 students and be completed “for the sum of $60,000.” This new building would allow high school students to return to full day classes. The new school was ready for fall, 1931!

Originally a one-story brick building, additional classrooms and office spaces were added in the 1960s. The building was demolished in 2003.

Katahdin Avenue School was supposed to solve the over-crowded situation. Then Marr stated in 1932, “every time we have built a new schoolhouse, we have thought that the overcrowded conditions in our schools would never occur again. In Maine, the custom is to build the schoolrooms to accommodate 40 children each. All rooms have been built to accommodate 40. This fall, after filling every seat, 40 in a room, we found we had 127 children unprovided for. These were accommodated, but it brought the average up to over 43 in a room. We are three rooms short, and next fall we shall have 80 pupils and two teachers in the large basement room in the high school building. There are 92 more pupils enrolled in our schools this year than last year. Thirty-nine are in the high school; consequently, we feel quite certain that next fall we shall have to use one of the SHS domestic science rooms for a high school classroom.

The museum recently received several photos by a GNP photographer showing the construction of Katahdin Avenue School (exterior) from start to finish. We have recently discovered the location of one of the two keystones from over the two front doors. Plans are underway to move it to the museum and place it out front near the sign and pavers. Location of the school’s second keystone is unknown.