My children attended elementary school at Central School in the center of New Ipswich. The 1930s era school was deemed below standards and was closed in 2012. The Dollar General corporation offered to demolish it for free and replace it with one of their stores. However since it was located in the town’s village historic district the town balked, The empty building was an eyesore until it was sold an refurbished in 2015.
Central School, empty and abandoned in 2012 Central School 2013 after being closed for a year. Central School in 2013 Central School was sold in 2015
The current owner did a wonderful job of refurbishing the building. Replacing the windows, refinishing the floors and other repairs. Dollar General found another location for their cookie-cutter design up the hill. Several business and art studios are now resident at The School Yard.
I was there to visit Matt Patterson, of Stoneridge Art Studios. Matt was hosting an open house and a number of his works were on display. Years ago Matt was a student in the very classroom that is now his studio.
Matt Patterson at his Studio Paper Luna Moth sculpture Paper moth sculpture Matt keeps his African spurred tortoise as company in his studio Dinosaur skeleton Carved Magpie Basking Turtles – Acrylic & Gouache by Matt Patterson
Next to the studio, the owner of the Fade Away barber shop was celebrating his first year in business. I missed out on the decorative cookies and drawings but did stop in to say hello.
As I was leaving the school I took a glimpse inside Emari Traffie’s photo studio which is located in the front of the building. The entire room was bathed in sunlight from the large windows and I was thinking how sad it would have been to have this building demolished.
Emari Traffie in her studio at the schoolyard Look how the sunlight streams into her studio
I went into my sixth grade there the year it opened.
The Historical Society has a photo of the school taken after it was built in 1939. I’m happy that it wasn’t torn down.
Wonderful restoration for sure!