Watkins holds school closing event

WATKINS GLEN—More than 100 people attended the final ceremony commemorating the Watkins Glen middle school building Wednesday, June 25. Former and current students and educators alike were allowed to tour the building following some words of remembrance held in the building’s auditorium. Following the end of the school year, the building will be converted into senior housing for the community, while the middle school will be moved to the high school campus.
Former middle and high school Principal Brian O’Donnell gave a brief history of the school building during the ceremony. He said the building was erected 85 years ago in 1929, initially serving as a kindergarten through 12th grade facility in the community. O’Donnell said the building was constructed on the site of a previous district building that had burnt down in a fire.
“It is a bittersweet day for all,” O’Donnell said. “I know we all understand the facts of declining enrollment, increasing costs, reductions in state aid and the need to safely house all of our students onto one campus. That, however, doesn’t soften the blow or altar the fact of the harsh reality of change. Change for the good, but nonetheless change.”
O’Donnell recognized several individuals during the ceremony who played an important part in the middle school’s history. One such person was Charlena Brown, who served as the middle school’s first principal.
“I think it’s in marvelous condition,” Brown said. “I went here in the fourth grade the first year that this building was open. [...] I retired in 1977 after I served almost 10 years.”
Many attendees expressed how the building has housed several members of their family as they progressed through the Watkins school system.
“I think it’s the end of an era,” Ken Wilson said. “This building has a real special place in our family. My mother and dad graduated from here. I was the last graduating class in 1969 to graduate from this building, and my grandson had his eighth grade graduation here, so he is also the last class to graduate from the middle school. I’m glad the building will be put to good use and I think it will make a fine facility for senior housing.”
Many other educators attended the ceremony and tour to remember the time they had spent teaching in the building. While many teachers have served in several buildings throughout their careers, many were still sad to see the building go.
“I loved the kids and the core program,” said Marilyn Denson, who has served 34 years in the district as a fifth and sixth grade core teacher, 14 of which were spent teaching at the middle school. “It was a transition between the elementary and the junior high so they spent half the day in our classroom. I’m very sad to see it go. They’ve done a lot of work here and it’s a shame.”