The Greene County Intermediate School, built in 1915 as the Grand Junction High School, was the location for an informational meeting hosted by the volunteer Pay It Forward committee earlier this month.
The Pay It Forward committee is working to educate voters about the $19.4 million bond issue needed for a $22.2 project that includes taking the building out of use as a school. Students in grades 4-6 now attend there. If voters approve the bond issue, fourth graders would attend an enlarged elementary school in Jefferson, and fifth and sixth graders would attend at 5-8 building in Jefferson created by renovating the current high school. Twenty-four new classrooms would be added for grades 9-12.
The Aug. 11 meeting in Grand Junction included a tour of the building by Shive-Hattery architect Mark Allen and members of the Pay It Forward committee. Greene County Schools transportation/building/grounds director Wayne Hougham provided a similar tour for GreeneCountyNewsOnline.
(Click on the first photo to start a captioned slide show.)
Greene County Intermediate School, built in 1915
The main entrance is a preview of the interior.
A lift at the east entrance leads only to the basement level. Note the ceiling above it.
“Cody’s Cart” is the attempt to make the upper floors wheelchair accessible.
The fifth grade hallway. The boiler room is through the black door.
The floor is deteriorating in the boiler room. As pipes in the floor break, they’re replaced with pipes above the floor, painted yellow for safety.
Water on the floor of the boiler room a week after any significant rainfall
Inside the boiler, which is original. Note the deterioration of the pipes at the right.
The electrical system is original to the building. Technology has changed in 100 years, greatly increasing the use of electricity. Blown fuses are common.
Band lessons are held in the basement rather than the hallway, the only other choice.
The art room is cheerful, but very full.
Deteriorating window in the art room
The cupboard below the sink in the art room.
The ceiling backstage
Mrs Murphy’s closet is below the third floor boys restroom. Note the corner of the ceiling.
The third floor ceiling is bowed.
Plumbing is exposed and walls are deteriorating.
The staiway between the second and third floor is about 50 inches wide.
Hallways are very narrow for the nearly 275 students.
The original entryway is a reminder of the school’s beauty in its early years.
Allen said at the informational meeting that several districts have successfully found groups or businesses to repurpose vintage school buildings rather than demolish them.
