Old Bristol High School

The Old Bristol High School, most recently the Memorial Boulevard Middle School, is a historic school building at 70 Memorial Boulevard in Bristol, Connecticut. A state of the art facility when completed in 1923, the school served the city as a high school until 1967, and is a good example of Classical Revival architecture designed by noted school architect George W. Potter. After serving until 2012 as a middle school, the building is now vacant. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.[1]

Bristol High School
Location70 Memorial Blvd., Bristol, Connecticut
Coordinates41°40′11″N 72°56′19″W
Area7.4 acres (3.0 ha)
Built1923 (1923)
ArchitectPotter, George
Architectural styleClassical Revival
NRHP reference No.100002506[1]
Added to NRHPMay 8, 2017

Description and history

Bristol's old high school building is located just south of its downtown, on 7.4 acres (3.0 ha) bounded by Memorial Boulevard on the north, and Mellen, South, and Willis Streets on the other three sides. It is a large three-story structure, built with load-bearing brick walls trimmed in cast stone. It has an H-shaped plan, with a north-south central section joining wings oriented east-west. The main entrance is in the eastern face of the center section, with secondary entrances at the faces of the wings. The roof is ringed by a low parapet, with has stepped elements above each of the entrances.[2]

The city of Bristol first began offering high school level education in 1883. Classes were at first held in several district schoolhouses, and its first high school (now home to the local historical society) was built in 1891. Increasing population over the next two decades made the need for a new high school apparent, and this building was erected in 1921-23. The school was designed by New York City architect George Potter, who had already designed schools for the city and other locations in Connecticut, and was built on land donated by local industrialist and philanthropist Albert F. Rockwell.[2]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "NRHP nomination for Bristol High School" (PDF). State of Connecticut. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
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