Medford Mail Tribune article from March 1983
The last photo of my classroom, March, 1983. The books have been packed and moved and the desks have been slid down to the movers. It was a bit sad on my part to leave my first classroom; a room I had taught in since 1966. But we were looking forward to a non leaking roof, a larger classroom and adequate heating and cooling.
The last photo of my classroom, March, 1983. The books have been packed and moved and the desks have been slid down to the movers. It was a bit sad on my part to leave my first classroom; a room I had taught in since 1966. But we were looking forward to a non leaking roof, a larger classroom and adequate heating and cooling. We were not allowed to take everything. The following week was spent moving the rest of the stuff.
My old room - 2011 The old wood floor has even been restored. Larry Smith Room | Garden Room | Music Room Dimensions: 20'-6" wide x 31'-10" long | 641 sq ft. Seating: 60 | Standing 100 Location: Next to Ballroom THE LARRY SMITH ROOM: Named for the Old School's most devoted teacher, this room offers a view of the front courtyard, it was renovated to showcase original walls, chalkboards and flooring. Perfect for small group meetings. Larry Smith taught in this room from 1966 to 1983. He spent a total of 33 years at Jacksonville School. Half of his career at the Old School and half at the New School.
Jack Patterson's classroom. Jack taught 6th grade here for 15 years until we moved to the new school. Dimensions: 20'-6" wide x 31'-10" long | 641 sq ft. Seating: 60 | Standing 100 Location: Next to Ballroom THE GARDEN ROOM: With original wood floors and immediate access to the outdoor Biergarten, this room is ideal as a smaller break out room for birthday parties and club events.
Billie Philips taught 5th grade and music in this room for 15 years until we moved into the new school. Dimensions: 28'-10" wide x 31'-7" long | 659 sq ft. Seating: 100 | Standing 150 Location: Next to Ballroom THE MUSIC ROOM: Pay Attention! This room is just the perfect size to mimic your High School band class! With plenty of chalkboard space for your instructor to work, this space is perfect for presentations, Bridal showers and lectures. It also has access to the Biergarten.
April 1983. School District workers moving the historic Jacksonville School bell down to the New School - one block away. The bell had hung in the school's bell tower for 52 years - from 1908 until 1960 when the bell tower was torn off because it was in danger of collapsing. The bell sat on this brick monument in front of the school for 23 years. (1960 - 1983) The bell now sits on a cement monument at the entrance to the new school.
March 1983. School District workers moving the historic Jacksonville School bell down to the New School - one block away. The bell had hung in the school's bell tower for 52 years - from 1908 until 1960 when the bell tower was torn off because it was in danger of collapsing. The bell sat on this brick monument in front of the school for 23 years. (1960 - 1983) The bell now sits on a cement monument at the entrance to the new school.
Now that the welded lock has been ground off, the large nut holding the bell to the interior rod is screwed off. March 1983. School District workers moving the historic Jacksonville School bell down to the New School - one block away. The bell had hung in the school's bell tower for 52 years - from 1908 until 1960 when the bell tower was torn off because it was in danger of collapsing. The bell sat on this brick monument in front of the school for 23 years. (1960 - 1983) The bell now sits on a cement monument at the entrance to the new school.
Principal Earle Swift and Larry Smith's fifth grade class watch as the bell is lifted from its pedestal. March 1983. School District workers moving the historic Jacksonville School bell down to the New School - one block away. The bell had hung in the school's bell tower for 52 years - from 1908 until 1960 when the bell tower was torn off because it was in danger of collapsing. The bell sat on this brick monument in front of the school for 23 years. (1960 - 1983) The bell now sits on a cement monument at the entrance to the new school.
The old Jacksonville School bell has set in front of the "new" Jacksonville School since March of 1983. In 1984 Medford School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Wisely promised that should the bell tower ever be rebuilt at the Old School, then the District would return the bell. The bell tower at the Old School was rebuilt in 2008. The old bell still sits in front of the new school.
The old Jacksonville School bell has set in front of the "new" Jacksonville School since 1983. In 1984 Medford School District Superintendent Dr. Steve Wisely promised that should the bell tower ever be rebuilt at the Old School, then the District would return the bell. The bell tower at the Old School was rebuilt in 2008. The old bell still sits in front of the new school.
The week of March 28, 1983 was spend packing up and moving to the new school. The move took the whole week as we packed up only "what was necessary to get class started." Each day a couple of classes would move until all of the K, 4th, 5th and 6th grades were relocated. It was like leaving a sinking ship. The roof leaked, the heating system was antiquated and the buildings were facing years of deferred maintenance. This photo shows my classroom packing up and hauling the contents of their desks out to the District's trucks. Then the desks were slid down the hall to the waiting movers. What a great group of kids! So willing to help!
The week of March 28, 1983 was spend packing up and moving to the new school. The move took the whole week as we packed up only "what was necessary to get class started." Each day a couple of classes would move until all of the K, 4th, 5th and 6th grades were relocated. It was like leaving a sinking ship. The roof leaked, the heating system was antiquated and the buildings were facing years of deferred maintenance. This photo shows my classroom packing up and hauling the contents of their desks out to the District's trucks. Then the desks were slid down the hall to the waiting movers. What a great group of kids!
March 30, 1983 The big challenge was keeping the kids busy and corralled while the final boxes were hauled out to the movers as we prepared for our walk down to the new school. There they helped unpack the trucks and worked the rest of the morning setting up our classroom. Principal Earle Swift had declared that we would spend about two hours packing, moving, walking, and setting up. Classes were to be back in session as quickly as possible. "I want as little instructional time lost as possible." The move to the new school was highly organized and efficient.
March 30, 1983 The big challenge was keeping the kids busy and corralled while the final boxes were hauled out to the movers as we prepared for our walk down to the new school. There was helped unpack the trucks and worked the rest of the morning setting up our classroom. Principal Earle Swift had declared that we would spend about two hours packing, moving, walking, and setting up. Classes were to be back in session as quickly as possible. "I want as little instructional time lost as possible." The move to the new school was highly organized and efficient.
The last photo taken in front of the Old School just prior to our move to the New School, March 1983. The failing and falling bell tower was removed in 1960, and rebuilt in 2008. The building was purchased by the Mel and Brooke Ashland in 2007
The "Little School" aka: "The Pink School", aka: Jacksonville Primary School, built in 1953 to relieve Post War over crowding at the "Big School." Jacksonville still had a high school at this time and with grades 1 - 12 crammed together, a new primary school was built two blocks to the north. This photo was taken from atop Laurelwood, next to Stage Coach Hills before construction of the new school was begun in 1981. The new school was wrapped around the 1953 building.
The "Little School" aka: "The Pink School", aka: Jacksonville Primary School, built in 1953 to relieve Post War over crowding at the "Big School." Jacksonville still had a high school at this time and with grades 1 - 12 crammed together, a new primary school was built two blocks to the north. The new school was wrapped around the 1953 building between 1981 - 1983. Larry Smith's 5th grade class - 1981. Construction is about to begin.
The "Little School" aka: "The Pink School", aka: Jacksonville Primary School, built in 1953 to relieve Post War over crowding at the "Big School." Jacksonville still had a high school at this time and with grades 1 - 12 crammed together, a new primary school was built two blocks to the north. The new school was wrapped around the 1953 building between 1981 - 1983. Larry Smith's 5th grade class - 1981. Construction has begun. the playground has been removed in this photo and a construction trailer has been set up.
New gym. 1984
Construction of the new school well underway. 1982. Christian Hamilton on the left, and Robby Parks on the right. Best of Friends. Looking into Larry Smith's and their future classroom on the right.
March 1983. Over the course of two weeks the old school was emptied. After 125 years there would no longer be a public school on Bigham Knoll.
As the news of the school's closure became known, after 125 years on Bigham Knoll, media began to show up asking for interviews. Pauline Rollie, school secretary for over 30 years is being interviewed. Fifth grade teacher Larry Smith with six boys from his class look on.
As the news of the school's closure became known, after 125 years on Bigham Knoll, media began to show up asking for interviews.
Interviewing former Jacksonville School superintendent in front of his former office. Brian and Brad Mayfield. Van Granger. Andy James. My class interviewed dozens of former school attenders and then wrote up their interviews. We did many at the school , but we did travel to their homes also. 1980. The upstairs of the Old School was derelict having been abandoned in 1960 when the high school closed and transfered into the maw of Medford.
Principal Earle Swift making one last phone call from his office. He no longer has a desk.
Most of the office has been moved by now. The teacher mail boxes sit empty.
Most of the office has been moved by now. The teacher boxes stand empty.
KIds loading the truck with the contents of their desks. Only essentials were taken. We spent the next week coming back and moving the rest of our stuff after school.
Unloading at the new school.
I brought my class up from the new school for one more series of photos several years after we moved.
1980, Duplicating a classic group shot from the 1930s, using the same drum and steps. The former Jacksonville High School was known as the "Red Skins".
When the school burned down in 1905, the rubble and burnt desks were pushed over the hill to make way for a the new 1906 and present building. Oft times during recess kids would dig on the bank and bring up broken fire charred brick and metal desk parts.
Steven Brown, Rob Sack, and Daren Rembert When the school burned down in 1905, the rubble and burnt desks were pushed over the hill to make way for a the new 1906 and present building. Oft times during recess kids would dig on the bank and bring up broken fire charred brick and metal desk parts.
