Wed, 06/13/2018 - 3:00pm

Sarah Thompson

Residents and former students walked the halls of Owls Head Central School one last time. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Administrative office that was once the teachers’ lounge. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Class of 1990. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Kitchen. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Stage. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Library, as seen from auditorium. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Classroom in auditorium. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

The classroom that was once the teachers’ lounge that was once a closet. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Time capsule. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Familiar faces. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Residents and former students walked the halls of Owls Head Central School one last time. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Administrative office that was once the teachers’ lounge. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Class of 1990. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Kitchen. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Stage. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Library, as seen from auditorium. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Classroom in auditorium. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

The classroom that was once the teachers’ lounge that was once a closet. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Time capsule. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

Familiar faces. (Photo by Sarah Thompson)

(Photo by Sarah Thompson)

OWLS HEAD – The current principal’s office at Central School was once the teacher’s lounge. The closet that became the teacher’s lounge is now a classroom. Nearby, the nurse’s sink once held the soap that washed the filthy words from the mouths of misbehaved children, according to two men who stopped in to “go to detention” one last time.

The school bell rang often as former Owls Head pupils walked the halls of their grade school, Wednesday, June 6, during a final open house. Several sifted through a time capsule created by Tom Malloy and his students of 1990, which also included a video.

Next week, June 14, current students celebrate the summer recess. Soon after, the walls of the 66-year old building will come down, making way for the new Owls Head Community School next door.

Central School opened its doors in 1952, consolidating three previous schools into one at a time when resident population hovered between 700 and 800 people. By 1970, the population had grown to around 1,280. And by 2010, residents numbered 2,041, according to Maine: an Encyclopedia.

“We need more updated things, and a bigger school with a bigger library, and all that,” Elizabeth Raymond Spinney said. “It’s going to be good for the students to have that space. But I’m going to cry when this school comes down.”

As it is, the auditorium/cafeteria has sections portioned off to allow for a very small classroom, an open library area, and an office. The teachers’ lounge? There just isn’t one anymore.

Raymond, however, has nothing but fond memories.

Mrs. McIntosh was “the best, sweetest teacher ever,” according to Raymond, as she reminisced from the classroom where McIntosh taught her through third and fourth grades. For Raymond, who could see her house across the street from that classroom as a student, school was a second home.

In the farmhouse behind hers lived the Andersons. Mr. Anderson worked as a janitor and Mrs. Anderson worked in the kitchen. Every summer Raymond crossed the street to the school and would help with painting projects with them, wash chalk boards for teachers, or hang out on the ball field with whatever team happened to be playing.

“Back then it was a very small community and everybody knew everybody. And I miss that too,” she said.

Raymond’s mother student-taught there before maintaining a nursery school at the house. Some of those children then learned from Mr. Raymond, Elizabeth’s father, who taught at the school for many years before moving permanently to the junior high school to teach history and science.

Elizabeth’s brothers attended the school. Now her son is finishing his third and fourth grade tenure here, having completed second grade at the Guilford Butler School, just as she had.

“He’s going to do one more year before we move away, over at the new school,” she said. “I figured I’d let him check it out. Though, Mommy will cry when this one comes down.”

Sarah Thompson can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com