- City:
- Chester, NY
- Site Type:
- Education and Health, Schools
- New Deal Agencies:
- Public Works Funding, Public Works Administration (PWA)
Description
Chester, New York’s former high school was constructed with the aid of federal Public Works Administration funds during the 1930s (PWA Docket No. NY 1205). The building is now home to the Chester Learning Center.
Source notes
National Archives Record Group 135-SAR: Prints: Photographs rejected for use in the Photographic Report to the President: “Survey of the Architecture of Completed Projects of the PWA, 1939”; Box 14: New York State; Folder 1: Schools.Site originally submitted by Evan Kalish on August 4, 2014.
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Kim Toufectis
Elisabeth McNally
Debi Missilli Helly
Kaylee
Leslie Smith
Calling this “Old Chester High School” is not incorrect, but that’s not what this building was built for; my father taught there in the 1950’s and very early 1960’s.. Before the arrival of suburbia prompted the addition of an elementary school c. 1970, this was simply “Chester School,” serving students from Kindegarten through Grade 12 under one roof.
I remember. Graduated in 1961. What was your father’s name. My maiden name was Elizabeth Ross.
My father’s name is Bill Toufectis. He’s retired now and has moved from Orange County but still doing pretty well.
He was my sisters favorite teacher. I think he is the one would say “indubitably”
I have lots of old photos from…late 70s, early 80s, I wanna say…of the school & the businesses that supported it. My grandfather was a pretty popular businessman in Chester & I would love to keep his legacy alive…actually, both sets of grandparents were staples in the Chester community & I’d love to keep their memory alive & well as they are all buried there; along with my father & uncle. Please let me know if I could assist!
There is a proposal by the Board of education to demolish this gem and replace it with a multipurpose sports field. A number of better ideas have been created by a comprehensive plan subcommittee but will not be considered unless a referendum scheduled for February 25th (vote at the new Chester Academy) fails. If you are a property owner in the Chester Union Free School District, please vote for a better idea by voting NO on February 25th.
Kaylee,
The Chester Historical Society would be very interested in scanning your pictures and learning about your school/businesses information. The subject of our 2020 exhibit will be the Maple Avenue School. Are you still in the Chester area?
The referendum to demolish the school was defeated about 3/1. The building has been vacant since the learning center closed, and after the referendum failed the building was “mothballed”. The BOE hopes to make a decision about the fate of the building with input from the community. Architect: Robert R. Graham (1891-1943) of Middletown NY.