Wednesday, September 22, 2010

The Future of Blodgett and Central Schools: A Panel Discussion at the OHA Museum

The Future of Blodgett and Central Schools:
A Panel Discussion at the OHA Museum
Sunday, September 26, 2010
2 PM at the OHA Museum
Sponsored by the Onondaga Historical Association and
the Preservation Association of Central New York
Syracuse, NY. Former Central High School (1903)
In conjunction with its current exhibit, Recapturing that Old School Spirit: Syracuse High Schools of Days Gone By, the Onondaga Historical Association (OHA) Museum is hosting a panel discussion on the future of two of those buildings: Blodgett and Central.
Of Syracuse’s older high school buildings that remain, most have found new or continuing uses. The future of two, however, has been somewhat murky. Central High School, opened in 1903 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has been empty for 35 years, despite its key downtown location. Recent plans to transform it into a major technical school for the region have faltered, leaving its future uncertain.
Blodgett, opened in 1918 as a vocational high school, now serves as a K-8 facility, but one in serious need of rehabilitation. The planning for that rehabilitation has become a much-discussed topic of late, as the Syracuse School District and the city administration wrestle with renovation budgets for a number of city schools. Some have even questioned whether Blodgett should be included.

Syracuse, NY. Blodgett School (1918)
OHA’s exhibit touches on the topic of these buildings, their historic status and meaning to the community. To engage the community further, OHA has joined with the Preservation Association of Central New York to organize a panel discussion about the topic. Participating on the panel are the following:
Ned Duell, Syracuse City School Board
Anne Messenger,Near West Side Initiative
Sehl Burns, Central High School Alumnus
Doug Sutherland, Local Developer
Nadar Maroon, Syracuse City Council
Beth Crawford, Preservation Association of Central New York
Serving as moderator for the discussion will be Sean Kirst, columnist for The Post-Standard newspaper.
Illustrations of Syracuse schools long gone and forgotten,from Boyd's Syracuse City Directory, 1883-84
May School at Seneca Street between Otisco and Tully.
Prescott School, Willow Street above Lock Street
Syracuse High School, W. Genesee St at Onondaga Creek (1869)

Those who plan to attend this program are encouraged to come early to view the related exhibit at the OHA Museum. The Museum is located at 321 Montgomery Street in downtown Syracuse. Admission is free.

For more information, contact the OHA Museum at 428-1864
T. Aaron Levy School (formerly Nottingham high School) in the Westcott Neighborhood.
Its future as a school is uncertain.

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