Uncertain Future for Old Willsboro High

The town of Willsboro is undecided about what
to do with the old Willsboro high school

The old Willsboro high school, which was built in 1928, now looks like an old rundown factory. The school looks like it has not been maintained since it was last used five years ago. The three story building is covered in vines and surrounded by over grown grass, and the windows are either boarded or broken.

The school's playground consists of a single swing set with three swings, a few barely visible, weed covered tennis courts, two rusty basketball hoops, and a large field used for baseball.

The back of the school looks just as rundown as the front. A staircase to the right of the building looks extremely unsteady and dangerous. The metal stairs are very rusty and don't look like they are supported by anything.

The addition to the school, which was built in 1950, looks more rundown than the original. Most of the windows are discolored and broken, and the tan color of the building does not match the dark red brick of the original school.

"There isn't much in this town for the kids to do so a youth center or community center would give them a place to go."

Suzette Montville 27, a resident of Willsboro and alumni of the old high school thinks the addition to the school should be torn down.

“The addition is not structurally sound,” Montville said. She remembers being able to place her foot between the floor and the walls of the addition.

The town is still unsure of what they will do with the old high school. The town's majority would like to see the building put to better use; however, the town may not have the means to turn the building into something that could benefit the community.

According to Robert Ashline, the town supervisor, the town is currently waiting on a New York restoration grant on behalf of the Willsboro Development Corporation. The Development Corporation, which is in charge of what happens to the old high school, would like to turn the school into retail office space on the first floor, and turn the remaining two floors into a senior center or town houses. However, nothing will be decided until the town gets the grant approved.

Tara Valachovic, a resident of Willsboro, and a first grade teacher who taught in the old school, feels if the town is can get the grant and is able to turn the building into something that could benefit the town, “They should go for it.”

Montville thinks that although the addition should be torn down, the original building should not. “I think the high school should be kept and used for low incoming housing," Monville said. "There is a real need for it in the town."

"I think the high school should be kept and used for low incoming housing. There is a real need for it in the town."

Michelle Obrien, 25, is a former student of the old school. She thinks the school should be used as a youth or community center. “There isn't much in this town for the kids to do so a youth center or community center would give them a place to go,” Obrien said.

The high school is currently being used as a bus lot for the new Willsboro high school. The lot is also being used for the school district offices.

As the town waits on whether the grant gets approved or not, more ideas of what to do with the building are being discussed. If the grant gets approved the town will most likely renovate the building and turn it into something that could really benefit the town, but what will happen if the grant is not approved? What will become of old Willsboro high school then?

What do you think should be done to the old Willsboro high school?

Exploring the North Country

Interested in historical artifacts? The small museum that sits directly to the right of the old high school is a great place to see different types of historical artifacts. Within the museum are bullets, cannonballs, utensils, and other artifacts from the War of 1812 which was fought on Lake Champlain.

A ship diagram and an anchor are also on display, along with several other interesting artifacts. Although the museum is very tiny, it contains a great deal of history and would be a great place to go learn about the North Country and the town of Willsboro.