Saving Moncton High
Published Saturday October 31st, 2009
Students speak out in support of landmark building
Moncton High School is almost 75 years old. It has seen a lot of history since the cornerstone was laid back in 1934; but the real question is, what should be done with it now?
"Moncton High is the best school in the province," says Conner MacNeil, a Grade 12 student. "It has the best faculty and the absolute best drama program, there is no place I would rather be."
Of course, staying there comes with a hefty price tag. Architects say it would cost $48 million to renovate the school and bring it up to code, while it would cost in the neighbourhood of $25 million to build a brand new school.
And it seems everyone has been adding their opinion to the debate; everyone that is except the people who actually call this place home.
"When you look at it, you know this is definitely the most creative looking High School," says Michael Ford, who is the Grade 10 representative on student council.
"It has an old castle look to it, it has heritage, and just looking at it you can tell there is history. It is a whole different experience from other schools to be inside it, a completely different atmosphere.
"We are the Purple Knights and we live inside a castle. It is perfect."
When the city held its 'Open Doors' event earlier this month, offering residents a look inside some of Moncton's best architecture and buildings, Moncton High was on the list.
It also sits on the Heritage Canada Foundation Top 10 most endangered places list. Calling it "an outstanding example of Normandy Gothic Revival style architecture in New Brunswick," and a "symbol of permanence in the city," Heritage Canada states that "The cornerstone was laid for this imposing 3-storey sandstone structure in 1934, and its arched bays and massive wood entrance doors have seen thousands of students come and go over the years. The school's character is further revealed in the wood panelling, carvings, vaulted plaster ceilings and other historic details that abound throughout the building."
"Sure, it is an old building," says Colin, "but the school is driven by the students and staff, not by the building itself. There are things that need to be fixed, but what makes the school great is that it is filled with history. It is 75 years old, it is a part of Moncton."
Most people who live here feel the same way, Moncton city council had unanimously passed a resolution calling on the province to maintain the building.
"I have heard the government is going to make improvements, but I guess nothing has happened yet," says Colin.
"It is a little bit ironic though," Colin muses, "Last spring the strip club next door burnt to the ground, and by the time we got back to school there was a brand new one. If they can rebuild a completely destroyed strip club in a matter of months, it is not impossible to improve the school either -- it is a heritage site and needs to be kept."
Zach Sweet is a Grade 12 student and one of the co-chairs of the school spirit campaign.
"This is my fourth year, I have been here since Grade 9; my dad and my grandmother went here too. I absolutely 110 per cent want to see it saved. It is a historic piece of Moncton; it represents a lot of people in Moncton."
Zach and his crew made a spirit video at the beginning of the year and wrote a song called "I love Moncton High School," a parody of a Discovery Channel piece on loving the world. It was a big hit.
"I believe all the students are behind saving the school," says Zach. "Everyone loves the school; I have never heard anyone say anything about the building being old, or anyone wanting to be in a newer building.
"I don't think we are missing anything by being in an old school," says Michael. "If anything we are gaining something through the history.
"My brothers and sisters have all gone here, and my dad, and my uncles. Because of where I live, I would normally have gone to Bernice McNaughton, but all my family went to Moncton High; I just had to go there too."
Everyone agrees there is work to be done. But no one wants it to go too far.
"If they are going to redo anything, having new bathrooms, new fountains, new colours, that is OK," says Michael. "But there are a lot of things that should not be changed, a lot of old-fashioned stuff that should be kept.
It definitely should not be torn down, they just need to make a few adjustments."
And they are willing to put a lot of effort into saving the school if they had to. Zach thinks that if a decision was made to tear it down they would start protests, rallies, anything.
"We would have to do a lot of work, it would mean getting out there and publicly displaying our affection for Moncton High School," says Zach.
"I would like to see it hit the centennial year," Michael says. "So they should wait at least 25 years. It has a story to tell. You can't tear down something that has something to say to the public."
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Comments (8)
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Doreen
1959 MHS Graduate
By the way my two boys have great careers because they went to college also. They never talk about high school because they have other interesting things to talk about.
ring out her name right up to the sky!
Repair, yes! This school has been neglecte by the people that were put in position and authority to protect and grow this school. Shame on the leadership that even would contemplate an act of vadalism against this Castle of Dreams.