The Murdock School, also known as Old Murdock High School, is an historic school building on Murdock Avenue in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Built in 1887 to a design by Henry M. Francis, it is the town's most architecturally elaborate school building. It served as the town's high school until 1961, and now houses the local council on the aging. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.[1]
The former Murdock School building is located in the town center of Winchendon, on 2 acres (0.81 ha) flanking the west side of Monument Park, west of the commercial downtown area. It is 2-1/2 story masonry structure, built out of red brick and covered by a slate roof. It is richly detailed in the Romanesque style, with a gabled pavilion projecting from its front facade. Prominent features of the projecting section are a tall square tower at the right side, with a pyramidal roof topped by a copper finial and cross. The left side of the projection has a less tall chimney adorned with brick corbelling and covered by a copper cap. The main entrance is in the center of the projection, recessed under a wide round arch.[2]
The school was built in 1887 with funds donated by Captain Ephraim Murdock, Jr., whose father had previously donated the Winchendon Academy building to the town, and was a friend of educator Horace Mann. Operation of the school was originally funded by a trust fund established by Murdock, providing a college preparatory education at no cost to Winchendon students, and was administered by the town's school committee. In the early 20th century, the trust fund began to run out of funds, and the town took over funding. The building served the town as a school building until 1962, when a new high school (now an elementary school) was built to the north. The Murdock School was remodeled in 1974 and reopened in 1975 as part of a "middle school complex" in which grades six, seven, and eight varied in location between the Murdock, Poland, and Amro W. Streeter school buildings.[2][3]
^ ab"NRHP nomination for Murdock School". National Archive. Retrieved 2021-04-26.
^"MACRIS inventory record for Old Murdock High School". Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Retrieved 2014-02-28.
November 16, 2023
murdock, school, murdock, portal, elementary, school, california, cupertino, union, school, district, also, known, murdock, high, school, historic, school, building, murdock, avenue, winchendon, massachusetts, built, 1887, design, henry, francis, town, most, a. For Murdock Portal Elementary School in California see Cupertino Union School District The Murdock School also known as Old Murdock High School is an historic school building on Murdock Avenue in Winchendon Massachusetts Built in 1887 to a design by Henry M Francis it is the town s most architecturally elaborate school building It served as the town s high school until 1961 and now houses the local council on the aging The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 1 Murdock SchoolU S National Register of Historic PlacesMurdock SchoolShow map of MassachusettsShow map of the United StatesLocationMurdock Ave Winchendon MassachusettsCoordinates42 41 07 N 72 03 13 W 42 6853 N 72 0537 W 42 6853 72 0537Area2 acres 0 81 ha Built1887 1887 ArchitectFrancis Henry M Morse Henry G Architectural styleRomanesqueNRHP reference No 87002562 1 Added to NRHPJanuary 28 1988 Contents 1 Description and history 2 Murdock School in art 3 See also 4 ReferencesDescription and history editThe former Murdock School building is located in the town center of Winchendon on 2 acres 0 81 ha flanking the west side of Monument Park west of the commercial downtown area It is 2 1 2 story masonry structure built out of red brick and covered by a slate roof It is richly detailed in the Romanesque style with a gabled pavilion projecting from its front facade Prominent features of the projecting section are a tall square tower at the right side with a pyramidal roof topped by a copper finial and cross The left side of the projection has a less tall chimney adorned with brick corbelling and covered by a copper cap The main entrance is in the center of the projection recessed under a wide round arch 2 The school was built in 1887 with funds donated by Captain Ephraim Murdock Jr whose father had previously donated the Winchendon Academy building to the town and was a friend of educator Horace Mann Operation of the school was originally funded by a trust fund established by Murdock providing a college preparatory education at no cost to Winchendon students and was administered by the town s school committee In the early 20th century the trust fund began to run out of funds and the town took over funding The building served the town as a school building until 1962 when a new high school now an elementary school was built to the north The Murdock School was remodeled in 1974 and reopened in 1975 as part of a middle school complex in which grades six seven and eight varied in location between the Murdock Poland and Amro W Streeter school buildings 2 3 Murdock School in art edit Old Murdock Deconstructed Bret Woodard 2017 Old Murdock High Mark Lore 2021See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Worcester County MassachusettsReferences edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service July 9 2010 a b NRHP nomination for Murdock School National Archive Retrieved 2021 04 26 MACRIS inventory record for Old Murdock High School Commonwealth of Massachusetts Retrieved 2014 02 28 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Murdock School amp oldid 1043351263, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
