“A City that Preserves its Treasures”

By

Gerry Niskern

Well, the kids have all gone back to school and guess what? You can too. If you grew up here in Phoenix and attended one of the city schools there is a chance that you can still return to visit. The old schools are not simply standing; they are being utilized in various creative ways.

Phoenix is not the first city to attempt to save its architectural treasures, but it is no doubt the only city in the United States that has been successful under overwhelming growth circumstances when eager developers were eager to tear down and built for profit.

For example, Franklin is now a Public Safety High School. George Washington Carver is a museum and cultural center. Mc Kinley is soon to be renovated as part of the Phoenix Union Bioscience School. Phoenix Union, of course, is now three of U of A College of Medicine buildings. T Gen Bio research center is located on the campus we waked as teenagers. Monroe was recently opened as the Children’s Museum. The  old Booker T. Washington school building is being utilized also.

My resident historian and I loved our time at Grace Court School; the great teachers, the benevolent Miss Court and the dances, especially the dances! The school now is completely renovated and certified for office occupancy.

Even Memorial hall, the auditorium built in l922 at the old Phoenix Indian School has been completely renovated and ready to re-open this fall as a venue for public performances. They now have a wonderful new museum detailing all the Arizona Native children who attended there.

After WWII newcomers poured into metropolitan Phoenix at the rate of 200,000 a year and continued over the next 60 years.  Thousands of subdivisions were started in the surrounding areas and of course new schools were built to accommodate the rising enrollment. Phoenix school enrollment dropped drastically.  The city went through a frantic period when growth was the goal. Replacing the old with the new was fine with almost everyone.

Luckily, there were community leaders who didn’t fall to the pressure of developers to “raze it and utilize the land for commerce.” A few wise citizens were interested in preserving the old schools and gradually many more joined the cause. The Phoenix Historic Preservation office was established in l985 and the city really got serious when Terry Goddard was mayor and Phil Gordon was on the city council.

One by one most of the schools were chosen as part of the National Historical Roster, meaning they could never be torn down. Phoenix was also committed to the adaptive reuse of historic schools.

Every “save” was accomplished by a group effort. Some were purchased by individuals and the city stepped in to purchase others. Funding came from historical societies, bonds, private and corporate donations and the city.

Check it out. If you grew up here,  your old alma mater is probably still there; proudly serving the citizens of Phoenix.