The trailer sitting in front of the high school adds to the abandoned feel.
This 1916 building was constructed as the high school in Brandon, VT. It operated until around the 1960s, when the regional high school was built. Brandon High School has an owner (as all buildings do), with ideas of converting the building into condos/apartments. However, the building has been empty and neglected for many years.
Wouldn’t it be nice to walk to these school doors? Quiz: would you call this building Neoclassical Revival or Beaux Arts?
The front doors, closed and barricaded. Nice sidelights, transom, hardware, and details.
Looking through the front entrance.
Marble cornerstone. 1916.
Brick details between the first and second stories.
Side steps to nowhere. An addition removed? Yikes.
That last step will get you. And note some deterioration on the door frame.
Details.
View from the ground. The windows on the concrete foundation look into the (very deep) basement. The first and second floors were used as classroom space.
The building appears in solid condition. Looking into the building the ceilings have been removed, but the joists remain. Old school supplies lie scattered on the floor. Some windows are broken, but overall, the building appears to have potential, despite being empty for decades. Sending good vibes to Brandon, VT. This building sits just outside the designated historic district and within walking distance of Brandon’s downtown, which is filled with shops and restaurants. If you’re traveling in Vermont, it’s a great place to stop. (I’ve had ice cream a few times in the ice cream & antique shop…and sat on the giant chair with my sisters).
Preservation in Pink 
Kaitlin,
A voice from the past…
What is your email address. My daughter-in-law, Tina, just happened dot visit the Brandon school yesterday and took a neat photo I want to send to you. She and my son move to their new home in Brandon next month.
Marian
Marian Wingo 228-324-6686
Hi Marian,
Hope all is well. You can email me at preservationinpink@gmail.com. Congrats to your daughter-in-law and son on their new home. Nice to hear from you!
This looks distressingly like my elementary school.
What a handsome, solid-looking building, despite the neglect. (So many of them are just this way!) Thank you for the mini-tour. I hope the owner is able to proceed with his plans…and take care of those steps to nowhere. 😉
I hope so. It’s been a few years, from what I understand, but maybe 2014 will be a lucky year.
OMGsh… I LOVE all of your photo’s. So intriguing!!
Thank you!
The architect was Elmer Smith Bailey, of Boston.
The old Brandon High School became an elementary school and the name was changed to Seminary Hill School. I was the principal from 1967 – 1977. Initially, only students that lived within the Brandon Graded School District, which was “downtown” Brandon went there. The rest of the town pupils attended the Forestdale School. The two eventually merged, and for quite some time, all K-3 students attended Forestdale, and 4-6 were located in at Seminary Hill and Ayrshire.The lower level of the building was the gymnasium/auditorium, and as noted classrooms were on the first and second floors. The collapse at the side door is where the boiler room was located. There were not enough classrooms for the entire population of students, so three rooms were rented at the Ayrshire Building across town. The students housed there walked to the main building for lunch and physical education. As the one room schools in Sudbury and Goshen closed, those students also attended the Brandon system. The school continued to exist until the Neshobe School was built.
Great history lesson. Thanks, Neil!
Mr. Cunningham,
I attended the Brandon Graded School from 1-6th grade and you were the Principal and my 6th grade teacher in the afternoon. (Mornings my teacher was Mrs. Coolidge.) My 5th grade year I had Ms. Munger and our classroom was located in the Ayrshire Building. How well I remember walking to the Seminary Hill School every day for lunch that year. Interestingly enough, I am a teacher myself and have taught all 30 years in the Rutland Northeast Supervisory Union. The home my husband and I now own belonged to one of the other teachers who taught at Brandon Graded School. I have very fond memories of my days in that building. Thrilled to see your post!
Any connection to the brandon training school or partnership with brandon district court? Otter valley ush forsestdale school and neshobe were mobile units for bts? Was there a fallout shelter ?
My Father was supt of schools for Rutland Northeast District from ’48 until 1954. His office was in BHS. RED included many small towns including Chittendon. I attended Barstow School and lived in a house given to town by Mrs. Barstow. Understand her home is now an inn. Thanks for the memory.
thanks for the information, and for stopping by to read. 🙂
Also built in 1916, a school closed and abandoned… but, most successfully revived as a multi-faceted brewery/eatery/venue/business center! The collapsed boiler area at Brandon would make a nice spot to hold brewery tanks! http://ivywildschool.com/
Any connection to the brandon training school or partnership with brandon district court? Otter valley ush forsestdale school and neshobe were mobile units for bts? Was there a fallout shelter ?
The boy scouts and explorers met at the police station and seshobe sportsmans club and 4h met at seninary hill in a house near the old school. I would inagine that the archire building and the other schools and training school were well connected to agricultural ed festivals . Eugenics and the racist teachings of that time. It was sad but many tried to learn a trade join a club or ovecome poverty in vemont towns i.e The stickney family had 4h and instititional services . Some were still visable in brandon in the 1989s and 90s . Otter valley and neshobe had bts matted walls seen in asylums . St marys church had a hall that was used as a public school
And st andrews in waterbuty belped run boy scouts native related affairs and autism services
I went to Brandon Graded School next door from first grade to third grade when that school building burned down on January 6th of 1959. Then we attended the rest of third through fifth at the Ayrshire Building. 1n 1961-1962 I attended 6th grade in this Brandon High School building as the new Otter Valley Union High School began then.
Anyone else go to the graded school? I had the following elementary school teachers – Jennie Needham, Arline Center, Mary Huntley, Anna Germans and Fred Seesow. Also Miss Munger for fifth but can’t remember her first name.