WILLIAMSBURG – The Helen E. James School is set to be razed this year to make way for a new public safety complex. In the meantime, a set of commemorative pieces has been commissioned to honor the venerable building and its contributions to the town.
Wood from a Norway maple tree recently felled on the school’s grounds will be transformed into plaques and coasters that will celebrate the school as part of the town’s 250th anniversary celebration. The tree, which was in poor health, was removed as part of preparations for the school’s demolition.
“It’s a great use of something that was going to get taken down anyway,” said Town Administrator Nicholas Caccamo.
Select Board member William Sayre said the engravings are drawn from a photograph of the last high school class posing around the maple that was taken in 1971.
Sales of these objects will also go toward raising money for the 250th anniversary celebration, although Sayre said that prices are not yet available. He also said that there is a plan to plant a significant tree at the site of the former maple.
The plaques and coasters will be made in town by Pause & Pivot Farm, which was enlisted by Sayre.
Miana Hoyt Dawson and Terry Dawson run Pause & Pivot Farm, which along with growing vegetables has a laser engraving business that uses salvaged wood.
“Both of us left our jobs in the corporate world,” Miana said.
Miana said the plan is to have the maple kiln-dried and milled at Lashway Lumber after which Terry Dawson will do the engraving.
“We love our town that we live in,” Dawson said, when asked about getting to engrave the commemorative objects.
He said he was excited to be able to memorialize the tree and praised the work his wife has done in planning the mementos.
The Helen E. James School, which dates back to 1914, was named after the prominent 19th century philanthropist. It ceased operating as a high school in 1971 and as an elementary school in 2014.
According to Caccamo, the documents associated with the bidding process for both the demolition of the school and construction of the public safety complex are currently being developed.
“We hope to wrap that up in mid-February,” he said.
Caccamo said the plan is to have the bids awarded by March 31.
The building’s demolition will potentially take place in early June, Caccamo said, while the public safety complex is anticipated to be completed in fall 2023 — with a little more than a year of construction.
“We remain cautiously optimistic,” Caccamo said.
Bera Dunau can be reached at bdunau@gazettenet.com.