The Story of 160 Main Street

Works Cited


The story of this amazing building is based on primary sources, 

which can be found using the link above. 

 

The High School & Junior School Dream

On June 14, 1895, Madison Public Schools celebrated a significant moment in the borough's history by holding the first commencement exercises for its high school students.   The Central School (Central Avenue School) had undergone improvements as part of a plan to enhance education, including consolidating districts and refining the curriculum. This first graduating class received diplomas as a visible accomplishment of this effort  (The Madison Eagle, 6/14/1895, pg. 2). 


The Madison Eagle described this event on June 14, 1895, by writing, “The citizens of the Borough are to be congratulated on the existence here, thus manifested, of such desirable school facilities and privileges. With education free, from the elementary lessons to the high grades of our Central School, the way is open to any child in Madison, to the very doors of the college or university without cost, and the only condition of success is the ability and capacity of the child himself. Doubtless, still further improvements may be made, as the system continues to work, but the main result is an accomplished fact, and now needs to be conscientiously maintained from year to year, to produce its fruitage of intelligence. and well-instructed young people who shall be the safety and honor of the community in which they live" (The Madison Eagle, 6/14/1895, pg. 2). Despite this milestone, Madison did not have a dedicated high school building. 


At the turn of the century, Madison saw its population steadily increase at a rate that would lead to the school buildings surpassing their occupancy limits. Between 1890 and 1920, the borough saw a population increase of 124%. The need for a high school building started becoming a regular topic of discussion by members of the community as well as at Board of Education meetings (The Madison Eagle, 5/3/1912).   


Discussions that were taking place in Newark in the late 1800s regarding public high schools held great significance for the residents of Madison, given the notable growth of the high school population in the local public schools (“When High Schools Shaped America’s Destiny”).  In May of 1900, The Madison Eagle announced that a new teacher would be added to the high school faculty in the fall. The Madison Eagle wrote that… “it requires no very great stretch of the imagination to look forward to the time when Madison will have a building solely for high school purposes, equipped with laboratories, libraries and other necessities of an up-to-date preparatory school”  (The Madison Eagle, 5/4/1900, p4).


Madison residents realized that it was vital to establish its own Madison High School building to provide the necessary preparation for students who aspired to attend any college or university nationwide.  The raising of standards for college entrance was of interest to many.  “The increase in the number of high schools is also significant of the prosperity of the American people. A college education is now within the reach of the majority of American boys and girls who are willing to work for it.  The number who aim to obtain it makes it necessary for communities to provide schools where adequate preparation may be obtained. Fifty years ago the number who could afford to go to college was limited, and these fortunate ones were prepared at private schools…Public high schools have now triumphed, becoming prevalent across the United States. These schools serve as egalitarian spaces where students from diverse backgrounds, rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, can coexist, fostering a sense of democracy and unity through shared experiences, regardless of social or economic status” (The Madison Eagle, 5/4/1900, p4). 


The property where the Madison Junior School now stands, formerly known as the Cheseboro Estate, was purchased by the Board of Education on October 3, 1922.  Its beautiful shade trees anf large plot of land with room to build a sports field, seemed like the perfect site for the new high school.   However, the first proposal to build the high school was voted down in December of 1921 (The Madison Eagle, 5/5/1922).   


By May of 1922, school officials had looked into making additions to Central Avenue School, but the NJ State Building Inspector “declared that the school does not lend itself to enlargement and is not suited for high school work.”   The building was designed to house elementary students and would not be suitable for junior or senior high school students.  The school population had outgrown what the walls could hold.  “There are also quarters being used for regular school purposes in an old residence property on Main Street.  This building is entirely unsuitable for any sort of school activities and it should be abandoned at the earliest possible moment." They had discussed running a half-day program where lower grades would attend school in the morning and the older students would attend in the afternoon to alleviate overcrowding (The Madison Eagle, 5/5/1922).    


As a result, the Board felt that the community would be better served with a new building to be used exclusively for upper school school purposes.  It was recommended that a new high school building be erected with a proper gymnasium and a suitable auditorium located on the first floor (Madison Eagle, 5/5/1922).  


During the summer of 1922, the BOE had to evaluate two options:  Build an annex on the Central Avenue property to house high school grades or build a new structure for grades 7 through 12.   Initial estimates were about $500,000. The board solicited a proposal with sketches from Mr. Betelle who was an architect.  The original sketch was for a structure to be built on Walnut Street.  The board promised the public that “every angle was being studied” to ensure that all requirements of a high school education would be met in any new structure.  It was realized that a new building housed on Main Street was the best option for the students of Madison (The Madison Eagle, 7/7/1922).  


On October 6, 1922, the community had the opportunity to vote in the auditorium of Central Avenue.  The ballot proposed a building budget of $396,000 (The Madison Eagle, 10/6/1922), with the following objectives.   


The 1922 ballot differed slightly from the one voted down in 1921 in the following ways:


For the second time in less than a year, the voters turned down the new structure by a vote of 618 to 404.  The voters rejected the proposition due to dissatisfaction with the revised plan of the original half-a-million-dollar project.   Another issue was that the community felt it was too far from the center of the borough, and nearer to Chatham than it was to the heart of Madison (The Madison Eagle, 10/13/1922).  


By the end of October 1922, the school board members planned a series of group meetings to answer questions and educate the community.  The goal was to hold open discussions on the educational needs of Madison and how to meet those needs (The Madison Eagle, 11/10/1922).   


On January 12, 1923, the school board was ready with its third proposal to be presented at a Board of Education meeting, highlighting the changes made to the plan for the new school. Citizens of Madison began to conduct a campaign to help get the resolution passed. They gathered at the YMCA and worked to approve the proposed third vote that would take place on February 2, 1923. They formed a group called the Citizens’ Committee.   For the third time in 14 months, the community came out to vote and passed the resolution to the plan to build a new school on Main Street (The Madison Eagle, 1/12/1923).   



The school board began to solicit bids soon after the vote, and by April they realized that the lack of the community's support posed a large problem. 


On May 4, the BOE stated that they needed more money to build the school.  High building costs would not allow the plan to be built as voted on by the people.  The cost of the school structure was about $0.45 a cubic foot instead of the $0.36 that the BOE and architects based the proposal on.  Another $60,000 was needed to cover the labor and materials.  


The Board described three options to deal with the newest setback. First, they could ask the public for an increase in the amount of money needed to build the school. Second, they could build the school as planned, leaving off the gym, auditorium, and third floor. Third, they could put everything on pause until building costs decline. They decided at that time to await the receipt of other bids which they felt might guide their decision.  


Building costs were not coming down, and the conditions in the current schools demanded extra room as soon as possible.  Superintendent Davis said, “The time has now come in the school situation when more than one grade will have to go on part-time unless school facilities are provided.”  The cost of the school without the auditorium and gymnasium would be about $250,000.  It would require an extra $75,000 to build the gym and auditorium.  


Months passed and school started in September of 1923 with no movement on the proposed new school.   On September 4, the board looked to get new bids and planned to make the proposals open to the public on October 23.  The BOE said, “If the bids show that the complete school can be erected for a small amount over the $300,000 voted, efforts will be made to secure the difference.”  Plans were now being made to begin construction on the new school building, and on November 16, ground was broken on the property.  


Son after, another delay confronted the project. The December 7, 1923, issue of The Madison Eagle reported a contractor dispute on the excavation on the property that brought everything to a standstill. The issue was regarding contract language for the removal of the excavated dirt. With winter fast approaching, the goal of laying the foundation walls seemed like it would never happen.  


In February of 1924, the BOE reported good progress on the building of the school.  The foundations for the school had been completed.   All brick and steel material for building was on the grounds, and President Miller of the BOE said that when the laying of the brick would begin, progress would be noticeable to those passing by.  He also updated the public by saying that a proposal for another appropriation of money would be coming shortly.  


As the ground thawed due to the emergence of spring, it was announced on June 6, 1924, that exercises to mark the laying of the cornerstone would be held on Flag Day, June 14, 1924, at 3 o’clock.   The order of exercises for the day is listed below from the program that all attendees received when arriving at the site of the future school.  


 On July 18, The Madison Eagle reported that the Board was in the process of securing estimates for building the gymnasium and auditorium as two separate spaces.  The goal was to present the findings to the public in the fall as stated in the July 18, 2024, Board of Education meeting.  


The Citizens’ Committee (which was instrumental in getting the resolution passed to build the new school) believed that if the public could see the progress on the new building, then they would be more likely to approve the final resolution to construct the gymnasium and auditorium.  Citizens were permitted to visit the building on Election Day, November 24, 1924, either in the morning or in the afternoon.   Although the building was not completed at that time, placards were displayed around the school to show what each room was designed for.  Impressed with the building, the public supported the addition of the gymnasium and auditorium.  



Moving Days

On Wednesday, January 28, 1925, the transition of the high school and junior school students to the new building began.   Between 1 pm and 2 pm, after exams were finished, the high school students moved their books from the Central Avenue School to their new building.   “At this time, the four grades meeting temporarily in the new building will be moved to the Central Avenue building, five classes of seventh and eighth-grade students will move from the Green Avenue School to the new building, and the fifth and sixth grades…will move to other quarters in the same building.”


Later that same day, the students of Madison High School gathered in Central Avenue School for a celebratory party before the beginning of the new semester in the new building on Monday, February 2.  The new auditorium was decorated with maroon and white, refreshments were provided, and Barkalew’s Orchestra played the latest music for dancing from 8 pm to 11 pm.   


On January 29, desks being used by the high school on Central Avenue School could be moved to the new Main Street school.  375 desks used by the high school students had to be pulled up from the floors and put onto trucks to go to the Main Street School.  150 desks used by the four grades in the new building had to be moved to Central Avenue. 


Once the readjustment of all the various grade levels was complete, all but one room in was being used.  On February 2, the new semester would begin with the 425 students in grades seven through 12 attending classes in the new building.  

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Here is a description of the new building from the January 30, 1925 issue of The Madison Eagle:


The New School

"For the first time, there can be seen in actuality what the plans and descriptions of Madison’s new high school said it would be.  Long, spacious corridors, and large, airy classrooms.  Not a detail of equipment is overlooked - all these contribute to what is a model of a school building.  


The entrance, lobby, and offices are striking in their appearance and layout. The corridors are lined with lockers, one for each pupil and then some to spare. The classrooms in every way meet the requirements, all the standards established by the State Board of Education. In the study hall on the second floor, there are 70 adjustable desks, a library that gives promise of what is to come, and a place for expansion of the high school without new buildings or additions. All this the study hall does.


There are well and completely equipped biology, chemistry, and physics laboratories on the second floor as well as the usual classrooms. There is space for a cafeteria and a kitchen for the home economics department that would delight the heart of any housewife. Each pupil will have her own stove, sink, and gleaming white kitchen cabinet.


Downstairs there is the manual training department for the boys with new tool benches and new tools. This is the only part of the building that will not be quite ready for use when school opens on Monday. It will take about one more week to complete the work still to be done in this department."


Lights Missing

"In some of the classrooms, there were only one-half the required number of lighting fixtures ready for service. It was found that not quite enough money was available to supply each room with the type of lighting fixture desired and so except for the halls, drawing rooms, and a study hall room. The remainder of the lighting fixtures had to be purchased and installed when the district could secure more money to complete the project.  


As far as is known, the building is "foolproof." It is made to stand the wear and tear of time. The most modern equipment available has been provided and everything has been done for the promotion of secondary education along the most desirable lines.


Down on Main Street, there stands a monument to the efforts to provide Madison with the finest high school building possible.”

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February 2, 1925, not only marked the first day of classes in the new building, but it was also the second anniversary of the date in which the community successfully passed the resolution to build the new school on Main Street.  


June 18, 1958, marked the final high school graduation at 160 Main Street, as the new Madison High School building on Ridgedale Avenue would open in September.


All information contained here is based on primary sources accessed through the Madison Public Library Archives and Madison Historical Society Room.