I have closely followed the construction of the new middle school in Northampton. It has progressed relatively smoothly compared to the construction of the senior high school over 50 years ago. This writer taught at the school and was frustrated by the obstacles faced by the board of education. We thought it would never be completed!

Many of my older readers may recall the scenario.

In 1950, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was pushing for consolidations of school districts and issues still facing the state. There are still over 500 school districts in the state, and most districts resist consolidation.

That year, a contract was signed by Northampton and Bath boroughs and East Allen, Lehigh and Moore townships, merging them into the Northampton Area Joint School Board. A study in 1953 designated Allen Township and Chapman’s Quarries Borough should be added, and they were.

The jointure added 1,073 students to the junior and senior high schools. As a result, a new senior high school building was needed to serve the student needs of the district.

The grand-old senior high school on Lincoln Avenue in Northampton had been constructed in 1910.

The superintendent at that time was Dr. G.A. Eichler, an excellent administrator.

The construction started smoothly, but not for long. The school board needed land so they approached the borough’s greatest benefactor, the Universal Atlas Cement Company, owned by U.S. Steel Corporation since 1931, and requested a deed of land for the school.

The plant manager, L.J. Boucher, graciously offered the district a gift of almost 20 acres of land. They had previously donated the former Atlas Bag Factory to the borough for a recreation center. This occurred on Feb. 11, 1958.

An authority was formed to facilitate the construction of the new building. Here are names from the past who guided the project: Herbert Bensing, Moore; Phillip Bollman, Bath; Elmer Geiss, chairman, Lehigh; Walter Schlegel, Moore; Wilfred Lakey, Chapman’s; Harold Heberling, Allen; George Berg, Northampton; James McKnight, East Allen; and solicitor Jerome Burkepile Jr.

The architectural firm was Heyl, Bond, Miller of Allentown. The board forecast a groundbreaking for April 1956. The estimated cost was $1.8 million. (The present middle school cost is $80 million.) A steel strike and increases in wages brought the cost up to $2.3 million.

By a redesigning of the project, the cost was reduced to the original estimate. The frugal efforts of the board of education were noted in a February 1958 Reader’s Digest article and bulletin of the Pennsylvania State School Directors Association.

Now the obstacles had to be overcome! The construction started in March 1958, but in September came a work stoppage. The contractor also challenged the contract. Both issues ended up in Northampton County Court and later in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Both courts upheld the positions of the Northampton School Authority. Attorney Burkepile appeared in the Supreme Court on three occasions, successfully presenting the district’s arguments. As a result construction did not resume until October of 1958.

Finally, in September of 1961, the first students entered the new senior high school. Years of frustration ended, and a new high school opened on Laubach Avenue.

***

In two weeks, we will tour the new 1961 high school. Come along and enjoy the past.