Alton Ziegenfuss looked out over the large field he knew so well season after season, plowing and planting in spring and harvesting in the fall.

This spring, behind a shiny silver chain-link construction fence, the earth had been turned over once again — this time, not for oats and wheat. Instead, a new school was putting down roots.

As he sat on one of the folding chairs set up for the April 29 groundbreaking ceremony for the new Lehigh Elementary School, Ziegenfuss, 87, reminisced, “My dad and I used to walk the rows of mustard weeds.”

Five acres that Ziegenfuss sold of his farm, as well as an adjacent lot and house that Sherri Hummel sold, comprise the site of the new school, where students will enter through its doors in fall 2021.

Ziegenfuss’ son, David, and his wife, Cathy, and their children, Paul and Emily, live on the farm and maintain the remaining 27-some acres. Ziegenfuss now lives elsewhere in Lehigh Township.

“I just learned about it last year when they approached me,” Ziegenfuss said of Northampton Area School District’s $35.7 million project. “I’m happy for it.”

Under a late-afternoon overcast sky, with a brisk wind funneled from Lehigh Gap on Blue Mountain looming to the north, administrators, area officials and members of nearby Bethany Wesleyan Church applauded when NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik and school directors’ shovelfuls of dirt flew into the air.

“Mr. Ziegenfuss has been a faithful neighbor for Lehigh Elementary,” Kovalchik said. “I can’t say enough about his collaboration.”

While a new school was being planted, NASD board of education President David Gogel remembered the old school.

“This school is a part of me,” Gogel said. “I was here when the school opened in 1956 as a kindergarten student.”

The school has been renovated several times, including a major overall update in 1967.

“We had dances here on Saturday nights for the 18-and-up group with deejay Freddie Mylander. This elementary school has a lot of memories for those who live in the area,” Gogel said.

Gogel estimated 70,000 students have matriculated at Lehigh Elementary School.

Lehigh Elementary will continue to be in use during construction. The new building has 97,000 square feet, compared to 88,000 square feet for the old school.

Kindergarten through fifth-grade student capacity is 800 students, compared to 510 students for the old school.

Construction of the new building is to conclude in May 2021. The new school is to open for classes in fall 2021.

Mementos from the old school will be saved and displayed at the new school, including the old red school bell.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, NASD school Director Robert Mentzell read from his research about education in Lehigh Township, which had its own school district until 1969 when it merged with NASD.

Work at the site began two weeks ago, said Matt Evans, construction manager, D’Huy Engineering.

“It’s a nice site,” said Henry Guarriello, senior project manager, D’Huy Engineering, Bethlehem, engineering firm for the Lehigh project. “It’s been great to work with,” he said of the mixture of topsoil, clay, loam and shale.

“Here’s the building taking shape,” said D’Huy President Arif Fazil, pointing to the dirt and gravel footprint of the new building.

Jay Clough, KCBA principal, the new school’s architect firm, observed of the view of Blue Mountain, “When the old building’s gone, you get a 360 view.”

Kovalchik thanked school officials, including Atty. C. Steven Miller, NASD solicitor, saying, “There was a lot of work that needed to be done here with easements.”

Kovalchik continued: “Today is a historic day in the district. I believe that the most valid community out there is education. In order for that to happen, you need a quality staff to deal with today’s education needs.

“The second thing is you need a caring and supportive community. The third thing you need is facilities,” he said.

“The board has had the vision to move ahead with the project, as with the middle school. It’s not just for this generation, but for generations to come,” Kovalchik said.

Lehigh Elementary School Principal Cassandra Herr will see some of those generations through.

“On behalf of the students and staff of Lehigh Elementary School, we are excited to see the new building project come to fruition. The new building will offer many opportunities for our students, including STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) spaces,” Herr said after the ceremony. “We look forward to our continued partnerships and relationships with families and the community. We will continue to provide wonderful academic opportunities and support our students as they grow academically and as individuals.”