In the September 1961 issue of the “Sachem News,” the original publication of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, there are three interesting images that are in the layout.
You can see an original photo of the bus garage, which still sits behind Samoset Middle School, as well as a drawing of an extension on Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, which eventually came to fruition, and the facilities storage shed near Wenonah Elementary School, which was originally the District Office Annex.
Bus Garage
“Matching the decor of the nearby high school building, Sachem district’s attractive 13-bay school bus garage is the area’s newest building to be put into operation. The building, approved by the district voters last year, cost $50,000 and houses 13 of the district-owned buses. It is stucco covered cement block construction; the front, with a brick veneer, matches the adjoining high school. The only work still to be done is the asphalt driveway. With this building offering year-round protection for district-owned vehicles, it is expected that vehicle maintenance and repair costs will lessen considerably.”
Lynwood Avenue School architect’s drawing
“In the usual left-to-right order, above can be seen in the left foreground the present Lynwood Avenue School to which there will be added the back wing shown in the picture as well as, to the right of the present building, the connecting dining-room auditorium area and, to its right, a library and facilities for 12 classrooms, including art and music.”
Voters eventually approved the additions to Lynwood on Oct. 20, 1961. The original building was designed in 1955.
District Office Annex in Lake Grove
Long before the current District Office Administrative Annex was created at Samoset Middle School, the original DO Annex was the structure behind Wenonah Elementary School in Lake Grove. It is currently used as a facilities location.
“The District Office Annex that once helped in producing growing crops, enters a new era of usefulness as it provides facilites for nurturing the minds of children at the very beginning of their acquaintance with the wonders of learning.”
Editor’s note: Uncovering history from Sachem’s illustrious past is an ongoing project of mine. Please check back often and look on all of Sachem’s media platforms for updates on my findings. The historic findings will be chronicled on the history page of Sachem Report and placed in the Sachem Schools Facebook timeline.
-Words by Chris R. Vaccaro