The inclusion of a building on the National Register of Historic Places fosters a sense of pride in a community’s past and present, for it shows an appreciation of civic history and continuity as embodied in its institutions. We are fortunate in Wellesley to have several buildings on the National Register: the Town Hall (1883-1886); Wellesley’s first high school (1894), now Phillips Park; and the Wellesley Farms Railroad Station (1890). Applications for enrollment in the Register are currently in process for the Sprague Tower (1928) and the Hills Branch Library (1927).

The procedure for placing a landmark in Wellesley on the Register is initiated and overseen by our Wellesley Historical Commission. Wellesley High School, originally named the Gamaliel Bradford Senior High School (1938), is deserving of this recognition. Its architecturally significant design, revolutionary for its day, combines colonial features with modern elements. Its role in nurturing three generations of young people and its endurance as a symbol of the high quality of education that our community values make it a prime candidate for receiving this special honor.

The listing of our 1938 High School on the Register of Historic Places would ensure, first, national recognition for a structure we deem important to Wellesley; second, eligibility for federal funds for restoring areas of the building; and third, preservation of an historic property for posterity. Rather than create restrictions, enrollment of a building on the National Register allows changes to be made while at the same time affording protection for a historic asset.

Next week: Wellesley High School – The Interior