News

When Options Collide
So many buildings, so little money

SAD 15 Board of Directors Chair, Dan Maguire, on Pennell

The Monument: How do you see Pennell fitting into the mix of what the SAD must accomplish relative to education budgeting, shepherding cultural resources, and answering to the taxpayers?

Maguire: Built in 1876 the Pennell building opened as a school in 1888.In 1889 the state legislature debated (and passed) a law requiring all towns to purchase books for students. Today, 116 years later we're trying to determine how best to secure Henry Pennell's legacy for future generations while our state legislature is debating whether to provide lap top computers to all high school students.

Times may change, but themes are recurring.

In the fall of 1888 the first class of 122 students began their studies at Pennell. Surrounding towns without high schools sent their children to attend the Pennell Institute and in 1889 the first diplomas were awarded, to 6 students. Pennell wasn't the only educational opportunity for the children of Gray at that time.

In the late 1870's there were 12 school districts and 10 schoolhouses in Gray alone! Today Gray and New Gloucester are part of one larger school district with over 2000 children enrolled in our schools and 153 seniors looking forward to graduation later this spring.

While planning the construction of the building that would eventually bear his name, I doubt Henry Pennell or anyone else in town at that time could have imagined 2000 local children seated at their desks, studying for their futures.

Back in 1887 the Maine Legislature passed an "Act Authorizing the Town of Gray to Accept Pennell Institute" which had been left in a trust by the late Henry Pennell. In that act the state bound us to "comply with all the terms, conditions and requirements imposed on said town or on the inhabitants thereof by said will." One hundred and seventeen years later the Pennell building along with the Science Lab are too small be used for a K-5 (or even K-2) elementary school and too large for our Administrative office needs. So what role, given our current needs and available resources can Pennell continue to play?

Buildings need a mission to survive, because without one they waste away.
Responsibility for that agreement made by the folks living in town back in 1887 has been passed on to us. We have been struggling for quite some time to create a new and meaningful mission for these buildings, which have become an icon for the town of Gray, while staying true to the intent of Henry Pennell's will.

The Board believes we may have found a solution by turning the Pennell Institute, the Science Lab and the accompanying land over to the town of Gray in return for continued use of the building for the District's Administrative offices. While many details remain to be worked out it appears that an agreement along these lines would allow the Town to gain ownership of the buildings and land and the Board to fulfill its responsibility as trustee of the Pennell trust.

An agreement along these lines will convert a drain on District resources into an opportunity for the District and the Town of Gray to relocate their offices to what is arguably the most historically and architecturally significant building in Gray. While this may not be the mission Henry Pennell conceived for his building back in 1876 there is no doubt that it will continue support the education of thousands of local children for years to come.

The sources I used to write this piece are two of my favorite books: "Images of America Gray Maine" by Louise M. Knapp and the Gray Historical Society, and "History, Records and Recollections of Gray, Maine." Volume I by George T. Hill.