Having a reunion anytime soon? Most 20 year
reunions have a walk through the high school. Or maybe your kids are
in the district and will attend the high school. Well, the school is going to look
quite different than any of us remember!
In January 2006, The school started
undergoing a HUGE construction project to add more classrooms for
a growing student population in Mendham and Chester. In the
Spring of 2008, after over 2 years and many delays, the
new wing is just about done! My goodness! This thing is BIG!
It's four floors tall, and very modern in design and function!
I still live in Mendham Borough,
so I been curious to watch the construction
and see what my family's tax dollars have paid for!
This page highlights the construction through the last 2 and a half
years. I may be rewriting some of this soon, to better show the
progression from start to finish!
This page is divided up roughly by old school photos, then photos from
many months from 2006 to 2008.
Click here to see most recent pictures from May 2008.
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To Begin, Here's Some Photos To Help You Remember "The Old School" ....
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To jog our old fading memories, this 2005 photo
is of the back side of the school. The area looked much like this since about 1992,
as that was when those pretty green stairs were built. The 1970's and 1980's
students had to walk down an asphalt path instead, as we never
got to use those nice stairs! Just as well, I probably would have tripped on them anyways.
If you look closely at the building, the bricks of the upper and lower floor are two different colors,
since the 2nd floor was built in 1982, and the lower "Social Studies" hall was
part of the original building, built in 1970. Continuing on .....
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This picture, also taken in the Summer of 2005, shows the little road from the Circle
to the Football Field behind the school. The road is quite nicely paved
here! In the olden days,
I seem to remember gravel or broken asphalt instead! The building
on the right is the Auxiliary Gym, built as an addition in 1982. I was in
the Class of 1988, so it was always there to me, but the 1970's folk never
had the priviledge of taking a gym class there.
The pre-1982 crowd referred to this hilly area as part of "The Grove",
which was the student hang-out and place to cut class (well, it was!).
Later on, "The Grove"
would change in meaning and refer solely to the hangout on the
other side, off the back of the building. One more "old" photo coming ....
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Here's another view of the hill behind the school.
You probably climbed up and down that hill many times
going to Gym classes! But soon it will all be nothing but a memory!
Ok! Enough of the history lesson! Onward to the new stuff!
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Construction Starts - Some Earlier Photos from 2006
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Construction started around January 2006.
The first thing done was the stairs was reduced to shambles and completely
removed.
The stairs lasted about 14 years, but no more!
Next thing started was excavation work for where
the new wing will be built.
This photo was taken in February 2006, a few weeks after
construction began. Mud and dirt are everywhere!
This photo was taken
from the bleachers of the Football Field.
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This is a photo of the back side of the school, taken in March 2006
from Hilltop Church. The black construction fence surrounds the
area where the new construction will take place.
Nothing has been done to the
building yet, just the excavation stuff has
been going on. In case you weren't sure, that
big green building is the Field House,
built around 1992. It was suppose to be called the "Bullis Dome"
but for some reason, they decided the "Field House" was
a more descriptive name! :) Inside, it has things like
lockers and equipment for
sports teams, nothing too exciting!
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Most of the earlier work is digging a pit for the foundation.
At one point, the pit sure had a lot of water in it, but
nothing too bad to deal with, I assume!
There were some delays, as I read in a PTA newsletter
that a huge rock had to be removed,
which slowed things down.
This photo was taken in June 2006.
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This picture was taken in October 2006, during Homecoming Weekend.
The Minutemen football team was crushed by Parsippany, sorry to report!
Looks like the excavation is done, and now the foundation and the
very beginnings of walls are starting to go up. Still a LONG ways to go!
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Earlier in the year - January 2007
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Here in early January 2007, some real progress is showing!
A lot of the concrete foundation had been finished, and
the sides are getting rather tall. But still plenty of
mud all around! Things are looking more interesting now!
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Ok, things are coming along here! This photo was taken in late January 2007. It was zero degrees wind chill that day when
I trudged over here (which is why the Mendham sky is so crystal clear!), so I hope you appreciate this!
This week, a large crane was on site to install the steel beams for the frame. Glad to know those
four new floors will be held up so securely! The original building
will not be attached to the new wing for quite some time.
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During January, this crane towered above the school for a couple of days when
installing the beams. Wait a second, there is a familiar-looking
word written on the crane! Let's take a closer look to see what it
could be ...
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Yes, written on the crane is "GROVE"!!! How ironic! What a touch of
nostalgia! For older alumni, the area behind the school where
this construction is taking place was originally called "The Grove",
and here the word lives again! I assume the crane is from
the Grove hydraulic crane company or something, but what a nice
coincidence! Wonder if the old-timers in the administration picked
the Grove company on purpose! (Thanks, Mr. D!)
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And personally, as an older alumni, when you mention the words
"crane" and "grove", this vision also comes to mind!! Quick everyone, get to class!!
(OK, a little touch of nostalgia for the older folks, couldn't resist!
For those of you who don't know, this is one of Mendham's most
memorable teachers) 
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February 2007
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Now in February, construction is plowing ahead. An entire floor's frame is done,
and the concrete structure on the end is sure towering up! I would assume that structure
will be a stairwell, but not sure of that.
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In February 2007, here is a far-side view of the ever-growing new wing, taken from the area
closer to Franklin Road. Just shows
how tall this thing is going to be! I heard it will be four floors
tall, and it appears to be true!
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April 2007
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Construction continues on here in April 2007.
Here's a view of all the floors coming up. The basement area seems to be getting
most of the work done at the moment. Still nothing attaching the original building
to the new wing.
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In this here photo, the crane towers above the construction, placing
more steel beams
onto the frame. To get your bearings, this photo was taken from
Hilltop Church, looking at the backside of the school.
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The construction men are working hard nowadays. I even
seen them working on weekends! I read in a school newsletter that
they hope to finish construction in the fall. I guess we'll see!
And whoa - I feel pretty short looking up at this!
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Have you wondered about where the construction guys put all
the earth they excavated? Well, they placed it
in a giant pile of mud
behind the football field! I don't know if they will smooth it
down or move it, but the mound remains for now. Last winter
I debated taking
my sister's kids sleighriding down it, but nahhh, too steep!
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And here in April 2007, as the construction continues along,
the new wing has become tall enough
that it can be seen from points around town. This photo was taken
from Hilltop Church. OK, I just had to take this photo since there
just happen to be a pretty rainbow in the sky when I was there!
Isn't that sweet, a rainbow emitting from the school. Awww! :)
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May 2007
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Now in May, here is the new wing with all four floors now partially built. To
get your bearings, Hilltop Church stands in the background
overlooking the new construction.
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Here is a view looking
up at the new wing. I hadn't been out here in about three weeks, and I was quite
surprised to see how much work has been done in that time!
In the most recent newspapers articles that I read, they are hoping for
the construction to be done in early 2008.
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July 2007
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Here in July 2007, things are progressing, but it doesn't seem
very fast. The construction workers
are getting more walls and more insulation up around the new wing. But
the new wing still isn't attached to the rest of the building.
I assume they are going to connect the two, right? It's not like
the kids have to go outside to enter the new wing? They got to
build something, at least a bridge of some sort? Hmmmm ....
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Here's a side view, taken in July 2007. Lots of yellow stuff on the
wing now, is it insulation or dry wall or something?
(Yes, I know NOTHING about construction materials, I never took
Wood or Metal Shop with Mr. Mineo or anything! I took band instead, a
mistake I regret now!).
The new wing is clearly not even remotely connected to the original
school. It just sticks straight up all by itself!
Guess they haven't gotten that far yet in the construction.
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This is the 4 floors so far on the new wing.
Still wide open, nothing is enclosed yet.
Yes, a long ways to go still!
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This is a far view, taken from that little road that goes down
around the hill around the football field. The new construction
really towers up into
the sky! Personally in my mind's eye,
I still remember this area as an open grassy area, with a
grove of trees .....
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August 2007
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This photo was taken during the dog days
of summer in August 2007.
Here is a twilight photo of the new wing, taken right before dusk.
The wing looks pretty much the same as the month before, but with more
yellow insulation (or whatever it is!) being put on.
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Ah! Something new here! I see that now the original school is being
prepared for construction. Some of the windows have been partially
filled in and/or completely blocked. I think my old US History 1A room
(Room 24 I think?) is one of them. Also looks like some windows
near the Auxiliary Gym are also blocked off now. So they are
really going to connect the the old building to the new!
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Here is the wide view from the side near Franklin Street.
Lots more yellow stuff can be seen covering the sides. The
locations of the future windows are becoming easier to see.
Sorry this photo is a bit dark - I guess it was a little late
in the day when I walked out here!
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September 2007
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I was away from Mendham for 3 weeks from late
August to mid September,
so when I returned, I expected
to see lots of progress. And there is some - the whole
outside is now yellow. That's progress, right?
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On closer inspection, there is something new in the interior.
They have now built bars on the windows.
Wait a second - they need bars on windows?
Wow, Mendham High students must
be a tougher bunch than when I was there! Perhaps this is going
to be the new detention room when it is finished.
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Now I do spot some new construction - there is a foundation being
placed between the new building and the old. So there will be
a hall connnecting everything together, good! I am not sure exactly
how the two will connect, as the new building is 4 stories tall, and
the existing building is only 2 stories. But nice to see the work
started on it. I am still dubious this will all be done
in January, though!
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October 2007
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Here are some photos taken in mid October, 2007. Autumn is in full glory
in Mendham now! Now the frame connecting the new building to the
existing one has been built. Ahhh - now I see how everything will
go together. The 4th floor on the new building will connect to the 2nd
floor of the existing building, on the back of the English/Foreign Language hall
(well, that's the classes us old folks had in there!). I seem to
remember an elevator (that we were never allowed to use unless you broke
your foot or something)
right in the spot where they are connecting. Underneath that, it
looks like the 3rd floor will connect near the Auxiliary Gym and "Social Studies" Hall.
I could be wrong, though!
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Here is another look at the foundation and frame that
connects the buildings. Very glad to see that the kids
will actually be able to enter this new building that my
taxes are paying for!
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And here is a photo showing how the whole thing is pretty much yellow!
Still haven't seen
any sort of landscaping, or parking lot (there is suppose to be a new
one out here), or driveway work. Guess that is still to come ....
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November 2007
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As the construction continues, the full height of the new
wing has become quite apparent. It is very visable from
surrounding roads, especially Hilltop Road. This photo
was taken from Hilltop Church.
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Here in November, I guess all the yellow insulation has been
installed. Now the outside is turning white, and the
yellow is starting to disappear! Still a ways to go before
the exterior is done. But they are getting there!
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Here's a view from below the Field House, and above the Football Field.
Wow! When I was a kid at school (in the mid 80's), this area was
totally open - no field house, no construction, just grass and trees and
sports fields! Times have changed!
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More progress can be seen here! Now the big glass windows
are being installed, and the connection to the original
building has been enclosed. Things are moving along .....
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Really Recent - January 2008
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Construction continues into 2008 now. It's been 2 full years since
construction started. I think
it was suppose to be done by now, but
it has a little ways to go before being finished.
This photo will give alumni their bearings, and shows how big the
new wing is. We all remember the football field scoreboard, right?
Here's the new construction towering over the area. Wow!
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The new building
continues to turn white, and not much yellow shows through anymore.
A big
difference I noticed was that work has started to grade the land and
lay the new driveway. None of the original pavement or gravel is showing through at
the moment (it may have been removed),
and instead a layer of mud covers the area. And the
mud is deep, let me tell you!!
This was as close as I could get without wearing
knee-high boots. I couldn't get any higher up the hill without risking
becoming completely stuck!
That little yellow grading machine is perfectly posed for the photo.
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Rather Recent - February 2008
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More things are coming to completion here! All the yellow insulation
is gone, and the final whitish exterior covers most of the wing.
Some of the landscaping and new pavement has been started.
At night, I even saw lights on inside the new wing, so even the
interior is almost done. It's getting there!
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Here's the side view of the new wing now - just wow! The final
whitish exterior covers everything now. The hill has been graded.
The trim on
the new wing is a reddish color,
like the original building.
In my mind, I still remember how open this area used to be!
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Recent - March 2008
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Well, look here! The new wing is just about completed.
Now work on the landscaping is coming along. The new road and parking lot have
been started. The road down from the Circle is already pretty much completed,
with new sidewalks, too. And a parking lot is being constructed
near the new wing, though I thought it would be bigger! I have
no idea who will be allowed to park here.
Even in my day at school in the 80's,
parking was always a problem for the students. Well, more parking
spaces is only a good thing!
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Here is the new wing, just about completed. Got sidewalks, railings,
and doors now. The molding and trim is just about complete. Glad
most of that mud is gone and it's easier to walk around. Wow!
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This view is just bizarre to me! What a mishmash of architectures! To get
your bearing, I am standing near the Circle here, looking down the hill.
Now the
road that leads down the hill has now been paved, and the curbs have
been placed.
When I was a kid at school (80's), only the
Auxiliary Gym was there. Now, in this view, you see the reddish brick
25-plus-year-old
Auxiliary Gym,
then the supermodern new wing, and the green Field House below, all connected now by
the nicely paved driveway. Wow!
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Most Recent - May 2008
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Yeaa! Spring has come to Mendham!
More landscaping work has been done. More grass
seeds have been planted and are starting to grow. A lot
less mud and dirt now - everything is turning greener!
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The construction barriers are coming down all over now.
All the temporary fencing has been removed.
Even the
yellow metal gate that separated the new Wing's driveway from
the Circle is gone. The new Wing's driveway
officially connects to the Circle/front faculty parking lot now.
And even a nice new shiny stop sign, too!
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Here's a picture for all of you 80's "Grovers" out there.
("Grovers" was the
name for the students who hung out in this area way back then).
Whoa! That new Wing sure changes this view -
Can't miss it looming in the background!
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Here's the new Wing, as of the end of May 2008. I been told it will be ready
for classes in September. I remember reading it may
be a new "freshman" wing, but I am not sure if that is
really happening anymore or not.
But wow - here it is!
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Wow! It really is almost done! Just a little more to do.
If I am motivated, I may be redesigning this page to better show the progress from
beginning to end.
I am so glad my tax-paying dollars helped construct all of this for the
kids of Mendham and Chester (sure beats class in a pod!).
I'll try to continue to update when I can!
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