OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Former teachers and students got the chance to roam the halls Sunday at of two Oshkosh schools.
Washington Elementary School and the Merrill Elementary and Middle School will be closing at the end of this school year.
Sunday was a walk down memory lane, as people filed into Washington Elementary school one last time.
“I have lots of vivid memories, my whole childhood is from here, was here,” said Emillie Rathsack.
Former students and teachers all coming together to share their stories of their time at the location.
Paula Bennett taught first and second grade at the school for 33 years.
“When I started there was one teacher for each grade and I was the baby on the staff,” said Bennett.
Bennett points out that rooms like the current library were once used for other classes and activities during her time at Washington.
“This was a media center and before that it was the gym and, so it was, again it was a small school, and then it had a stage behind it,” said Bennett.
Washington, Merrill Elementary and Middle schools will be no more after this current school year.
A farewell tour was also held at Merrill on Sunday.
Students at both elementary schools will be moving to a new school, Menominee Elementary in the fall.
“The consolidation allows us to be able to really have both modernized buildings and opportunities to have enough resources to be able to serve our kids at a high level into the future,” said Oshkosh Area School District Superintendent Bryan Davis.
Earlier this month, the Oshkosh Area School District board approved a plan to sell the Washington school property to the city of Oshkosh.
The location will be turned into affordable housing in partnership with Habitat for Humanity.
Those who spent time at Washington Elementary say it’s hard knowing the school will be torn down.
“Being here, seeing familiar faces that you haven’t seen in so long just brings back a lot of memories and, something we’ll be able to hold onto is those memories but it will be sad to see this building go,” said Nick Cieslewicz.
“It’s very bittersweet because it shouldn’t be torn down, it’s just too nice a school, and it’s a neighborhood school,” said Bennett.
As change is inveitable, the community is holding onto its memories.
On Wednesday, May 1st, there is another farewell tour happening at both schools.
Merrill’s will take place from 5-7 p.m. Washington’s is from 6-8 p.m.
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