Monument honors old Jeannette High School at new building
The old Jeannette High School was located at the corner of Fourth Street and Chambers Avenue and was home to lots of memories for many people in the community.
The building served first as a high school and later as a junior high school until the new complex was built on Lowry Avenue. The McKee K-8 building houses elementary and middle school students.
During demolition of the original high school, city residents Bruce Busato, Livvie DeLuca and John Howard, with permission of the demolition company, collected artifacts from the building.
They made a casual plan to build a monument someday commemorating the old building.
That plan has come to fruition and early this summer, ground was broken at the new Jeannette High School for a monument.
Construction of the monument is taking place on the west side of the building, which is visible as drivers enter the parking lot.
Howard, president of the Jeannette Historical Society, came up with the idea while he documented the demolition of the old school.
“I went every day and saw all that brick and stone work. Ted Ontko and I went over and handpicked 300 bricks knowing we would do something later,” said Howard. “Bruce Busato also donated pieces (architectural) we are going to use. He has been involved since the beginning.”
“I got involved when I was talking to John at one of the Historical Society things. I had some pieces and so did John and Ted,” said Busato, who is employed by the school district.
Over the years, the society discussed a monument and Bernie Spozio, who has since passed away, presented a design.
According to Howard, a lot of the design had to change, but the plaque designed by Spozio is the same and will adorn the monument.
The project was roughly laid out at the society's office and included the corner and center pieces plus a lion's head and the plaque.
“The thickness of the bricks could alter some of the design,” said Howard.
Busato and Howard attended junior high at the old school on Fourth Street. The men have been working on the monument almost daily, weather permitting.
Margie Stanislaw is a contributing writer.
