100-year-old school excels as business center

PITTSFIELD – Pittsfield’s five new businesses will be relocating later this month from New Jersey to a century-old converted schoolhouse.

Originally based in India, the five software development companies were searching for a location in central Maine and discovered Pittsfield on the Internet. They found 3 North Lancey – the converted schoolhouse building whose name is derived from the street address.

“It was the town’s Web site that caught their eye,” said Jane Woodruff, co-owner and building manager of 3 North Lancey. “We have 3 North Lancey listed as office space on the Web site.”

The companies’ relocation, which likely will bring up to 15 jobs, will result in a “No Vacancy” sign on the building.

From humble classrooms, creaking stairways and a “dungeonlike” basement lunchroom, 3 North Lancey Street has moved into a world of technology, computers and cyberspace. The former Lancey Street School will celebrate its 100th anniversary this month.

Once destined for demolition, the three-story brick building was purchased 20 years ago by three community-minded men, Peter Vigue, Don Woodruff and Michael Fendler. Vigue was later bought out by Woodruff and Fendler, who still own the building.

At the time, the purchase was controversial as the men’s $15,000 bid was the only one received for the property, and some people felt more time should have been taken to see if there was additional interest.

In the end, it was agreed that it was better for the property to be put to a productive use than left empty to deteriorate.

Immediately, massive renovations began, which included restoration of original wood floors and bead board paneling. There were some surprises along the way, according to Woodruff.

Hundreds of short, stubby pencils had fallen through the floors, empty beer bottles were found between the walls, and the original school bell and slates were recovered.

The school, one of nine in Pittsfield, was built in 1904 at a cost of $15,600. The bricks for its construction were produced locally at a site now occupied by Warsaw Middle School. Granite for the foundation came from a quarry on the side of St. Albans Mountain.

In 1904, the school’s teachers earned $9.88 a week. Children went home for lunch or brought cold lunches until 1947, when the first hot lunches were served.

SAD 53 Superintendent Michael Gallagher recently recalled teaching third grade at the former school when it closed in 1984.

“It was a far cry from today’s schools,” he said. “There were lots of stairs and lots of doors and creaking hardwood floors. I clearly remember the noontime trek to the basement for lunch. It was like going to a dungeon.”

Today, the business complex has proved to be a success. At full occupancy, the building now houses a gourmet food distribution company, a dance school, a therapeutic massage service, a local newspaper office, a photography studio, a corporate training center, a radio station and five software development companies by month’s end.

Woodruff said the building has a “community feeling,” and tenants watch out for one another and often stage special events.

She said the partners originally thought it would take nine months for the building to fill up, but it took many years because of the tight economy.

“There were years when we thought the building owned us, not the other way around,” she said.

A special anniversary party to celebrate 3 North Lancey’s 100th year will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 14.