John R. Rollins School, historic school in Massachusetts
The John R. Rollins School is a brick school building in Lawrence, Massachusetts, completed in 1893 and designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. The three-story structure features a 125-foot tower containing a seven-foot clock and a 5,000-pound bell, with ten classrooms, a large hall, teacher offices, and a student library inside.
The school was built in 1893 by prominent local architect George G. Adams using the latest school design concepts of the time. Originally costing eighty thousand dollars and designed to hold about five hundred students, it featured red brick walls with granite trim and slate roofing for lasting durability.
The school is named after John Rodman Rollins, a 1800s mayor and superintendent of schools whose name reflects the city's commitment to education. The building has witnessed many generations of students and continues to serve as part of daily life in the Prospect Hill neighborhood.
The building sits at the corner of Howard and Platt Streets in Lawrence and remains visible from nearby Interstate 495, making it easy to spot. Since it functions as an active school, expect student activity during school hours and limited access to the interior.
Inside the tower sits a seven-foot Seth Thomas clock paid for by local residents through subscription, showing strong community support for the school. The five-thousand-pound bell in the tower rang to mark school starts, dismissals, and special events.
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