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HISTORY OF OLD
ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHOOL 1914-1974 |
After being housed at different locations in the downtown
Albuquerque area, AHS finally found a permanent home when
the new high school was built in 1914 - the same year the
Panama Canal opened and only two years after New Mexico
became a state. AHS became a community landmark, steeped
in culture and tradition.The original building is of
course, Old Main, which faces Central Avenue. It was
designed by El Paso architect Henry
C.Trost; who designed many of the city's premier buildings
during that era. Old Main included a science laboratory,
gymnasium, library and auditorium as well as classrooms.
In 1927 a local architect George Williamson was
commissioned
to design a Manual Arts Building in a similar style
northeast of Old Main facing Arno Road.
Ten years later. Albuquerque Public Schools took advantage
of the New Deal funding to add still three more buildings to
the complex: the Classroom Building (later known as
Administrative) in 1937, the large Gymnasium Building in 1938,
and the Library Building in 1940. Another local architect,
Louis Hesselden designed ail three, to blend with the
established Collegiate Gothic style of the first two
buildings.
Our school became a community landmark, steeped in culture
and tradition. Old AHS also produced a potpourri of the City's
greatest leaders and represented a cross section of
Albuquerque's educational, cultural, social, religious, civic.
political, economic, professional and scientific population.
Suddenly, after three-quarters of a century and shortly
before the USA celebrated its national bicentennial, 1974 -
OLD AHS was closed, forsaken, sold - and faced an uncertain
future. A new AHS had been built about one mile northeast of
our beloved old AHS.
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DEMISE OF OLD
AHS |
In the throes of a national economic recession in 1979.
OLD ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHOOL unwittingly became a real
estate casualty. Albuquerque Public Schools first sold the
property to a local builder and developer Elmer Sproul.
Thereafter Charles Hill of Franklin, Massachusetts
purchased it (in a distressed sale of some of Sprout's
assets). Out of state ownership then became the
coup-de-grace for old AHS. Our old school stood abandoned
with windows broken, roofs leaking and vagrants generally
destroying the property for the next 20 years.Following
a series of protracted, private-sector endeavors to
develop this historic property, and after years of legal
entanglements over financing and ownership, on October 10,
1995, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation awarded
its lien interest on the old AHS to B&C - a San Diego,
California corporation doing business as Parking Company
of America for 1.5 million dollars.
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RESURRECTION OF
OLD AHS |
Meanwhile, the city of Albuquerque, by prior authorization
of the City Council, initiated legal action to condemn the
old AHS property for purposes of friendly acquisition,
timely stabilization of buildings, productive development
and usage and long term preservation.Finally, after the
city acquired four of the five buildings through legal
maneuvering, a Request for Proposal for the renovation of
the Old AHS became a reality. The City finally awarded a
contract for the renovation of our beloved high school to
Paradigm Group. The first phase of the renovation, which
includes loft apartments in the Main and Administration
buildings is scheduled to be completed by spring 2002. The
Library and Gym buildings will be renovated to house loft
apartments and retail office space and are scheduled to be
completed in the fall 2002. The Manual Arts Building is
the only building not included in the project. B&C
Corporation stilt has title to this building, however, the
city hopes to eventually gain ownership of this building
and hopefully it will be renovated as well. A motel north
of the Gym and a 600-space parking Structure east of the
Manuel Arts Buildings are also scheduled to be constructed
in the near future.
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AHSAA ROLE IN
THE REDEVELOPMENT OF OLD AHS |
The AHSAA had its beginning in 1994 and its first
undertaking that same year - Save Old AHS- Rumor had it
that our beloved school was soon to be a parking lot.
Alumni leaders immediately contacted City and State
leaders. With their help and the Boards perseverance, the
renovation of Old AHS became a reality. We were
instrumental in helping to select Paradigm Group. As a
result of our role in kick starting this project, Paradigm
Group and the City of Albuquerque have involved the AHSAA
in various facets of the renovation. In the Development
Agreement between the City and Paradigm Group provisions
were made to allow two rooms at the entrance to Old Main
to be used as Alumni rooms where we will be able to
display our memorabilia and have meetings and other
functions.Commemorative bricks will be placed in the
area in the vicinity of the old bulletin board (wishing
well) and will become "The Albuquerque High School Alumni
Association Garden". Bricks are still available for
purchase, so become a part of OLD AHS History and purchase
a brick. |
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