Bartley-Nolan School, Fitchburg

The former Bartley-Nolan School served Fitchburg children from 1902 into the 1970s. 

The two-story school at 7 Beekman St. was converted to condominiums in 1988, with its history preserved in the new name, Bartley-Nolan Condominiums. On Sept. 26, the building was filled with renters and condo owners when the top floor was ripped open by an explosion set off by a disgruntled tenant. The man died, and the ensuing fire caused extensive damage to the building. The owners are evaluating whether they can salvage the first two floors.

The brick building is in a Fitchburg neighborhood to the east of Water Street. When the elementary school was built, it was called the Salem Street School, after one of the streets that borders it. The name was later changed to the Nolan School to honor Elizabeth Nolan, who taught in Fitchburg schools for more than 40 years and was the school's principal in 1911. Later it was called the Bartley-Nolan School, to honor Mary E. Bartley, a school teacher in Fitchburg for 51 years.   

Those who attended recall that there was a swimming pool in the basement. The pool was later covered and basketball courts built on top of it.

The neighborhood is much the same as it was when the 1977 photograph was taken. The school playground was removed when the building was converted to condominiums, and in 2002, the playing field next to the school was turned into a park, with playground equipment, a pavilion and picnic tables.

For decades, it was a two-school neighborhood. St. Anthony Catholic School, a couple of streets down, held classes for 66 years, closing in 2017.

THEN & NOW ARCHIVES