The stone edifice of the former Bulkeley School is one of the more recognizable structures in New London, retaining a church-like quality as it continues to educate youngsters. But as this week's item shows, it used to have a wholly different look.
The postcard showing the school is being offered by user Barton D. Kamp, the black-and-white scene shows the familiar facade along with an imposing Gothic tower which no longer stands. The brief message - dated Jan. 11, 1905 - shows that the postcard was sent simply to thank someone else for their own message.
The Bulkeley School is named for Leonard H. Bulkeley, who donated the land and seed money to make the school possible. Bulkeley, "a merchant of modest pretensions," was born in 1791 and died in 1849. He asked in his will that his estate be given over to form a free high school for boys, but it wasn't until 1871 that the $23,000 initially in the fund accumulated enough for the construction. The school opened in 1873.
Designed by the New York architect Leopold Eidletz - who also designed the Harris Building, Harris House (now the New London United Methodist Church), and First Congregational Church - the school added an assembly room and laboratories in 1899. Other additions were made in 1912, 1922, and 1934.
In 1951, the school closed following the opening of New London High School. It served for a time as the New London Junior High School, but this too closed in the 1970s. After a period as the city's recreation offices, the Bulkeley School stood vacant, a target for thieves and vandals. In 1981, the building was accepted onto the National Register of Historic Places.
The Mohegan Tribe then acquired the building for use as a professional office, and in 1992 the Regional Multicultural Magnet School selected the site for their classes. RMMS soon found a number of constraints in the school, however, including small classrooms and handicapped access.
In 2003, RMMS completed an expansion and renovation of the school. The last remaining addition to the original building was demolished, and a lobby was used to connect the former Bulkeley School with an addition that now stands alongside Huntington Ave.
The asking price for the postcard is $4.50, plus $1.50 for shipping. The auction ends at about 12:26 p.m. on Thursday.
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