Community Corner
Then & Now: The Tapley School
The Tapley School has been a prominent building in Danvers for many years.
The large, yellow building that stands on Holten Street in Danvers has been used by the town for many years.
Originally built in the 19th Century, the building was used as a schoolhouse. As the population of the Danvers community continued to grow, the town decided to fix the overcrowding problem at many of the town’s smaller schoolhouses. The Tapley School was built, at $14,500, after being designed by Edwin B. Bacon.
The elementary school, opening in 1897, was more modern and convenient for residents and students as it had eight classrooms instead of just one. The school also gained a positive reputation due to its principal, H. E. Wentworth.
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Wentworth impressed the community with his teaching methods. He was able to adapt his lessons to various classroom situations, and had quite a bit of experience in grammar and English subjects. The Tapley School, and Wentworth, are more positive examples of the school system.
The Tapley School closed in 1979, but can still be seen on Holten Street today. The building is currently undergoing construction, but Danvers is still getting use out of the building, as it has been converted into elderly housing.
