Smithtown HS West Senior Wins Historical Society Essay Contest

SMITHTOWN, NY — Josie Muratore, a senior at Smithtown High School West, emerged victorious in the Smithtown Historical Society’s Mildred Smith Historical Essay Contest after drawing on her fond memories of Smithtown Elementary School, the school district announced.

"Smithtown El gives all of its students a chance to be creative," Muratore said. "They
really always made me feel safe. Every single teacher I had made a really big impact on me
and who I am now. I just love everyone I ever met at that school."

Muratore profiled the school's history for her contest entry.

As the winner, Muratore will receive a $1,000 scholarship, which will be awarded at the Historical
Society’s Heritage Ball at the Watermill on Thursday. Her essay is also set to be published in the
Heritage Ball Journal.

The Smithtown Historical Society annually has sponsored the Mildred Smith Historical Essay Contest for the past 15 years. It is open to students in Smithtown High School East and West, as well as Commack, Hauppauge and Kings Park high schools and the Knox School and Smithtown Christian School.

Mildred Smith helped found the Smithtown Historical Society and served as the organization’s first president. She possessed an intense passion for the history of Smithtown.

As part of her five-page essay detailing Smithtown Elementary School’s history, Muratore wrote:

"Smithtown was in need of a new school to accommodate its post-World War II growing population. In 1948, the Smithtown Central School District held a vote to purchase 12 acres of the Charles D. Miller Estate, and groundbreaking of the new building began in December 1949. The design of the new building was made to accommodate the children and make them feel welcome, according to The Smithtown Star, which wrote about the 371 students who attended the first day of school.

"Every classroom was referred to as ‘outside rooms.’ Each room had a wall entirely of glass — a wall of windows, in other words, where the children could observe the environment, the weather and nature as it changed throughout the school year. In today’s time it might not seem as a big deal, but in 1950, it was a luxury to have students be able to look and feel outside of their classroom, as opposed to the claustrophobic and less stimulating traditional windowless rooms."