All,
Just thought I’d post these pics I took today of one of the largest HS shops in the country. All the equipment is going to be auctioned off tomorrow. The Building will be raised to make way for a stadium. This is the former Milwaukee Boys Technical High School est. 1909.
Jon
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Makes me wanna cry.
Cuz I ain't there for the auction, and because they are closing it.
Joe H
Wonder how many little fingers bit the dust in there over the years?
Jon: Your pics sure bring back alot of memories (on a much smaller scale.) Had some very good times in HS shop class.
Dumb question here, I understand that it being razed to make way for a stadium, but why?
Rugby
"I understand that it being razed to make way for a stadium, but why?"
Rugby,
My understanding is that they moved the school to a new facility next to that building, and there is little demand for trades people in the fields that were taught in those shops (pattern making, millwrights, etc.) From the talk I heard, most of that equipment will probably go overseas, where they work for a buck a day, and still can get a little more use out of those machines. Most of it was very old and banged up.
I spend about 3 hours walking the building today. It reminded me of walking through Ellis Island as a kid BEFORE it was "restored." Like you could hear the walls (ghosts) talking. I went into almost every room (from locker room to principles office) Snapped as many photos as I could as it will all be gone soon. Was fortunate to have a friend who knew somebody so I could get in. City would be better off turning it into a museum, but we all know how politics works.
Jon
Jon: It's really too bad when when these old structure go away, especially when they don't have too. I certainly understand the high expense of restoration preservation but yeah.......politics.
Recently, about lost the old city hall building here where I live. It was slated to be turned in a parking lot, but luckily a developer stepped in and saved it.
I really do believe that walls can talk.
Rugby
What a crying shame. The HS where my 16 yo son goes converted its shop into a computer lab 5 years ago. Shop was a staple for the uncollege-bound kids back in the day. In the late 60's/early 70's, I took so many shop classes I became a teaching assistant my senior year. My own son only knows what a band saw looks like because he can use one down in the basement. Most kids today have no clue how to work with their hands filled with anything other than a mouse.
Wish I could be there. The tools look far beyond what I can use, but the atmosphere would open the floodgates of memories, I'm sure.
Nick,
Yeah, same thing happened to my HS shop years ago. Converted to a computer lab. Guess all the administrators go to the same seminars. Not that schools don't need computer labs, but often the kids who aren't on the college tract (like you said) have nowhere to turn. My HS shop teacher was like a grandfather to the "shop kids." Retired fireman in his late fifties who loved being a role model and working with kids. He never hung out with the other teachers much other than one who was in the same b-17 squadron with him in WWII. No nicer guy on earth, but also new how to handle the "toughs." Remember him literally picking up a "punk" by his belt and kicking (literally) him out of the shop (and it WAS warranted for what the kid did) different times. And no, the incident was never reported, the "punk" would have had been taught a lesson by the other "shop kids" if he had complained and his parents had ever decided to take up the matter with administrators.
Jon
Edited 5/17/2003 10:56:41 PM ET by WorkshopJon
I am sure that some of the auction attendees were alumni. It was quite an event.
Lots of deals. Unfortunately, cabinet saws and jointers are always needed and, while they did go for great prices, all were out of my range.
I did pick up:
a 1hp drillpress for $60
contents of a room which included 3 complete no4 size planes, a dozen clamps from 4 to 7 feet long, a steel drawer cabinet, 4 wood bench vices, some solid core doors I can use for benchtops, lots of 4' flourescent fixtures, and lots of junk I DON'T have to take since the building is coming down. all for $25
A "cut off saw" with roller infeed and outfeed tables for $15.00, yes one-five! I have no idea what I am going to do with this thing. It is huge and hard to describe, but imagine radial arm saw that ONLY moves out and back. Instead of a linear bearing to carry the saw in and out, it has an accordian arm that looks like those bathroom mirrors that extend out away from the wall (except this linkage is made up of 2" square cast iron parts) I have the tables home already, I don't know if I will even take the saw . . . it is a beast and so limited in it's use. (16" freud blade on it with lots of life left in the carbide)
I almst got a 5hp, 8' tall band saw for less than 100, but I was in a bidding match with a guy I knew had deeper pockets than I so I stopped at 80 and he took it for 90. No reason to make him pay more . . . For some reason, bandsaws went cheap. Lathes were crazy - 150 to 350 or so. Parts missing, some not running. I may go back and take the bed and stand for one that no one bought. Maybe I can make one up from parts . . . . .
The metal working shop was wild too. To get the point across that the he wanted to move fast, the auctioneer brought that hammer down fast - the first thing that went in the machine shop was a horizontal mill for $50.00. The engine lathes went for anywhere from 400 to 2500 depending on the model. Horizontal mills must not be that popular anymore because the rest of those went pretty cheap, too.
It was just wild. Can't get anymore stuff out today, but I will be back in on Monday to get the saw (I think). I may also try and see if I am allowed to take some of the DC piping, turns, and gates.
Sorry that I do not have any pictures.
The new school, which is attached to the old school that is coming down, is pretty cool. However, I am told that it is a shadow of its former self. Less machinery, less space . . .I really do not like the rap that shop classes get. I only had wood shop and only in middle school (7th and 8th grade). I am jealous of folks here in WI that had wood and metal in HS.
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