Trenton’s Junior No. 1

DEMOLISHED

Trenton was a pioneer in the junior high movement. During World War One, a shift from a school system where elementary school housed students of eight grades and a high school of four grades to a system where elementary school ended in 6th grade, a junior high for grades 7, 8, and 9 grades, finally high school for 10, 11, and 12th grades.

It was recommended that the school district build the first new junior high school in the eastern section of the city due to the current overcrowding of the school and the growing population. However, the city already owned land in the north section of the town, and Junior High School No. 1 was built along Route 206.

It was constructed in under two years for $260,000 with room for 1,200 students. The largest in Trenton, at the time, consisted of 18 regular classrooms, science labs, library, auditorium, boys’ and girls’ lunchrooms and gymnasiums, large shop classrooms for boys, and domestic science for the girls.

In the 1960s, a swimming pool was added, the last significant change the school would see. The school was renamed Martin Luther Link Jr. High School at some point. Jefferson Elementary School also resided on this property behind the junior high school. In 2007, the district shuttered both schools. By 2008, the demolition of Jefferson started, and a new school was built in its place; a small section of the junior high school was demolished, leaving the historic main section of Junior High School No. 1 standing, a shell of its once former self.

The past 14 years have not been kind to this school. Scrappers have taken everything of value, and the vandals have gotten to everything else. Until next time explorers, stay safe.

*Trenton's Junior No. 1, 1916 | Trenton City Museum - Ellarslie. https://ellarslie.org/trentons-junior-no-1-1916/