ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The Newfoundland and Labrador English School District says it recycled what it could from the old Booth Memorial high school in St. John’s before turning the keys over to the new owner.
New owners Fort Amherst Properties Inc. recently began tearing down the central St. John’s school, but the company says it hasn’t decided what will be done with the land. Due to its layout and condition, the Booth Memorial building couldn't be put to another use, as was nearby Bishop College, which will become a seniors’ facility.
Before the school district disposed of Booth Memorial and long after it had shuttered it as a high school, The Telegram was given an exclusive tour.
Some rooms, such as the principal’s office, looked as if the staff had disappeared while leaving everything behind — furniture and décor was still intact.
Kitchen equipment remained in the cafeteria, as did many desks, chairs, books, musical equipment and more in classrooms throughout the building.
In a statement to The Telegram as the school was being demolished this month, the district said, “the items that could serve further use were made available to other schools and district facilities; others were provided to external charities and organizations. School-based items such as photos and other memorabilia were offered to the relevant school administrators for potential use, before the sale.
"Items which could not be repurposed, or had outlived their usefulness, were left in the building and sold with the property.”
The district could not say how much stuff it left behind.
In September, Fort Amherst Properties Inc. (formerly Pennecon Realty) announced its entry into the seniors housing market through a new company, Bishops Gardens Seniors Living LP.
Bishops Gardens Personal Care Home, set to open in the fall of 2020, will be an 82-suite, fully licensed facility featuring chef-inspired meals, landscaped green spaces, a beauty salon, a pub and a country kitchen.
It will also feature the Suites at Bishops — 19 independent-living seniors’ apartments.
