To the editor:
An article appeared in the July 8, 1955, front page of the Newburyport Daily News reporting on the approval of the site and shape of the new North End elementary school (the Bresnahan School), and the land that the town would be required to take from abutters. The architect for the new school, Howard I. Rich, was quoted as saying that the new school would be located on the best level space available (a baseball field known as City Diamond). He said that any other location would necessitate the construction of deeper and more expensive foundations. Despite their best intentions, cracks in the Bresnahan School foundation have appeared.
Land was taken from residents of High Street, Myrtle Avenue and North Atkinson Street. High Street was determined to be the safest and most sensible entrance. Eventually, two baseball fields were made over the sand pit behind the school when it was filled and flattened.
Under the new plan for the school announced in January of this year, the new school will be built on the smaller softball diamond, and a parking lot will replace the hardball diamond. No baseball field will remain. To my knowledge, there has been no public announcement or discussion regarding this matter.
Ed Anderson
Newburyport


