For the Gazette
In the ’50’s, the Houghton School had grades K – 12, all in the grand old four-story school on Houghton Avenue between Pewabic and Quincy streets. The stately “old school” was well-designed to accommodate all 13 grades, and even had a large auditorium and gym, both with balconies. Grade school recesses were a highlight of the day – even in winter.
Marbles was a common game on the playground, and getting “skunked” simply meant “losing all your marbles.” Occasionally the boys would actually stoop to joining the girls in jump-rope play. For the high schoolers, the wood shop and mechanical drawing rooms were on the ground floor under the direction of Mr. Garrity and “Pops” Schaefer.