Abandoned Middle School | My Old School

[@foundingfatherstactical]

As a retired Detective from the City and former SWAT Team Leader, I can tell you I walked those halls hundreds of times from 1991 until I retired in 2008. As a contracted instructor for the SWAT Team in 2016 we used the school as a training facility and it was truly weird walking down the halls seeing that little or nothing had changed over the years. You did a great job with your documentary....Thank you....

[@childreninmybasement1]

thank you for your service

[@tylerdees5994]

I can only imagine what you used it for. is RI prepared for that situation in your professional opinion/observation?

[@Justine17Marie]

I wish you could document Coggeshall elementary school in Newport! It was built in 1899 and has been abandoned for many years. I attended there as a child, and something about that place always gave me a mysterious feeling. I wish they would do something with it. It is such a beautiful building.

[@uhhDthOKAY]

The Newport police acquired the key for training purposes I heard. I’ve wanted to revisit it for a long time! There’s still so much in there.

[@Konic_and_Snuckles]

Hey! I remember watching "My Old School" live when it premiered back in 2013. Man, what a throwback. used to attend this very school back in the early 2000s and I'm very nostalgic for it. Thanks for the 10th anniversary update!

[@vbabie1989]

Wow, this was super nostalgic. I remember singing in choir concerts on that stage and playing knockout in the gym. Haven't thought about this place in a long time. I love that its documented. Absolutely beautiful work. I think I was there around the same time as you - 2000 - 2003, Class of 07. Keep making cool things!

[@bobegan8457]

I had so many amazing memories in that school.1967-1972. Thanks for the journey.

[@santageorgemartin7049]

It’s amazing to see. I graduated in 1970 when it was still the High School. I honestly do not remember a lot of the areas. I was one of the group in the Machine shop with John Bellville and the guys in the wood shop with Mr. Rivet. They called us the Pit Men back then. I turned 70 this year and have not been back into the building since 1970. I have memories and still remain friends with classmates still living even i f I was not real involved back then. I am now a Professional Santa and retired from many years working in Machine shops thanks to Mr. Bellville. It would be awesome to see it again but I get it won’t happen.

[@trevor8419]

Such great news that the school will be renovated. My high school closed a few years ago. Most likely it will be torn down, but I’d love to see it preserved and redeveloped. Great job Jason, your work is amazing.

[@3lil_birds]

Last 8th grade class here thanks for making this video 🤝

[@charleneboudreau3135]

WOW!!! Just WOW! I went to school here when it was Woonsocket Junior High School from 1982-1984! This documentary video brought back so many memories! I can clearly remember walking those halls, sitting in some of those classrooms and eating lunch in that cafeteria! Thank you so very much for the memories! I really wish I could get my hands on the DVD or book!

[@MathieuBrouillette-i9w]

I was in the 7th grade when this school was closed down and the two new middle schools were opened down the road in 2009. I remember being so excited at the time. This building was obviously old and falling apart. My classmates and I couldn’t wait to move into the new state of the art buildings. Now what I wouldn’t give to walk through these halls one last time. Generations of my family have attended school here including my siblings and parents. I remember dropping my older sister off here when I was still in elementary school thinking about when it would be my turn to be a student there. The architecture of the building is absolutely gorgeous despite the goofy layout. It just felt like Woonsocket. I remember waiting outside the lunchroom doors many winter mornings waiting for them to be opened for breakfast. I remember attending gym class in the old gym facilities with the divider and creepy spiraling staircase. I remember my sixth grade classroom that was right next to the entrance to the auditorium balcony. It seems like it was just yesterday but it’s been 15 years. I’m very happy this building was declared historical and cannot be torn down. But I’m also sad it will most likely be completely gutted to create luxury apartments. I hope they are able to keep certain architectural components of the building intact. Part of me hoped the city of Woonsocket would have just redone the building itself and maybe make it a high school again.

[@abdalasoufan5245]

I am proud being part of the architecture team for this project! its will be amazing for the community

[@notestudioco]

Looking at this video brought back so many memories in that school: the mile run around the building, pillow hockey, learning pottery in the art room, and wood shop. This video encapsulated these core memories of being in that school. Thank you to you and your team, Jay!

[@rirkc]

Wow, just wow! What an amazing presentation of a perfectly produced video of a RI landmark. I felt as though I was walking through the halls with all youse guys. Thanks so much!

[@SPVLaboratories]

beautiful as always Jason. it feels like us 30 year olds should be too young to have formed memories in places that are now abandoned, but here we are. glad to see your old school now has opportunity at another life!

[@Sirtop13]

Man, I'm surprised that in Woonsocket there's no vandalism.

[@JasonAllard]

Having several active alarm systems definitely helps. If you trespass here you will be arrested.

[@paulmarshall690]

Would be great for homeless?

[@BdeJJG]

@@paulmarshall690everyone wants to take the homeless to Woonsocket, let them breathe 😂

[@Satsuma1]

Even when 1 burned papers in that 1 room

[@DavidRMUA]

I was in the eighth grade at this school when it closed down, I watched your original movie on this years ago & loved it & this just brought back so many memories once again. Thank you ❤

[@frankb5693]

Jason, this video is perfect, just perfect. Thank you for inviting us back to revisit this important place in your life. So glad that this place sparked your love of filmmaking and urban exploration that we get to enjoy. This is excellent work!

[@luisavirginia8678]

So Nostalgic. So many memories. ESL classrooms all the way on top floor. 1997 -2000 pottery class, wood shop, cooking, music class, the gym... my gosh. I cried. ♥️ Loved this.

[@gumstickstudios4155]

Love the video! How unfortunate the students were robbed of their last day. I'm sure they've got their memories, but it's quite different when given the opportunity to soak it all in-perhaps for the first time, but definitely the last.

[@michaelwblade]

Jason you did it again with another banger ‼️ I really enjoyed it and all the history that you shared with us about this school was very interesting ❤ keep up the great work brother ✌️

[@thedayzgod]

growing up in NE is wild fr its just a certain atmosphere all its own must of been while roaming the halls again so many memories popping back up from a time so much more simpler (sometimes) flashbacks must of been everywhere I hope I get to do this with my high school.

[@zarman189]

My grandmother lived in that neighborhood. Such an interesting place. I lived the next town over and glad to see its being restored. Hope they dont fuck it up

[@whydidyoutubeaddthis]

Glad you were able to go back Jay. It was good to see how the middle school has changed. Very surprised to hear it'll be apartments though lol

[@justawaiterminute]

Excellent job with this 10 years later redux !! Brings back a lot of memories, good and bad . One caveat for me, is while the population was growing, the need for as ever larger school was because as the decades passed, more parents were insisting their kids get a full education K-12 . My parents generation, all my uncle’s and aunts went as far as 8th grade, if that even . But most of their children graduated

[@cooneytwin]

This film was really done well.

[@derrickcabral3821]

Thanks!

[@kingoftwilight3490]

I went to middle school at the same time as you brother, we were probably passed each other in the halls, or even had the same classes together. That's insane, and super nostalgic to see a ghost of our past reappear.

[@DSArch]

Hey Jason, thank you for the great movie! We are the architects for the redevelopment, go ahead and reach out, we will keep you up with the ongoing project.

[@daveanddaphner.7290]

Total respect, my friend. So cool. You have such great talent! What a piece of work that will be referenced, used, and 'liked' for years to come.

[@kubaskaproductions4159]

My parents graduated from that school in 1972 back when it was a high school. Definitely a lot of history in that place.

[@Kehwanna]

I love learning about buildings being featured in urban exploration videos.

[@RileyGein]

Nostalgia bomb, I went here as a kid before leaving the state. Seeing the halls and rooms brought back so many memories. The walk through downtown, past the blackstone river, the little Santa’s workhouse during december, woodshop class, drinking at the bubblers. Well done

[@robertauclair2278]

I didnt go to this school, but my parents lived on Harrison Ave for a while and its where I spent the first 6 years of my life. This was in the mid to late 70's. My earliest memories are from that neighborhood and watching the kids walk home from school in the afternoon while I played in the yard. I remember riding my big wheel around that school.

[@felicialambert436]

Such nostalgia. Thank you for another video of this old gem.

[@Donnydiaz-dl1]

As a person who hates school it's just sad to see schools being left to rot

[@jessicaduclos3467]

I went to Woonsocket Middle School from 91-94. This really took me back! Thanks for the memories

[@shirleylataille3592]

I went to that middle school in the 80s. that school is huge!! I always got lost in the school going from one class room to another. I learned a lot in that school and lots of memories.

[@ElizabethSturgeon-cg5xz]

Loved this! I hate seeing abandoned buildings not being used/revitalized. So glad that they are redeveloping this gem! You should look into the old Wickford Elementary, which has been abandoned for a while too.

[@Chapin-eg3nm]

Hi Jason. You have such a talent. Your docs are awesome. The production is top notch. Very impressive. Keep up the good work 👏

[@1622KayKay]

So my class was the last class here. Half way threw the year we transitioned to the new school. This video is so important to me. Thank you so much for making both videos. I have the original dvd and tshirt.

[@1622KayKay]

Also always wanted to see where the stairs went that were chained off during my time there. The “fourth” floor. Everyone always said a boy died up there so they closed it off.

[@justawaiterminute]

I believe that chained off 4th floor was what Jason referred to as floor 4.5 in this video. I remember the rumors of that area. One was a student had died . Another was a violent incident took place etc.

[@robtierney2569]

@@justawaiterminute wasnt a student raped and killed there ?

[@bernielarrivee5448]

Thanks for this. It's so great to see that the building will get a new life. It'd be such a shame to see it decay or be demolished. I hope the renovations don't strip all the original character from such a well built structure. Bravo!

[@tinabeanajustabean]

The building was purchased for just $1 million. Goldman's website says they are turning it into a luxury complex, not affordable housing. They're gentrifiers.

[@hueysanchez7472]

Much love for both documentaries. My fondest memories were baseball practices and tryouts, which took place there through my HS years as well. Lesser memories were Mr Hazard making us stand against the wall in the corridor after bringing us into a janitors closet and reading us the riot act!

[@tdgarneau]

Wow ! Thank you for sharing, I also attended this middle school for 6th,7th & 8th grade. I still remember my 1st day of 6th grade where each grade had to wait outside on your grades specific side of the building in the morning.😂 I've thought and wondered how it would look at this present moment. You brought back alot of fun memories for me, from seeing the old annex gym and my old gym locker room, to the class rooms, walking those same hallways bunking class and getting caught lol and seeing the cafeteria makes me feel like it was just yesterday that I was there for every single school dance lol I'm so glad they are going to keep it and turn it into something great!❤

[@kennethsonier1766]

Moved from Bellingham to Woonsocket in 78, so I attended 8th and 9th grade. Between me original high School in the junior high side was definitely a maze of corridors. I distinctly remember woodshop in the basement and then having to go up five flights of stairs to the art class. Great job on your video 👍✌️🇺🇲

[@cumberlandite56]

Those boiler plate doors at 18:03 to 18:13 can go for a LOT of money. Those are the some of the "treasures". Very vintage, very cool. As well as the beautiful hanging lights in the auditorium. I hope they preserve or recover the beautiful architectural features.

[@jakelataille6353]

This is awesome. Great video man! I need to know though, WHATS UP THE SPRIAL STAIRCASE IN THE GYMS????

[@JasonAllard]

That leads to the back of the stage in the auditorium, which is directly above that gym. One of many weird shortcuts in there.

[@jakelataille6353]

@@JasonAllard I can only imagine some of the odd stuff you guys came across, only so much can fit into a video. Keep up the awesome content man.

[@living_myjoy]

❤ really nice job! The changes in scenes, story telling and all the ways you put this story together was an enjoyable watch!

[@Runofthemillshop]

Congrats Jason! It was amazing to see this come to life!

[@goddesskiller6666]

I went to that school around that time, thanks for the nostalgic feeling

[@mariannerivet4771]

What a great video! Thank you. I'm curious as to what the apartments will look like and I am happy the building is being saved!

[@Dirt_floorgarage]

I’m about to make a trip back home (blackstone), and I think you just convinced me to go explore my home.

[@andyleclerc3600]

A voice from your past here! You did an outstanding job with this video. 2009 was also a year of change for me, as I started my current career with a major financial institution Looks like we both found our niche😎

[@Play_fare]

This is an amazing building and a fantastic documentary of a type of building that all too frequently ends up being demolished. This particular school reminds me of my middle school, though mine was on a much smaller scale. It had started as an all grades school in 1912 when it was built, then an addition was build some time in the 1940’s after a fire apparently damaged a part of the old school. In the late 1970’s a whole new wing was built that effectively double the amount of classroom space and included a gym, art classroom, woodshop and home ec classrooms, library, and additional washrooms. The floors from when section to the other didn’t line up, so there were stairs between the oldest section and the 1940’s section. Ceiling heights were lowered in each addition as were the size of windows. I always preferred the 1912 section because of the woodwork, high ceilings, and lots of natural light. There was a basement level. The old section that we could see into that had what appeared to be kindergarten or lower primary grade classrooms and washrooms. Everything looked like folks had just stepped away from it and never came back. There were lessons written on the chalkboard and books on the desks. Very eerie. Happily, the school is still in use to this day. The only external changes have been the replacement of windows with more energy efficient models and the removal of the emergency siren that used to be on the roof. I only recall it ever being used once, when we had to evacuate due to a chemical train derailment.

[@rdyer0102]

26:17 Scott was my neighbor and friend when I was little. He’d let me follow him around and help at the gas station he worked at. I also have a piece of his artwork. He did a portrait of my dad and framed it, only charging me the small amount I’d managed to save from my allowance. I didn’t realize until years later how silly and small the amount was, but he was good like that. The picture is now in my master bedroom.

[@thomasouellette8987]

Well, I am pretty shocked that it is being registered as a historic place. I am interested to learn about that. I have a personal and unique take on the school, as my father was an English teacher there from the mid 70's through 1990. He taught in room 310. I also was a student there for my 7th-9th grade years. My mom graduated from there when it was the WHS. Prior to being a student there, I would go on field trips with my dad and his classes. Rocky Point trips were the best! Great video. Thanks.

[@DestinyVixaisak]

Yes thank you for making a revisit video of the abandon Woonsocket middle school. It mainly got closed down due to it being haunted too and how old the middle school was.

[@sillymanmcgee]

this is fascinating! i know most of woonsocket like the back of my hand but i don’t believe i’ve ever seen this building, but i know well the others you named designed by the same architect. it’s so cool to see footage of an area i drive around all the time! im not an urban explorer myself, but there are so many dope looking abandon buildings in woonsocket, i wanna experience them in every state.

[@eddievaladez9706]

Man i remember the mural on the wall in the ramp going for lunch getting painted.. Remember sitting after school watching

[@carolbedford9411]

I purchased the original dvd ,,,,,,,,,,,, so glad to have it for my children and my grand daughter who was a student at the last day of school in those buildings,,,,

[@ELMS]

Thank you for this, Jason! This is excellent as usual. I have a meaningful building in my life that, sadly, was demolished. Also, congratulations to you and Amy 🎉 !

[@emdavies5312]

Wait who’s Amy and what happened

[@ky41783]

I went to that school. You did an amazing 👏 job. Thank you much success 🙌

[@TheMrGrene]

Brings back memories!! Thanks for the video.

[@davidkimmel4216]

You really did a fantastic video.

[@tomcat_1484]

Gladstone elementary in Cranston would be a great school to do next. It's being replaced very soon so best to get to it before it's too late! It also is well known for having an abandoned indoor swimming pool which is something I haven't heard of anywhere else in the state.

[@rogerstlaurent8704]

As soon as I saw you put a video out i hit that like/ thumbs up button with lighting speed ... again every youtube video you put out gets better and better than the last video .... as for the Steam Boilers they were HUGE just imagine working in there and back then before converting them over to oil or gas the amount of coal was used in a year and how hot it was inside the Boiler House .... Well there is a good side of the story at least the Building is going to get renovated and not left abandoned to a point it would have to be torn down ... Thank you for taking us youtubers on a trip down memory lane to your old school

[@tinabeanajustabean]

Goldman Group develops luxury properties. They bought it for just $1 mil. Their website explicitly says this will be for luxury units. In other words, this isn't doing anything to help the people who already live in Woonsocket and in fact it's squeezing them out, as it's sure to increase property values nearby which turns into higher rent, more developments, over and over.

[@Zackmorris689]

Wow same my old jr high was closed in 2014 demolished 2016 my senior year good memory’s

[@SD-unlimited]

10:26 It goes up. (Bill Murray/Ghostbusters reference for those around in the 1980’s)

[@aricaprater4335]

Wow that extremely large abandoned middle school is about to be turned into a new community center. Totally awesome.

[@AmyAllard-g8g]

Awesome!

[@marcinasia1731]

wow !! i attended woonsocket jr. high there 1973 4 and 5 crazy school and yes got lost a number of times

[@TurboTobuOnRoblox]

I just found out that Exploring With Josh went to the exact same school you went to 🤯

[@AnaGalvez-vl7jb]

Same I thought I was the only one 😭

[@Satsuma1]

2 legends in the same school

[@GregoryDuhamel401]

Thank you for sharing this with us.. as a fellow WMS Graduate, I had the 7/8 grade split, those hallways were a challenge at first 😂 I remember waiting at the slope for lunch.. damn it's been a long time!!!!!

[@725curious]

Wicked cool Jason👍👍😎

[@MrJeep75]

Awesome job guys

[@johnthebackwardsdude]

I love urbex videos and this one was done with so much heart and was so nostalgic. Thank you so much for doing this documentary! Subscribed to your channel and will be checking out more of your vids.

[@candievermeulen9858]

Amazing job on this I m glad there doing something with it

[@ericd.knight9845]

I wish you could do a documentary about Forest Park Elementary in North Kingstown RI. That school is steeped in history! I believe that it was opened in the 50’s or 60’s and it is still operational. I went there as a kid and it would be great to see the inside of it again. I think it was opened du😢the time that the Navy was still in Quonset Point. Please don’t quote me on the details but it would be great to see it again

[@Toofargonetosave]

Very sad. My school is still in great condition. Not even abandoned. I hope to never see that happen. Keep strong Shaker Bison.

[@johnguertin5054]

awesome job Jason!

[@firecracker3911]

Beautiful building. Nice job 👍

[@edl4114]

An article about your return to this abandoned middle school popped up in my feed this morning. I had nearly forgotten about this place! I went to the new middle school but we always went to the parking lot of this place for evacuation drills. I've always been curious about this place and I'd love to be able to take a look around before it gets transformed into an apartment complex. How did you manage to secure permission from the property owners to tour the place again?

[@TehAwesomer]

Great content, thanks again.

[@barry5153]

Excellent job!

[@Oney_BMX]

Great job Jason I really enjoyed this!

[@WJCTechyman]

One of my past schools no longer exists. It was torn down, replaced by a Comfort Inn and its lot subdivided to accommodate apartments and geared to income apartments. Now, our town needs more affordable housing but we lost the perfect lot for a public school. Of the school buildings in my town, it was the oldest, so it did need updating or full on replacement as it had narrow corridors in the old part and was two floors, making it relatively inaccessible to limited mobility staff and students. To this day, I wonder why that lot couldn't be repurposed by the school board for a brand new school as it was one of the most central areas in my town and perfect for a public (K-8/K-6) school.

[@jdizzle508]

That was my junior high before it changed to a middle school. The dungeon gyms and the weird way one side of the building connected to the other.

[@Kehwanna]

Compared to most public schools that have the look of a prison or bunker, this school is absolutely beautiful. Too bad they stopped making schools look like a place of motivation and inspiration for the most part.

[@fightthegoodfight286]

I went to school there in 89-90! I use to live on Rathbun St!

[@suzieqqniles41666]

Congratulations 🎉 Jason.

[@AngryBearDad]

Man, that school looks so much cooler than my jr high, i went to Samuel Gorton Junior High in Warwick which is now some city building or whatever, then to Warwick veterans' memorial high school before it was turned into a jr high

[@paulharnad777]

excellent documentary !

[@clintwilliams3818]

Some day this channel will blow up... should have already.

[@ZiddersRooFurry]

I grew up in RI and hung out with a few kids who went there. I got to go there once for a Halloween party and when they found out I wasn't from there they took pity on me as I had no friends. I wasn't causing trouble and spent more time talking to the teachers than the students who'd brought me there. It's sad to see it in such a state. Especially given a lot of those supplies could be used at other schools.

[@Metalheadmike1211]

I also went to school there 6th through 8th grade. My 8th grade year was in 2005. Never thought it would end up closed.

[@JR-kr1lv]

It really sucks to see this beautiful school once opened, now it's closed, I went here in Junior High School from 7th grade to 9th grade only. Was a beautiful school with beautiful woodworking. Most teachers were nice, like Mrs Morin English teacher, who helped me out the most, Mr. CURRIN ON THE 1st fl that helped many out. It would be nice to rebuild it for the cost, it's cheaper to REHAB THAT SCHOOL AND HAVE ALL KINDS OF KIDS GO THERE, THEY HAVE WOODWORKING SHOP, METAL SHOP, ELECTRICAL SHOP WHICH I TOOK ALL. plus other classes like sewing with cooking. Many Friday night dances. Love the 9th grade gym class. Lunch room was wicked cool. It's almost in better shape for the high school if it would be kept up with, high school has many drop ceilings from hiding mold from many years of leaks, they fix roof, put up new drop ceiling about 8 inches down then they move the cameras and fire alarms.

[@geoffcadams]

Beautifully done!

[@clutcc123]

I forget what year it was, but I remember climbing the fire escape of this building an watched from the roof top a fire that had happened in a nearby mill.

[@Mrsla401]

It should become a studio. That would be super dope to have in RI Or apartments. The town can use a gentrification.

[@Mrsla401]

So had I watch all of it this comment wouldn’t be here! I’m excited for the area…

[@taylorflannery21]

I visited this school yesterday!! It was such a fascinating place just from the outside. Would you be able to check out the abandoned school in Warwick?

[@LDGD666]

Did you go inside

[@patriciashaabanmichaud3463]

Yes indeed a beautiful building and they should make low- affordable housing with a recreational place in it and well maybe even a side store shop in side to sell items small like if out side stores close and in need of a quick milk or bread etc