Wednesday, October 11, 2017 Century of Education 19

History of SJHS at 230 North Lincoln Avenue

After the high school moved to 1200 East Sixth Street in 1958, the Salem Junior High moved from the Fourth Street School building into 230 North Lincoln Avenue.
From 1958 to 1965, seventh, eighth, and ninth grade students attended classes at the Salem Junior High School.
As the school-age population in Salem grew with the peak of the local Baby Boom generation becoming teenagers, it became necessary in 1965 to ease overcrowding at the junior high.
The ninth grade was moved to the high school.
During its time as the Salem Junior High School the story of the building's structure has been one mainly of maintenance and upgrades. Fixtures salvaged from Fourth Street School
before it was razed in 1974 were incorporated. Insulated windows were replaced in phases. Fluorescent lights were added throughout the building in the 1970s. The first computer lab was
installed in the 1980s with more and faster machines added in nearly every classroom during the next two decades. New heating and electrical systems were installed. In the 1990s, a mini-
park was constructed around the school and the auditorium was refurbished. In 2000-01, a land lab with created along the southwest side of the building as an outdoor classroom.
In 2000-01, the district implemented the more holistic middle-school concept for grades 7 and 8. The name of the school was changed to Salem Middle School to reflect the attention to
young adolescents' needs. Latin, Spanish, and a rotation of other enrichment courses were added to the curriculum; a block schedule was implemented to allow teaching teams extended
instructional time with students.
During the early part of the 21st century, structural concerns plagued the building and required numerous repairs to the exterior walls and roof.
Following voters' rejection of a 4.3 mill emergency levy in November 2005, the school board decided to close 230 North Lincoln Avenue. At the end of the 2005-06 school year, the
students, staff and equipment of the Salem Middle School were moved to Salem High School at 1200 East Sixth Street. That building then became known as the Salem High School and
Salem Junior High School building.
Much of the information in this article came from The Salem Story Continues 1956-2006, published by the Salem Bicentennial Committee of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce.

The 1959-60 Salem Junior High School Orchestra.

The Salem High

School Class of 1953
fondly remembers DRY CLEANING • SHIRT LAUNDRY
the teachers who were 121 E. State St. • Salem 2341 E. State St. • Salem

the heart and soul 330-332-4463 330-337-6372

of the building. We know its your choice,
Thank You for choosing us!