A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
From the Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures series
As Lewis J. Bennett High School celebrates its 100th anniversary, explore the Georgian revival-style building through this Closer Look from 2018. “Everyone knows where Bennett is on Main Street," said Paul McDonnell, director of facilities, planning, design and construction for the Buffalo Public Schools in 2018. "It’s really become so much of a community icon.”
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The main entrance to Bennett High School on Main Street in Buffalo. It was named for Lewis J. Bennett, president of the Buffalo Cement Co. Bennett donated the land for the school and for All High Stadium and developed the Central Park neighborhood across the street.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The Georgian Revival building opened in 1925 with more than 2,500 students. "In the 1940s, '50s and '60s it was considered the best school in Buffalo," says Patrick McDonnell, facilities manager for the Buffalo schools and chairman of the Buffalo Preservation Board. The clock is working again for the first time in nearly a half-century.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The auditorium has more than 1,000 seats.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A brass lectern on the stage of the auditorium.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The auditorium has a coffered ceiling and arched palladian windows.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The stage has a full fly tower, double the height of the proscenium, allowing sets for theatrical productions to be raised all the way up, notes Paul McDonnell, facilities manager for the Buffalo schools.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The original chairs in the auditorium were restored during the renovation in 2005-06.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A plaque in the lobby lists the members of the Buffalo Board of Education at the time of the school's construction.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The coffered ceiling of the Bennett auditorium. McDonnell quotes architectural historian Frank Kowsky, who described Bennett this way: "There is no more eloquent architectural statement of the dignity of education anywhere in town."
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Along the walls of the lobby are plaster cast friezes, a replica of the Elgin Marbles, the collection of classical Greek sculptures from the Parthenon.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Detail of the friezes in the lobby.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The Georgian Revival building was designed by Buffalo Associated Architects. It now houses three small high schools: the Bennett School of Innovative Technology, Middle Early College, and the Research Laboratory Program for Bioinformatics & Life Sciences.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
An old ticket window in the lobby at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A copy of a photo of the Class of 1939 in the alumni room at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A table in the alumni room given to Bennett High School by the Class of 1937. The alumni room was restored to match the light fixtures, the case work and furniture at the time the building opened in 1925.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Yearbooks on the shelves in the alumni room at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The four-lane pool at Bennett High School is used for physical education classes.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The pool at Bennett High School is original to the building.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Lockers line the hallway at Bennett High School on Main Street.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Morning sunlight shines on the bricks at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Murals painted outside the second-floor auditorium seating at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Sunshine lights up the bricks at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The volleyball team practices at Bennett High School on Main Street in Buffalo.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The library at Bennett High School was doubled in size when the school was restored in 2005-06.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Computers in the library at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The 2006 renovation of All High Stadium included replacing the natural grass field with polyethylene fiber grass, completing an eight-lane, all-weather track and new seating.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The Robert E. Rich Sr. All High Stadium at Bennett High School on Main Street.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A ticket booth at the Robert E. Rich Sr. All High Stadium at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A decorative arch at the Robert E. Rich Sr. All High Stadium at Bennett High School. "All-High Stadium is one of the largest athletic fields in Buffalo and may be the only one with covered built-in seating," McDonnell said.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Bleachers at All High Stadium at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The Harvard Cup Hall Of Fame plaque hangs on the wall at All High Stadium.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A light fixture at All High Stadium.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The names of the public high schools are engraved in the stone at All High Stadium.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The cornerstone of All High Stadium at Bennett High School.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
The names of all the U.S. presidents who served up to 1923 when the building was designed in 1923 (George Washington to Warren G. Harding) are engraved above the third-floor windows.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
Round tables in the cafeteria at Bennett High School. The cafeteria overlooks All High Stadium.
A Closer Look: Bennett High School, a 'community icon' on Main
A flag reflected in the entrance to Middle Earlier College at Bennett High School.
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Photo series: A Closer Look: Explore Western New York’s architectural treasures
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
