1905
Stockton School Opens
Excerpt from The History of the Oranges, Volume 3:
Indication of the growth of Ampere (Fifth Ward) was the
demand for another school in that vicinity early in the decade of
1900-1910. A lot was therefore purchased on William street,
extending from Nineteenth street to Greenwood avenue, and the
school house named in honor of Richard Stockton, the only martyr
of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence and a
Jerseyman, was opened for the reception of pupils on February 13,
1905. William H. Smith was placed in charge as the principal. The
building contained twelve class rooms, an auditorium on the third
floor and other necessary rooms. The Stockton coat of arms
appeared in the stained glass windows of the auditorium.
In 1998, the school was renamed Gordon Parks Academy.
Further Resources of Interest on this
subject:
More history, photos and
information about Stockton School and the local surrounding area
can be found on former Stockton student Jeff Smith's Stockton
School Blog: http://www.stocktonschool.blogspot.com/