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
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 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 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
Lockers line the hallway at Bennett.
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
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.
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…