1955

POPULATION:  11,293

HOUSES:  2,754

• 16" of rain falls from the remnants of Hurricane Diane, causing tremendous flooding and damage across town.

Major flooding in downtown Walpole, August 1955
Top Left:  East Street, Musto's Barber Shop in left background.
Bottom Left:  Looking south on Main Street from corner of East/Main.
Top Right:  Map of rainfall from Hurricane Diane.
(click photos to enlarge)

SCHOOLS

• Two major school construction projects are completed
• New Fisher School built on Gould Street
•  New wing added to Walpole High School

• School Department switches from 6-2-4 grade alignment (elementary/junior-high/senior-high) to 6-3-3 alignment
• J. Chauncey Smith hired as 9th grade teacher.
• Number of classrooms and students by grade in each school across the school system.  (Note:  Half-classes means multiple grades shared same classroom.)
• Note Baby Boom demographic bubble in Grades 1-4, primarily born 1946-1949.

*Junior high school student distribution between Old Stone and WHS estimated

Walpole High School East Wing Addition - 1955