One of the most recognizable buildings in Marshfield, affectionately known as “The Purdy Building,” will host a special reunion event on September 10 for all former students of Purdy Junior High School.
Built in 1920, the collegiate gothic three-story structure was originally going to be named “Franklin Middle School.” However, after news of the tragic and heroic death of Marshfield’s own Willard Purdy, citizens elected to name the new school after him. Purdy, just age 23, sacrificed his life to save his comrades while serving in WWI, diving onto an active grenade with a cry of “look out boys” as he smothered the explosion.
The Purdy School served as a junior high until 1971, when Mid-State Technical College moved into the building after the completion of the new senior high. (It also served for some years as both a junior and senior high after McKinley High School burned in 1936.)
Today the building houses 53 apartments as Aster Assisted Living of Marshfield, and residents and staff are excited to celebrate the building’s historic past.
“We are having a ‘Purdy Reunion’ – open to anyone who attended the school,” said Tammy Hardinger, Sales & Marketing Director at Aster. “This will be a fun event with free food, music, a memorabilia display, reminisce tours, and a presentation.”
The day will begin with a presentation and panel discussion with a local historian and Irv Johnson, a former teacher at the Purdy School.
“We hope it will spawn some fun memories,” said Hardinger, who is excited to wear a PJHS wool phy-ed shirt (borrowed from Johnson) to the event. “We want to give people a chance to talk about what it was like going to school there.”
Hardinger added that there will also be “reminisce tours,” walking through the building highlighting what the building was and how it has changed.
“The building was renovated with a lot of care and foresight and has retained its character. There are still some original fixtures and woodwork in the building, ” she said, adding that some former students are now residents at Aster.
“So many people walked through the doors of the building when they were much younger, and some are now living here as older adults,” she said.
Later, visitors can enjoy a musical performance by Jerry Strack, a former student at the school. Also on display will be memorabilia from the school’s past and a fun photo booth opportunity. In honor of the building’s namesake, a young man dressed as Willard Purdy will share his famous story and mingle with guests.
“It’s really cool that his name lives on,” said Hardinger. “If you say ‘Purdy Building’ in Marshfield, people know where you are talking about. This building has touched a lot of people’s lives. We thought it would be really cool if we opened it back up.”
Hardinger encourages anyone who attended Purdy Junior High School to attend this event.
“Come to maybe see friends that you haven’t seen for a while, talk about some memories that you maybe haven’t thought about in a long time, and just go back in time and reflect on some happier, simpler times in your life,” she said. “In a day and age where we are sometimes quick to get rid of the old and go with the new, value that there was enough foresight to give the building new life and keep it going.”
The Purdy Junior High School Reunion will take place on Saturday, September 10 from 10:00am-1:00pm. Call 715-384-6611 with questions.
Historical information from “The Marshfield Story: 1872-1997” Palmer Publications Inc.
Photo: Aerial photo taken of the Purdy building in 1946. Courtesy of Don Schnitzler.
