The Original Benjamin Franklin Schoolhouse at Guy Benjamin School

The Original Schoolhouse built around 1935 today in 2022.

The original schoolhouse at Guy Benjamin School was built around 1935 by the Department of Public Works as the school to replace the one across the road at the Emmaus Moravian village. This is how it looks today, after being battered by the 2017 hurricanes, and left unused when the school closed in 2014. What will its future be? Does it qualify for the National Register of Historic Places? There is an application being drafted and it needs more information….

When it was built it was called the Bejamin Franklin School, until 1975 when it was renamed to honor Guy Benjamin. We do not know who was the architect? Who was the builder? There were buildings like this on St. Thomas. Are they still present?

Do you know any of these answers? Do you have family stories of being a student at the school? Please get in touch if you do!

Timeline

June 4, 1783 – The first account of Estate Emmaus being sold to the Moravian ChurchThe following was published before the Saint Thomas ordinaires upper court: No. 370
“Johan Severin Weyle and curator sign deed and receipt for the Emaus Plantation, lying on Coral Bay Quarter on St. Jan to the Mission of the Evangelical Bretheren.”

October 18, 1913 – Guy H Benjamin was born.

About 1926, he went on to St. Thomas to go to high school. He was first St. Johnian to graduate from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1934.

Remembering Guy H. Benjamin | | virginislandsdailynews.com

1933 – Deed from Moravian Church to Virgin Islands Government for #2 Emmaus – space to build school. Added to #1 Emmaus already transferred from the church to the government in 1920 for a police station, cistern and other uses.

Circa 1935 – Benjamin Franklin School was built.

Mid 1950’s – Concrete building was constructed next to the original building for food preparation, cafeteria and possibly housing teacher, later known as administration building.

1973-4 – Additional school buildings were built on #1 Emmaus and children went to school at Emmaus Fellowship Hall or other church buildings that year during construction. (photos of students and old campus available in album from teacher Abigail Imbrie – more identification of students desirable)

June 4, 1975 – Act No. 3695 approved by the Eleventh Legislature of the Virgin Islands changed the name of the Benjamin Franklin School on St. John to the Guy Benjamin School in honor of the forty years of devoted and distinguished service of Mr. Guy Benjamin.

June 2014 – School was closed permanently.

September 2017 – campus was destroyed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Original schoolhouse received slight damage only.