- In February 1914, the Lower Merion School Board approved a lease
of land from the Lower Merion Academy and built Cynwyd Elementary
School. Although the building was still under construction, 189
students entered school on January 4, 1915.
- The school was designed by the architectural firm of Savery,
Scheetz and Savery. It was built with central heat, indoor plumbing
and large windows which helped to make each classroom bright and
airy.
- The original building had eight classrooms, the ones now fronting
Levering Mill Road. Each classroom represented one grade, with
the exception of grades seven and eight, which were combined.
- In 1920, the cafeteria and auditorium/gymnasium were added
along with more classrooms, which more than doubled the size of
the school. In 1938, the building was remodeled creating more
classroom space, modernizing the cafeteria and updating the heating,
clock, bell and telephone systems. In 1967, a classroom/library
wing was added to Cynwyd.
- Beginning in 1998 the library wing was demolished and was rebuilt.
The original structure also went through renovations.
- Cynwyd reopened in September 7, 1999. The entire original building
was renovated to include the office, library, cafeteria, computer
lab, kindergarten, fourth and fifth grade classrooms, learning
support, challenge, guidance, and day care. The new section houses
first, second, third, and fourth grade classrooms, music, art,
gym, reading, and speech. The new structure includes a spacious
atrium which provides a view of the Academy Building, Lower Merion's
first education center. The building includes a parking garage.
Cynwyd's reconstruction included a state of the art network. classroom
computers, and a computer lab.
- A detailed booklet on Cynwyd's history was prepared for the
75th anniversary in 1989 and is available in the school library.
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