A look back: 5 Weymouth buildings that used to be something else

WEYMOUTH ? The more things change, the more they stay the same.

At least that's the case for some historical buildings in town that have stood the test of time.

While they may not be used for their original purpose, these five buildings are still standing and would be easily identifiable to a time traveler from decades ago.

Clapp Memorial Building was built to honor a son after his death

Then: The Clapp Memorial Building was built in 1903 by Edwin Clapp, a partner in the Edwin Clapp Shoe Co., which was on nearby Charles Street. Clapp built it in honor of his late son, Davis Bates Clapp, who died in 1901. Davis Clapp had been an outstanding athlete baseball and track. The building was left for the use of Weymouth and was administered by a board of trustees.

The building had a gym, an indoor track and a stage, and for more than a half-century it was run as a youth athletic center. It hosted Rotary Club meetings for many years and the centennial celebration of the shoe company in 1952. In 1959, the directors voted to affiliate with the National Council of YMCAs. The building was sold to the Word of Grace Church in 1983, after the group had leased the building for more than a year. It was then sold to the Living Hope Foursquare Church in 1991. After the group moved to Hanover in 2008, the building was empty for a few years.

Now: After an unsuccessful attempt to redevelop the Middle Street property for retail and residential use, John Deady, of North Weymouth, purchased the building in 2012 and made it the center of a 20-unit condominium complex.

The Fogg Building once had performance space

Then: The Fogg Building at 4 Columbian St. was designed by J. Williams Beal, and built in 1887 for local businessman John Fogg. The Richardsonian Romanesque structure originally housed a performance space and social gathering places in its upper floors. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Now: The Fogg Building was remodeled into apartments around 1938. Today the Fogg Building has commercial tenants on the ground floor with apartments above and is a staple of Columbian Square.

The Washington School was a school site starting in 1839

Then: The Washington School was built at 8 School St. in 1887. The land where the school stands had been the site of a Weymouth school since 1839, when the town bought the land and built two smaller buildings. Those buildings were deemed unsuitable and the larger Washington School was constructed. Shepard S. Woodcock designed the wood-frame building, which is considered Queen Anne style.

Now: The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and has since been converted into offices.

The Jefferson School is on on the National Register of Historic Places

Then: The Jefferson School was built at 200 Middle St. in 1889. The Queen Anne-style school was designed by Shepard S. Woodcock and is a variant of the Washington School. The four-room school is topped by an octagonal clock tower.

Now: The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981 and is now used by the early education nonprofit South Shore Stars. The school is painted yellow and brown, but was originally likely taupe, as seen in a 1936 watercolor, or gray.

John Adams Elementary School: The site of Weymouth's first school building

Then: The Greek Revival/Italianate school building was built in 1855, on the site of Weymouth's first school building, which was built in 1681. The John Adams School is Weymouth's oldest surviving school building.

Now: The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and houses a day care center.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: A look back at iconic Weymouth buildings and their past lives