HATHORNE – Superintendent Heidi Riccio is proud to share that Essex Tech construction students, working alongside professional union tradespeople, have installed roof trusses on the new Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage.
Students worked with members of the North American Atlantic States Carpenters Union, marking a significant milestone for the project.
“The Larkin Cottage project started three years ago with the intention of bringing all trades together under one roof,” Superintendent Riccio said. “Having the collaboration of the Carpenter’s Union has been instrumental in getting the trusses up, but more importantly, demonstrating the work ethic needed to build the next generation of carpenters.”
The original Larkin Memorial Cottage, built in 1950, was named after Lt. Catherine Larkin, an alumnus of the Essex County Agricultural School homemaking program and World War II nurse who died in a plane crash in 1945. Larkin is recognized by two memorials in her hometown of Salem.
The Larkin family built a small Cape-style house in her memory to continue the Homemaking School. The original cottage was the second-oldest building on campus, after Smith Hall.
The Cottage is being rebuilt into a multi-use facility, including a historical museum, service kitchen, office space, an exhibit hall, a learning lab and function space.
This unique project gives students in the Construction CTAE programs — Carpentry, Construction Craft Laborer, Plumbing, Masonry, Electrical – hand-on experience in a major building project. It also affords them the chance to learn directly from workers in the union trades, including the North American Atlantic States Carpenters Union and Local 22 Laborers Union.
“We are extremely proud of the partnership between the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Apprenticeship and the Essex Agricultural and Technical High School. Having the school’s carpentry students working with the NASTF Apprentices allowed them to experience real time construction applications. Partnerships like this are important because they are cultivating and training the next generation of the construction industry workforce,” said Chris Galatis, Business Representative for the Council.
The project is being funded by private donors, competitive grants, fundraising, and donations of supplies, services, labor.
The Larkin Gala is held on the South Campus under a tent and is a great evening of bringing people together for a dinner prepared and served by our students, an auction, music and dancing, and honoring a member of the North Shore community who contributed to vocational and agricultural education.
“This was a great opportunity for our students to work alongside the Carpenters Union apprentices installing the Larkin Cottage trusses. We feel fortunate to have formed a strong partnership with the Carpenter’s Union to provide these opportunities for our students, as well as their apprentices and look forward to future collaborations,” said Jill Sawyer, CTAE Director.
To learn more about the Larkin Memorial Cottage Project and view pictures of ongoing student work, click here.
Essex Tech students, working alongside professional union tradespeople, have installed roof trusses on the new Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage. (Photo Courtesy Essex Tech) 
Essex Tech students, working alongside professional union tradespeople, have installed roof trusses on the new Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage. (Photo Courtesy Essex Tech)
