From left: Carpentry teacher Brian Borders, Director of Facilities Joe St. Pierre, Catherine Larkin’s great-great niece Kyra Larkin, Catherine Larkin’s great-nephew Rob Larkin, Masonry teacher Tim Lavoie, Superintendent Heidi Riccio, State Rep. Theodore Speliotis, Career Technical Education Director Don Ducharme, Career Technicall Education Director Jill Sawyer, Construction teacher Barry McGrory, Construction teacher Jamie Vanderkloot and Wood Trucking Corporation Owner Bob Wood. (Courtesy Photo Essex Tech) 
From left: Project Manager Bud Holden, Superintendent Heidi Riccio and Essex Aggie Alumnus Bob Wood. (Courtesy Photo Essex Tech) 
Essex Tech demolished the original Larkin Cottage building on Thursday, March 12. (Courtesy Photo Essex Tech)
DANVERS — Superintendent Heidi Riccio reports that the Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage was demolished to clear the way for construction of a new building last week.
On Thursday, March 12, the demolition of Larkin Cottage took place as Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School prepares for the construction of a new facility.
The new Catherine Larkin Memorial cottage will replace the 70-year-old original building, which was originally constructed to house the homemaking program at Essex Tech. The project will take approximately two years to complete, and the rebuilt facility will feature an agricultural museum, learning center and community function space. The building will showcase historic artifacts from the school’s long history, and will include a kitchen to support various events.
The project will serve as an unprecedented opportunity to incorporate students in all facets of the construction effort, with students from 10 career technical education programs set to contribute. Students from the arboriculture, carpentry, construction craft laborer, electrical, HVAC, landscaping, masonry, plumbing, natural resources and environmental science and sustainable horticulture programs will all be involved.
“The Larkin cottage has such a deep history on the campus of Essex Tech,” Superintendent Riccio said. “The rebuild will allow students to actively participate in that legacy and apply their skills, and today brought us one step closer to construction. Our students will be able to look back on the work done here for years to come. We are truly appreciative of the Larkin family for supporting this project and Bob Wood from Wood Trucking for his continued enthusiasm and donation of services.”
Students who attend the school on a part-time basis through an existing CTE expansion partnership with schools in Gloucester, Peabody and Salem will also participate in the construction effort.
The original cottage was named after Catherine Larkin, an alumnus of the school and member of the Army Nurse Corps who died plane crash in 1945. The building was gifted to the school by her family.
Essex Tech has raised approximately $250,000 for the project through donations as well as grant funding, and has set a fundraising goal of $1 million.
To donate or learn more about the Catherine Larkin Memorial Cottage, visit essexnorthshore.org/larkin/.
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