Embedded Files
By Briana Donaldson
The cupola, one of the many historical parts of Pen Argyl Area High School, is now called new again. The renovation of the cupola started in July and wrapped up in August. With no bumps in the road and very little rain, the three-man crew quickly got the job done. Aside from the aesthetic value to the architecture, it will always be looked at as the stalwart sentinel referenced in the PAHS Alma Mater. “Even when leaving town, there is a brief moment getting onto Route 33 South where you can see the cupola peaking out of the trees,” said Nolan Gerencser, principal.
Through this project the students, faculty, and community were able to transcend past and current traditions. The cupola offers a sense of connection; one that makes apparent the time honored traditions shared by all Green Knights, past, present and future.
Photo Courtesy of Briana Donaldson
The newly renovated "stalwart sentinel" stands tall above the high school's C wing. The rennovation finished on August 15 after a month of intense restoration. The cupola remains a focal point of the campus situated on the hill.
Even though it has been nearly 100 years since the cupola was first constructed, it still serves the same purpose. In 1936 the cupola was used as a bell tower to indicate the start and end of the school day. To this day, even after the renovation, the cupola still holds the original bell. Beyond housing the building’s original bell, the cupola has a beautiful view at the very top. Eric Sampson, guidance counselor and Pen Argyl alum, said, “You can stand at the top of the tower and see little spots of New Jersey. It might just be the tallest structure in Pen Argyl."
Thanks to the recent renovations, the stalwart sentinel referenced in the Alma Mater can remain a focal point of the Slate Belt for generations to come.
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