Please sign to support maintaining our community and history!  

The future for KT Murphy as part of the city’s capital improvements. I am opposing the proposed change in its entirety as it is currently presented. I agree with the updates and changes that are needed to continue to serve the community and the future students of Stamford. But let’s start off first and foremost.  The main structure of KT Murphy is a Historic Building over 100 years old.  It has great bones, structure, and character. Historic buildings are more than just old structures—they are vital threads in the fabric of a city's identity. Preserving them not only honors the past but also shapes the character and future of the community. Below are key points of the history of KT Murphy and its glory. 

K.T. Murphy is a neighborhood school that was established in 1900. It is in the heart of the Cove Beach neighborhood of Stamford. Generations of families have sent their children to school here and have come back to work here. K.T. Murphy School has successfully served the Cove community for over a century. While we continue to look to the future, striving toward our goal of providing the best possible education for each student, we also remain proud of our unique heritage. 

It is also slated to rename KT Murphy “South School” is wrong in so many ways! Locationally, there is nothing “South” about the Cove nor the Eastside of Stamford. This is just navigationally ridiculous! 

Renaming buildings can affect how individuals and communities remember and relate to a place, potentially creating a disconnect between the present and the past. The former Rogers School on Lockwood Avenue structure is just that at this point as the “Rogers” name followed the new school building and even came up with an “extension of Rogers for the Strawberry Hill location.

Preserving the history of buildings is important because it connects us to the past, supports cultural identity, and can offer economic benefits. It also helps to ensure that future generations understand and appreciate the stories and values of their predecessors. 

Taking down KT Murphy in its entirety and not protecting the original main structure would be a travesty and an impact to the legacy and the community. The renaming the campus “South” School is confusing and a navigational nuisance. 

Below are more key supports.

Cultural and Historical Preservation:·        

Maintaining Character: Adaptive reuse and restoration help keep the unique character and identity of a place. 

·        Preserving Identity: Historic buildings are tangible links to the past, standing for the cultural heritage of a community. 

Sustainability and Environmental Advantages:

·        Reducing Waste: Preserving existing buildings minimizes the need for new construction and demolition, reducing waste. 

·        Conserving Resources: Reuse of existing materials and structures can save energy and reduce the environmental impact of construction. 

·        Lowering Costs: In many cases, restoration is more cost-effective than demolition and rebuilding. 

Other Benefits:

·        Creating a Sense of Community: Historic buildings can be focal points for community gatherings and social interaction. 

·        Enhancing Aesthetics: Well-maintained historic buildings can contribute to the overall beauty and charm of a neighborhood. 

·     Tax Incentives: Federal and state tax credits can help offset the cost of restoration and preservation.

A relevant quote from George Orwell's "1984" touches on the issue of changing names and rewriting history: "Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book has been rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street and building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And that process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped.". 

This quote suggests that the constant alteration of history, including renaming buildings, is a way to control the narrative and rewrite the past to fit the current power structure.