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Conant High School, now the Jaffrey-Rindge Middle School, Stratton Road. The High School moved to this building, on the right, in 1916. The architect was Harold E. Mason of Keene and the total construction cost was $40,044.71. Hundreds of school buildings across America were designed in this Neo-classical style. The addition, above at right, which opened in 1954, was designed by Irving Hearsey of Durham and built at a cost of $340,000. There’s a lesson here on modifying a building over time to respond to changing needs. That the best and most public-spirited of intentions don’t necessarily lead to pleasing design is proven by the contemporary view. Nearly every change since 1916 has had the effect of diminishing the strength and clarity of the original architectural composition: The main entrance is no longer an entrance; the trim above it has disappeared; and the windows above that have been bricked-in. The parapets had lent some texture and interest to the roofline, but now the roof is just a flat plane that fails to draw our notice. But saddest of all is what’s happened to the windows which were such an important element of the original design. The effect of replacing them with ones not only of incompatible design but of smaller size and differing shape is to throw the proportions and harmony of the entire façade out of kilter. Between 1920 and 1938. From Jaffrey Then & Now, 1994.