East Boston’s Lost Schools: The Austin School

The Austin School was located on Paris Street, now the parking lot adjacent to the Italian American War Veterans Post.  Built in 1849, the three-story brick and granite schoolhouse contained six school rooms and one staircase. The building was expanded and remodeled in 1855 and expanded again in 1868.  In 1895, the board of health condemned the building due to basement flooding, drainage issues, and an inferior ventilation system.  The school was closed, and the building was surrendered to the Boston City Council.  Due to the increasing demand for space, the building was given back to the school committee in 1899. After extensive renovations, the school reopened to students in 1900. In 1912, the Austin School became the temporary location of the East Boston branch of the Boston Public Library. It remained a library until the new library building on Meridian Street opened in 1914.