Photo: Shari Small/WBZ NewsRadio
LAWRENCE, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — When students enter the new Henry K. Oliver K-8 School in Lawrence next week, they will be greeted by a tribute to a literary giant who grew up in that city.
Robert Frost was born in San Francisco but moved to Lawrence in 1884 after the death of his father.
As its class poet, Frost graduated from Lawrence High School in 1892.
His ancestors were originally from New England.
Frost became known for using the region's people, geography, nature, and culture as the foundation of his poetry.
A new 8'-tall granite bust of Frost now graces the school's courtyard.
Lindsey Gazlay, Lawrence Public Library's Reference Librarian, said the library has a Robert Frost collection including his first poem ever published in the 'Bulletin,' the school's newspaper. "We do have that here in the library called "Los Noches Triste" in the April 1890 issue," she said. "He continued to publish in the Bulletin and would become its chief editor during his senior year of high school."
Jaden Belizaire, assistant librarian and a Lawrence resident, said he remembers well the legacy left by Frost's poetry. "Going into middle school, I would have to recite poems on a weekly basis, and a lot of them happened to be Robert Frost poems."
School officials said it's only fitting that the new Oliver school and tribute to Frost are located in the same spot where his alma mater, the old Lawrence High School, once stood.
WBZ NewsRadio's Shari Small (@ShariSmallNews) reports.