by SUZANNE FATOW, for the Courier-Post
"I think it's a fair price, and it's going to a worthy cause." - Dennis Hassis
CINNAMINSON - January, 2000 - Built around the turn of the last century, the Phillips
School on Pomona Road started out as a segregated school for black children. Since then,
it has been a place to learn for children of all races and ages before being converted in
the early 1980s to offices for the Cinnaminson
school administration.
This week, the township school board sold the building to the Burlington County Footlighters theater group for $205,000. The group has rent&j the building for 17 years. "I think it's a fair price, and it's going to a worthy cause," board member Dennis Hassis said. "We are delighted to announce the agreement of sale," said Pamela Grimme, the playhouse facility director. While renting the building, the Footlighters were always working to make this dream a reality by having our own home," she said. The Footlighters is entering its 64th season, she noted.
School board President Harry Shea remebers the building fondly - he attended elementary
school there. Shea said he believes the building was constructed near the beginning of the
1900's , since his grandfather was born in 1889 and the building was there most of his
life.
The building was last used for education in the early 1970's when it was an alternative
high school. The school administration moved its offices into the building, but the stay
was brief.
"Then it became too costly to do the repairs," Shea said, and the
Footlighters moved in. The theatre group started in the late 1930's at Palmyra High
School. It currently is presenting the Gilbert and Sullivan musical Iolanthe,
which runs through Feb. 12.