Concord Park Elementary School was located at the southeast corner of Colonial Drive and 441/OBT at 1010-1020 West Colonial Drive. Its western boundary was separated from the railroad track by a line of bushes and was bordered on the south and east by homes.
Because of the dangerous roads and there not being school crossing guards, the families of the Spring Lake neighborhood to the northwest pushed for the installation of underground tunnels to allow children to cross both, 441/OBT and Colonial Drive safely. Cement structures with steel doors were constructed at each of the four corners of the intersection. The tunnels were lighted and finished in 1950.
In 1964, the 2.8 acre property was sold to build McNamara Pontiac and the school was razed. Due to an increase in crime in the area and no more Concord Park school, the stone structures were removed and the tunnels were used briefly to run utilities and wiring. It’s believed that they are all then filled in. The entrances that would have been on the western side of 441/OBT are now underneath the widened highway.
Keith Godwin: I attended Concord Park Elementary School from 1st thru 6th grade and lived down behind Parkwood Plaza off of highway 50. I took the bus to and from school every day. I was in 4th grade when President Kennedy was assassinated. I still remember the great lunches that were served and what seemed like a huge auditorium. The playground was absolutely great with huge swings and all kinds of playground equipment. I still remember some of the names of the other children like Laurie Dunn and Karen Kelly. Every year, without fail, Laurie would come to school on the first day and cry her eyes out. Karen was blonde haired and my grade school sweetheart. I also remember practicing for an atomic bomb explosion as we had to get under our desks. We also brought a mat or rug to school to take a nap on each day. I think I had a teacher named Ms. Wise.
Listen to Katherine Beasley Bornstein’s memory of Concord Park School and “The Tunnel” from an interview at Dubsdread Country Club on June 27, 2012.
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Concord Park Elementary School
Concord Park Elementary School was located at the southeast corner of Colonial Drive and 441/OBT at 1010-1020 West Colonial Drive. Its western...
Photo - Concord Park Elementary School
Concord Park Elementary School was located at the southeast corner of Colonial Drive and 441/OBT at 1010-1020 West Colonial Drive. Its western...
Concord Park Elementary School, Circa 1949
Ms. Anderson's third grade class at Concord Park Elementary School are all smiles as photographer Alan Anderson takes the shot. Mr. Anderson had...
Concord Park Elementary School Girl Scouts
The 4th grade Girl Scout Troop of Concord Park Elementary School, circa 1950. Concord Park Elementary School was truly a beautiful school ...pristine...
Concord Park Elementary School 5th Grade Class
Ms. Taggert's 5th grade class at Concord Park Elementary School, circa 1950. Concord Park Elementary School was located at 1010 West Colonial Drive,...
I attended CPE 4th and 5th grade. Was there a teacher, Miss Wetherall(?)? I lived right behind the school.
Greetings Rita! Thank you for visiting the Orlando Memory post on Concord Park Elementary School and sharing with us. If you tell us the years you were at CPE, we can try to verify your teacher’s name. We hope you find more posts that bring back happy memories of days gone by and continue to share your memories with us all! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
I taught music at Concord Park Elementary 1959-1961. I was at Pine Hills Elementary for half the week and then at Concord Park for the other half. Rosalie White was the principal and the teachers I remember are: Betty Ann Bazemore, Margaret Roberts, Virginia Blair, Ms. Mahard, Ms. Toney, Ms. Erickson and Jean Coivu who taught art. I remember our programs on the stage in the upstairs auditorium. Of course, this was before air conditioning in the schools so we had open windows and big fans. It could get noisy at times. I remember Concord Park as a friendly school with good students and an interesting history.
Greetings JoAnn! Thank you for visiting our Orlando Memory post on Concord Park Elementary School and sharing wonderful information. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
Keith,
My name is Ann Evans. I attended CPE from 11st to 6th grade. Right after that, it was sold to McNamara Pontiac and torn down. I had Mrs. White, Miss Nagle, Mrs. Nelson, 4th ?, Betty Anne Bazemore and Richard Reiff. The lunchroom was outstanding (and we didn’t even know it) and the lunches too! We had talent shows and always did some performance or other. Brenda Brown, Terry Caton, Laurie Dunn—we were all friends. The underpasses were a great story to tell. This has given me inspiration to find any of our old school pictures.
Ann Mixson
I attended Concord Park Elementary School , first through third grade, 1961-1964. My teachers were Miss Nagle for first grade, Mrs. Sewell for second, and Mrs. Williams for third grade. Such good memories of the playground and the occasional train that went by. Thanks for this post.
Greetings Mike! Thank you for visiting our Orlando Memory post on Concord Park Elementary School. We hope you find other posts that bring back happy memories of Orlando! THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM.
I remember Laurie Dunn crying on the first day of school every year.
Greetings Keith! Thank you for visiting the Orlando Memory post on Concord Park Elementary School and sharing your sharing your thoughts. We hope you find other posts on Orlando Memory that bring back happy memories of days gone by. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
Veni, Vidi, Concord Park!
Vini, Vidi,, Concord Park!
I attended Concord Park Elementary for 1st and 2nd grades, 1953 to 1955. Because of the “baby boom” the school was overcrowded; thus, my first grade classroom was on the auditorium stage. Our teacher, Miss Alynn Cordell, would pull the curtains for some semblance of a room. We had to pull our desks backstage whenever the auditorium was used for an assembly or program.
Greetings Don! Thank you for sharing your wonderful memories of Concord Park Elementary School. That must have been quite an experience with class on the stage! We hope you will find other posts that bring back memories of the good old days in Orlando. THE ORLANDO MEMORY TEAM
I attended CPE from 1959 to 1961, second and third grades. My second grade teacher was Miss Rogers who married to become Mrs. Hall. Mrs. Nelson was my third grade teacher. My friends were Shelley Frazier, Anne Evans and a boy named, Larry. I have a third grade class photo and a photo of me and a female classmate performing In Your Easter Bonnett for the Spring Concert. I was chosen to sing because the school’s auditorium had no sound system; I could carry a tune and had a voice that filled the auditorium. My female classmate promenaded across the stage as I sang the song.
I attended Concord Park Elementary, also, from 1958-1962 (2nd through 6th grades). I lived in the neighborhood that bordered Parkwood Plaza to the west. From there I went to Lee Jr. High School and Evans High School graduating in 1968.
Is your maiden name Clemmons?
I lived beside Parkwood plaza on kensington drive