North Country This Week

POTSDAM – A high school senior created and is selling a book titled "A Look Back at the History of the Potsdam High School, 1926-2023" as part of his capstone project.

Lucas Clemons said his 81-page book is filled with historical photos and details about the many changes the school has gone through since its construction in 1926.

“I love to learn more about history and wanted to learn more about the Potsdam High School,” Clemons said about choosing his topic. 

What started out as a research paper, grew into an 81-page book over the course of six months, he said.

He researched using old newspapers from community members and museums, as well as old yearbooks now digitized and placed online.

“I also sat down and talked with alumni about what they knew,” he said. “Finally I had got ahold of blueprints from past renovations that showed many changes throughout the school.”

The senior said one of the many interesting facts he learned is where the high school library is now that used to be the site of the original HS gym.

“Where the library is now, there are many remnants of the old gym such as the high ceilings, the original gym floor under the carpet and the same doors that would have led to the locker rooms but are now turned into a bathroom and an office,” he said.

Also of interest to Clemons, was the basement.

“I was very fascinated with the basement of the school because there used to be classrooms down there and are now used for storage,” he said. “The original locker rooms for the gym used to be in the basement as well and you can still see the original lockers and showers still intact.”

In addition to the book, Clemons is working on a time capsule for the senior class of 2023.

“I want to preserve history and keep making more,” he said. 

Clemons printed the books on a printer he purchased as a cost-savings measure.

“I have been making them myself and selling them to community members by advertising online and by putting up flyers in a few public places,” he said.

Clemons has sold more than 50 physical copies of the book.

“I can't keep up with the demand of printing so I now have a free digital copy of the book,” he said.

If anyone would like a copy, email Clemons at lclemons142@potsdam.k12.ny.us. The deadline to purchase a copy is June 24.