High School’s hidden places offer history lesson

Hidden places are everywhere, even in the Milton Area High School.

According to History Teacher Ms. Kellie Brouse, there was both a bomb shelter and rifle range in the building at one time.

The rifle range was put in the school basement when the building was built in 1954.

“It was a 22 range. They shot 22 caliber, single shot rifles there,” said Ms. Brouse. This was at a time during the Cold War when defense strategies were highly encouraged, she explained. She added that boys and girls had the opportunity to use the range, but it was mostly used by boys.

The range was in use up through the 1970s but was discontinued. Ms. Brouse said she believes that the newest use of the range area is a storage unit. Co-Principal Mr. Andrew Rantz later clarified that the area is now used as a wrestling room.

The bomb shelter was located under the basement, put there in order to limit the radiation exposure, according to Ms. Brouse. The shelter was a bricked in area but she believes it has been filled in, added Ms. Brouse.

“You could go in there and they had tons and tons of canned water. Why was it canned? The can…They hoped it would protect it better,” said Ms. Brouse. She added that there was a supply of canned food as well.

According to Ms. Brouse, Milton was number two on the list of places to bomb during bombing runs in WWII since Continental Can and Chef Boyardee were both located in Milton.

Ms. Brouse said she finds the bomb shelter the most intriguing due to the history, but still finds the rifle range interesting as well.

She has not seen any other places being uncovered and does not expect any more to be uncovered, added Ms. Brouse.

Mr. Rantz said that he never knew of a bomb shelter being below the basement.

Mr. Rantz added that since most of the areas currently in the basement were moved upstairs during the renovation process, most of the basement will not be used.