Ever wonder about the stories held within these walls? This is Escuela 59. It is more than just a building. Escuela 59 is a place of memories and learning in Montevideo.
Originally, it was known as Escuela Campamento. The school got this name because of its location on what was once Calle Campamento. Today, it is known as César Batlle Pacheco. The street’s former name paid tribute to Oribe’s encampments during the “Great Siege”.
César Batlle’s father José Batlle y Ordóñez had his quinta near here. Part of the school now occupies that land. Behind Escuela 59 stands the José Batlle y Ordóñez museum. The building was constructed in the 1950s and opened its doors in 1960. Two schools share this building operating in different shifts. Yet these schools still await official names.
Escuela 59 has a rich history. It began as Escuela Rural Nro. 41. It opened on July 5, 1911. The location was in a space owned by José Cassina. Cassina was a Swiss citizen. His Almacén y Bodega El Suizo stood next to the school. Today, that spot houses the Bingo and La Fragata bakery.
Sara Ortiz was the first director. Isabel Pintos de Abelenda served as her substitute. Celestina Martínez taught here. José Batlle y Ordóñez hired this black teacher to instruct his workers’ children. Teresa O Berta also taught here. She later became director in the 1940s.
In the early years not all children finished their courses at Escuela 59. Many worked on family farms. Some moved away. Bad weather often kept them from attending because the roads were dirt. Still, the number of students grew. In 1920, Escuela 59 became an urban school of the second grade.
Back then, school life was very different. Students did not wear tunics. Those came later in the 1920s. Blue ribbons appeared in the 30s. They served as a pass for students on the tram. Rural schools held classes in the morning during summer. Winter classes took place in the afternoon. This schedule continued even after Escuela 59 became an urban school.
What did students use before laptops? Books, abacuses, and typewriters. These were the tools of learning. Escuela 59 celebrated more national holidays then. They even celebrated holidays of other countries. Schools aimed to create unified Uruguayan citizens out of immigrants. Uniforms were part of this effort.
José Batlle y Ordóñez lived near Escuela 59. When he died in 1929, the school honored him. Domingo Arena was another benefactor. He passed away in 1939. The school planted a garden with a tree donated by Matilde Pacheco. Arena and Batlle provided clothing for poor students. The Batlle family donated toys at the end of each year.
Escuela 59 also had a museum. It showed films and documentaries. The school had a theater group called Los Intrépidos. Girls learned sewing. Boys learned carpentry. Physical education took place in the sports plaza. Field trips were common.
By 1920, Escuela 59 had 237 students. In 1940, the student population reached 505. The school operated in two shifts. In 1940, they created Escuela Nro 119 to accommodate all students. A new building was needed. Construction began in 1956 on land donated by the Batlle-Pacheco family.
In March 1960, the new Escuela 59 opened. This modern building has two floors. It has 14 classrooms and a garden area. There are two patios. One is covered. A teacher poetically called it the “gallery”. A ceibo tree, a national symbol, stands in the lower part of the building.
Escuela 59 continues to evolve. It has faced challenges. Yet it remains a vital part of the community. It is a place where memories are made.