Škola Kamenický Šenov
Explore Škola Kamenický Šenov, the Czech State Elementary and Middle School in the town Kamenický Šenov. It was built in 1926 and abandoned after a merge in 2004.
In the early 1900s, Kamenický Šenov had many glass factories. Most workers were German-speaking. But there was also a growing Czech population. They wanted a Czech-language school. The municipality issued a building permit in 1925, and one year later, the school opened.
The building is made of brick, it has a basement and two or three floors above ground, the roof is gabled and covered with sheet metal. The school complex includes two large connected buildings. The total area is over 13,000 m².
Jílk brothers
The school cost 2.5 million CZK to build. The state and local glassmakers paid for it. The Jílk brothers, owners of a nearby glass factory, helped a lot. The school had modern equipment for that time. It had central heating and even a gym.
But soon, the school management noticed a problem. The number of pupils was too low. In fact, the school had to bring in children from nearby villages to fill the classrooms.
During the Second World War, the Germans took over the school. It became a school for German boys. Later, resettled families from Eastern Europe lived in the building for a short time.
Closed, emptied, sold
In 2004, Škola Kamenický Šenov was merged with another school. As a result, the building was no longer needed. The new owner closed, emptied, and later sold the school. Since then, it has been left abandoned.
Nature is slowly taking over this once proud school. Walls are cracking, and the roof is damaged. It stands as a silent reminder of the town’s history and the rise and fall of a once-thriving school. I visited this abandoned school in 2023.
