WORCESTER, Mass. — The construction fence lines Highland Street in front of the old Doherty Memorial High School, and the building's days are numbered.

Tuesday was the school's last day of class, and for former Highlanders who spent time in those hallways, it was a bittersweet day.

"This is my 20th year working here at Doherty, so I can't imagine many days in my life not being in that building," said Kerry Mulcahy, a teacher at the school and a member of the class of 1998.

What You Need To Know

  • Tuesday was the last day of school in Worcester, and the last day of classes at the old Doherty Memorial High School.

  • The building, which opened in 1966, will be replaced with a new state-of-the-art facility.

  • Doherty's new building is on schedule to welcome students this upcoming school year.

  • The school's alumni say they're sad to see the building go, but will always have fond memories. 

"I didn't think I would be as nostalgic as I am, just having spent four years here," said Allisen Tencza, class of 1996. "Myself and my brothers came here, and being a teacher, it's sad to see it go."

The building opened its doors in 1966. Thousands have been able to call it their high school — the memories still fresh in their minds, regardless of when they walked the stage.

"We were pretty close to the first class that came through," said Cliff Goodwin, class of 1971. "You're talking over a half a century, right? So, it's going to be quite a thing to see the new one and not see the old one."

"There was one trip to the vice principal's office for potentially skipping a biology quiz that I found out you can't do freshman year," joked class of 2005 member Julian Wade. "But, the big memories that I have are really around the arts program."

There's the old saying, 'when one door closes, another one opens.' Well, that door will open to the new, state-of-the-art Doherty Memorial High School later this summer. The project will be among the city's largest public high schools, accommodating more than 1,600 students on more than 420,000 square feet.

Some alumni say the future is bright.

"I see an embodiment of growth and change," said Seth Pitts of the class of 2006. "And change is the way of life, and it looks like a good thing. I know that a lot of the kids will be very pleased to be there."

A theme among those who spent their high school years at Doherty was community. They say it was more than just their school. It was a family, a bond.

"It's a nice little community within Worcester which is its own great little community," said Julia Snow, who graduated in 2014. "My parents went through that building, my aunt, uncles, cousins."

"Doherty has always felt special," said Kate McEvoy, class of 1991. "The alumni have a connection that just, you can't really describe."