Groundbreaking for new Gow School building

South Wales, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Gow School will break ground Saturday on a new academic center on the campus. Howard Hall is named for a former headmaster of the school.

“As head of school at the first school in the country to serve students with language-based learning differences, it is my honor to help prepare Gow for its next 100 years,” said John R. Munro Jr. “A key component of our vision is the construction of a best-in-class home for Gow’s signature Reconstructive Language program, with 10 multi-sensory classrooms, a health and counseling center to serve boys and girls, administrative offices, a student-run store, and more.”

Howard Hall is named in honor of Norman Howard, who taught and guided Gow students for more than 40 years. He began teaching at Gow in 1931 and served as Gow’s second headmaster from 1955-1976. Howard and his wife, Vesta, served as mentors, teachers, and surrogate parents to generations of Gow students.

The 18,000-square-foot building will house the Reconstructive Language program which currently resides in Gow’s Main Building. Originally Main was a barn where Peter Gow Jr. started the school in 1926. It experienced many renovations over the years, but Howard Hall will offer flexibility and privacy that Main could not, school officials said.

The fully accessible new building, built under the auspices of general contractor Kirst Construction, is expected to open in Autumn of 2025