NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The new Greylock School hit another milestone on Friday with a traditional "topping out" to celebrate the near completion of its steel skeleton. 

 

The community was invited to add their names to a steel beam painted white and dozens of youngsters, officials, neighbors and former teachers lined up to be part of the ceremony.

 

"This is such a milestone in this project," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey. "We are first of all very excited about all the community members that came out to be memorialized in this project. So the beam will go to the left of the crane and will be part of the history of the school forever."

 

Topping off, or out, is an old builders' rite believed to have its roots in Scandinavia. A small fir tree is used to symbolize the completion of a structure and is often accompanied by flags or banners. 

 

Project leader Jeffrey Manley, liaison between the city and contractor Fontaine Bros., said the steel has been going up fast and that the structure should be completed in a few days though there will still be welding and fastening to complete. 

 

The first name on the beam was Herbie, contractor Fontaine Bros. unofficial "four-legged foreman." He didn't like having his paw dipped in nontoxic red paint but successfully added his print on the beam before returning to his rounds of getting pets from the participants. 

 

School Committee and School Building Committee members took their turns, then City Council, the children from committee member Connie Tatro's daycare, then teachers and residents and the construction crew.

 

Mary Rose Calnan, a kindergarten teacher, retired about a decade ago after "many, many, many years." Her classroom was in the corner of the old Greylock School. 

 

"I miss my old school. When it came down, it made me cry," she said. "It'll always be my school." 

 

Her friend, Marcia Ann Farinon, had spent time in all the city's elementary schools, working in special education and in the school library for decades.

 

"I can't drive by here," she said, shaking her head. 

 

But still, these two retired Greylock teachers joined others in signing the beam that will hold up one of the new preschool classrooms. 

 

"It made me feel good to know that I can still be a part of the new school because I'm not going back to teaching," Calnan said, adding laughing, "the kindergarten kids would really run circles around me."

 

They talked about Stephen Boisvert, who was was principal of Greylock School for 33 years, after nearly a decade as principal of both Greylock and Brayton. He died at age 80 in 2005. Calnan said he hired her and Farinon suggested she add his name. 

 

She did, with a swirl and notation that he was principal.

 

Around 1 p.m., the beam was hoisted into position by the crane with an American flag and a Massachusetts flag flying below it. The tree and flags were to be removed so construction will continue, but everyone's names will forever be a part of the new Greylock School. 

 

The next milestone will be the ribbon cutting for the new school next fall, said the mayor. 

 

"So it's a great day, beautiful weather, great people, good construction team, and this is a huge milestone for us. And we're getting closer to September 2027," she said.