Album: Historic Chefoo School Buildings (2018)

Historic map of the original Chefoo School and Mission buildings, showing location of the newer and only remaining school buildings (in red). (Image from the Museum display.) [Click to enlarge.]

The tour of the historic Chefoo School buildings organized in 2018 for former students and friends, commenced from the north gate of the military academy (off the major East-West seaside roadway). Chefoo School was located just back from the beach area, a fact that is evident from many of the photos on display in the Museum exhibit. First photos focus on significant landmarks just outside the gate. (Another photo collection, with link here, shows the location of the gate area, the academy and historic school buildings as viewed from the beach area.)

Our parking area was next to the Co-ed School Building (first large building at the left). An attached smaller building in the foreground was known at one time as the Prayer Room. From here we made our way along a lane towards other significant buildings, including the Memorial Hall (commemorating Chefoo Students who had died in World War I) on the left (of which no photos were obtained this year). At the end of the lane on the right was a large building, known from the beginning as the New Prep School, bearing a marker dating construction as 1933. A plaque, higher on the wall of this building, reads as follows:

Given the date on the foundation stone, the above inscription means that that the present building is built on the site of earlier buildings from 1879.

The focus of the tour this year was on this one building, its main entrance, and a chance to explore some hallways and rooms inside. Although some of us had been on the Chefoo School site before, this was the first time any of us had been invited to enter this historic building. Unlike other buildings still remaining from the original Chefoo School times, there was no indication of recent upgrading or significant use being made of this building. As a heritage building, protected as such by the City of Yantai, it was being preserved in the face of the reality that it currently was serving no purpose for the military academy now continuing to expand and develop on this site. On our 2016 visit, Li Xin and I had opportunity to view the building from the south end as well. Views of this same building and some interior views of other existing historic buildings were photographed during a 2016 visit and are appended below.

The feelings of new students arriving at Chefoo School for extended times (possibly for multiple years separated from their parents) is captured in the writings of David Michell, in A Boy’s War (1988), as follows:

In tow of our missionary escorts we began to climb the wide steps up to the front doors. Two teachers with arms out-streached were coming towards us to welcome us. Suddenly the significance of what was happening swept over me. A surge of homesickness and pent-up resistance to the separation welled up inside. I took my stand on the steps, and I cried and cried. I turned to go back, but home was now two thousand miles and a six-week journey away. The more teachers coaxed and tried to guide me towards the door, the more I struggled to pull away. Eventually escorts and teachers won the day, and I was inside, unbloodied and uncowed. (p 11)

Credit note: the group photo on the steps of the New Prep School Building was provided by the Yantai City media people who were with our tour group this day.

Click/tap the images below to view in larger format.