Former school, movie set gets a new life. How it'll help South Shore veterans

BRAINTREE − A new regional center for veterans services and activities has opened in the former Foster School.

The building will house the offices of the planned Braintree, Holbrook and Avon veterans district as well as meeting and office space for Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans posts.

About 100 people attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday for the Foster Veterans Center on Foster Road off Washington Street in Braintree Highlands.

Mayor Charles Kokoros said the town's veterans office had been in the busy senior center, and this is the best use of the long-vacant Foster School building.

"We wanted to make sure our veterans had their own building," Kokoros said. "It's our way of telling the veterans of this town how much we care about them. This is a wonderful home and well-deserved."

He said the Weymouth-Braintree Elks Club has been installing a kitchen in the building, and that the town's facilities department has been getting the building ready.

More: Braintree seeks to share veterans' services with two other towns

Vincent Fountaine, the district's veterans services officer, said the building is still a work in progress.

Fountaine said he approached Kokoros with the idea of using the school for veterans programs after the VFW and the DAV gave up their buildings.

"They needed a place to meet," he said.

He said other groups will be able to use the building.

In July, Kokoros proposed the creation of the veterans services district due to the retirement of the part-time veterans officer who served Avon and Holbrook. The two towns would pay a portion of the cost of the combined office.

Fountaine said at the time that the combination would allow his office to increase staffing and services.

More: Braintree mayor: Foster School land won't be sold, new occupant sought for building

Under state law, each city and town is required to have an officer who helps veterans and their dependents receive the benefits and services available to them. Other communities in the area, such as Milton and Randolph, share a veterans services officer.

Foster Elementary School opened in 1953 and closed in 1977. It housed special education programs until a few years ago and served as a police station for the filming of the "Boston Strangler" movie.

Last year, the town sought bids on the property, which includes 11.2 acres of land with a basketball court, a large open field, woods and a popular neighborhood sledding hill. The proposed sale sparked protests from neighbors and the property was pulled off the market.

Reach Fred Hanson at fhanson@patriotledger.com.

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This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: New home for Braintree, Holbrook, Avon veterans opens