The Perley School, formerly known as the “The Perley Free School” is an architecturally and historically significant school building in Georgetown, Massachusetts, constructed in 1898 as a result of the former high school being lost to fire. The original funding for the Perley School was made possible by donations from the estate of John Perley. John Perley (1782-1860) was born in town and operated grocery stores, later getting involved in land speculation. He never married nor had children and lived frugally despite having a small fortune, that would end up being distributed to extended family and as gifts to the town, including funding this building and in the local Congregational church. He died in 1860 and was buried in a local cemetery, marked by the town’s most ornate memorial. The Colonial Revival style school would suffer a catastrophic fire in 1935, but was largely rebuilt and added onto, showing the community’s resolve and determination. It remains today as the town’s elementary school.
Buildings of New England 