Former Mito Agricultural High School Main Building (2)
In 1965, Mito Agricultural High School faced problems concerning its school grounds.
One issue was Mito City’s decision to widen the roads on the east and south sides of the campus (from 4m to 11m), which would reduce the school’s land area. The school already felt its athletic field was too small, so further reduction posed a significant problem.
Additionally, demands had been made to return part of the school farm. Only a small portion of the farmland was prefectural property; most was leased private land. Negotiations with the landowners demanding return broke down. Landowners even posted “No Trespassing” signs, creating an environment detrimental to education.
To address these problems, a special planning committee was formed within the school. It explored options like purchasing the private land and rebuilding the school buildings. The idea of rebuilding the school buildings means that reconstructing the aging structures would allow for more efficient use of the school grounds.
During consultations with the Board of Education about these plans, the idea of boldly relocating the school itself emerged. The principal began considering relocation. (However, it seems the relocation issue was advanced solely by the committee without discussion at the faculty meeting, which apparently led to various conflicts later.)
Around June 1965, the search for a relocation site began. In July, land in Naka Town, north of Mito City, emerged as a candidate. Discussions were held with the prefecture, and opinions were sought from the PTA and alumni association. The PTA accepted the relocation as unavoidable. In November, a formal petition for the school’s relocation was submitted to the prefecture, signed jointly by the PTA president, alumni association president, and school principal.
Word of the relocation had spread before the official announcement. At this point, Ibaraki Town and Naka Town voiced their interest in attracting the school, and there were also calls from within Mito City. The Mito City Council submitted a request to the prefecture opposing the relocation.
The following year, in September 1966, the prefecture formally decided on the relocation to Naka Town.
The new school site secured approximately 50 hectares for the school grounds, 10 hectares for buildings, and 30 hectares for training farms.
In 1968, the farm laboratory and dormitory were completed. Agricultural training facilities, cattle barns, and pig barns were built over the following year. The main building was completed in 1969, with the gymnasium and club rooms finishing in 1970.
Regarding the relocation timing, there was an initial request for December 1969, but due to unfinished facilities, it was set for February 1970.
The relocation task was completed on February 17th.
As this article focuses on the old school building, we will not discuss the school after the relocation further and instead turn our attention to the former site.
The concept for the Prefectural History Museum began around 1966. In 1968, before the school relocated, a site survey was conducted at Mito Agricultural High School as the planned construction location. The basic concept was finalized in 1970, and the implementation design was decided in 1971.
Construction began in September of that same year. The main building was completed in 1973 and opened the following year.
Let’s examine aerial photographs showing the area before the school relocated and after the museum was built.
This is an aerial photograph from 1961, when the site was still used as a school.
You can see the main building, shaped like an L.
Next is an aerial photograph from December 1974, after the Prefectural History Museum opened.
The former Mitsukaido Elementary School building is visible on the right. However, the former main building of Mito Agricultural High School is nowhere to be seen.
At the time the History Museum opened, the former main building had not yet been rebuilt.
Next is an aerial photograph from 1980.
In this photo, the former main building can be confirmed. Actually, although not shown here, a photograph taken in May 1976 shows the former main building.
Therefore, it was rebuilt sometime between January 1975 and May 1976.
In the 1974 issue of “Museum Research,” there is an article about the establishment of the Ibaraki Prefectural History Museum. It states that “three structures were restored: the former Mitsukaido Elementary School, the Edo-period house of the Mogi family, and a watermill.” However, the name of the Mito Agricultural High School Main Building does not appear. Was it not originally planned?
I couldn’t find any documentation detailing the reconstruction process of this building, but the entrance area is original, while the rest is a restoration (according to the “Guidebook to Modern Architecture: Kanto Edition,” 1982).
Only the area around the entrance is plastered.
A wheelchair ramp is installed on the right side facing the building.
Side and rear views. The building’s original L-shape was also changed to a rectangle.
The former Mitsukaido Elementary School was rebuilt facing the same direction as its original site, but the former main building of Mito Agricultural High School now faces the opposite direction.
I thought looking at the “Ibaraki Prefectural History Museum Bulletin” might shed some light, but the National Diet Library Digital Collection only has issues starting with No. 9 from 1982. I’d like to check the first and second issues—is there anywhere I can view them?
I’m hoping the museum’s initial bulletin, published right after opening, might detail the building’s preservation intentions and reconstruction methods.
Incidentally, while only the exterior of the former main building of Mito Agricultural High School is visible now, it seems exhibitions were held here in the past.
Looking at Issue 10 of the History Museum Bulletin, it lists the titles of the exhibitions held each year from 1976 to 1983. It seems they held an exhibition once a year, each lasting about a month. (Since Issue 10 was published in 1984, it’s unclear if this continued afterward.)
I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to go inside the building.
[Reference]
“The History of the Establishment of the Ibaraki Prefectural Museum of History” by Tanihagi Misao / Published in “Museum Research Vol.9 No.7” (Edited by the Japan Museum Association / Japan Museum Association / Published July 1974)
“Guidebook to Modern Architecture: Kanto Region” (Written by the Tokyo Architectural Detective Group / Kashima Publishing / 1982)
“History of Mito Agricultural School, Volume 3” (Ibaraki Prefectural Mito Agricultural High School / 1995)