The Red Bank High School was built in 1938 on Dayton Boulevard. In 1955 additions were made to the existing building, including an auditorium, more classrooms and a cafeteria. An local artist designed a brick sculpture of a man and woman to represent the growth of the students in Red Bank.
Forty-four years later (summer of 1982)- the High School and Middle School swapped campuses for the high school to grow. The former campus was blocked in by businesses and homes. There was no room for the campus to grow.
Two-thousand-thirteen was the year that every Red Bank High School alumni was dreading, the tearing down of their former high school. Years of fighting and trying hard to saved the beloved school building failed short. At the end of the school year, the last group of students exited the aging building for one last time. No more pep rallies, football games, sports events, nor music concerts to fill the air of the auditorium. The building that we as Red Bank High School alumni called home, was deathly silent.
The workers came in and began their work. Over 70 years of students walking her halls, slamming her doors, making so much racket that would peel the paint off the walls and the sounds of the books being brought out. All of these wonderful things has come to an end.
A group of RBHS Alumni gathered together to save the icon/sculpture outside the auditorium. With help through social media outlets, the busy bees got their heads together and came up with a way to save the brick sculpture.
There has been an overflow of love and support for this precious piece of Red Bank regional history. There are over 600 and growing members of the Save the Brick Sculpture Facebook page. If one did not attend or not a RBHS alumni but still want to donate to the Save the Brick Man and Woman Sculpture, the information is on the FB page.
Thanks to all the hard work, brainstorming and dedication to all of those RBHS Alumni for saving our "man and woman" sculpture.
Save The RBHS Brick Sculpture-art director
Laura Crane
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I can echo everything that Laura Crane said about what Red Bank High School has meant to its students through the years. While we hate to see the school being torn down we are pleased to know the symbol we all remember will be preserved.
For years we looked up at the boy/girl brick symbol with pride in our school. Now thanks to the efforts of many it will continue to be part of our school’s heritage.
Thanks to all for making this happen.
Douglas Swafford