City officials and residents gathered on Monday night to celebrate the renovation of the Somerville High School auditorium. — Photos by Donald Norton

By Donald F. Norton

After Hurricane Sandy struck the city back in 2012, the Somerville High School auditorium and cafeteria were hit the hardest, with over two million dollars in damages.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone, Superintendent of Schools Tony Pierantozzi, Somerville High School Headmaster John Oteri, members of the Board of Aldermen and School Committee as well as members of the general public gathered on Monday evening, Nov. 17, at 6 p.m. for the reopening ceremony of the newly refurbished auditorium.

Somerville High School Orchestra, Drumline, and Chorus led off the event while people entered the auditorium for the first time in two years to view the beautiful work that has been done to restore it.

There was a lot of talk about how the auditorium used to look back when they went to school there and what it meant to the school and to the city.

Superintendent Pieratozzi welcomed everyone and talked a little bit about the history of the auditorium, which dates back to 1872. In 1972 a major renovation was done with new seating and electrical systems.

The Somerville High School Orchestra, Drumline, and Chorus entertained as city representatives and the public marveled at the tremendous job of renovation that was accomplished.

This time around a complete renovation with new seating, a new sound system, new curtains and new lighting was done, while retaining as much of the old as could be saved, such as the wood floors.

The Superintendent said that the new focus as time moves on is to work on a new HVAC system installed.

Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone spoke about how pleased and determined he was after Hurricane Sandy, with all of its destruction, that the hall was back and ready to be used once again as a showcase, not just for the high school but for the rest of the city as well.

Mayor Curtatone thanked the people responsible for bringing everything back and making it even better. He was, along with everyone there, very happy about the work that was done.

The Principal of the high school, John Oteri, thanked all of those who worked so hard on the renovation and remarked how the school will be able to once again use the auditorium for the benefit of the students and the community as a whole.