Twentsch Dagblad Tubantia, 21 May 1951
Several major building projects are currently planned in Aalten. If the plans go ahead, within a few years the municipality will have three impressive new buildings: a new technical school, a health centre and a new Christian agricultural domestic science school. Aalten architect W. Hebly has already obtained approval for the plans he submitted to the relevant authorities for the new Christian Technical School and the health centre. Approval of the financial arrangements is still awaited, but no major difficulties are expected.
The Health Centre
The health centre will be built thanks to good cooperation between the Dutch Reformed and Christian district nursing associations in Aalten. There had long been plans for a district nursing building, but the organisations decided to go further. They wanted a health centre that could accommodate several medical services and where specialists could also hold consultations. Thanks to the generosity of Aalten’s Protestant Christian population, the plan proved feasible.
The health centre is to be built behind the villa Zonneheuvel, owned by former mayor Monnik, with its front facing Julianastraat and its side elevation facing Wilhelminastraat. A corridor will run the full length of the building, with large windows along its entire left-hand side. On entering, there will be a classroom on the right. Seating areas built into the corridor will serve as waiting spaces, and the corridor will be wide enough to accommodate prams. The ground floor will also contain a darkroom, a doctor’s room, a room for the district nurse on duty, a changing room, a sun-lamp room and an isolation room. Specialists will also be able to hold consultations in these rooms. At the end of the corridor will be a large store with a cleaning area, with a service staircase leading upstairs.
The maternity clinic will be on the upper floor. It will include a delivery room, kitchen, sluice room, linen room, a sitting room with an office for the doctors, a combined sitting room and bedroom for the qualified maternity nurse on duty, and a dormitory for four or five trainee maternity nurses attending courses there. The trainees will also have their own sitting and dining room. Finally, there will be two combined sitting rooms and bedrooms for the district nurses, toilets and a shower room. Former mayor Monnik has made his fine garden available for the health centre. The intention is eventually to convert Villa Zonneheuvel into a nursing home.
The Public Baths
The public baths, to be built as a low wing adjoining the main building, will contain twelve shower cubicles and two baths. The heating installation will be in the basement.
The Christian Technical School
The new Christian Technical School will be built on Polstraat. In addition to the main entrance, there will be a separate entrance for pupils. The main entrance will lead into a spacious hall, with a cloakroom and a small office for the caretaker on the right. On the left will be a theory classroom, drawing room, staff room, headmaster’s room and an office for the administrator. The rear wing will contain a practical carpentry classroom and a machine woodworking department. A bicycle shed will be built in the courtyard.
Initially, the school will have room for 150 pupils, including two classes of around thirty boys and a preparatory class. Subjects will include woodworking and machine fitting. In due course, it is hoped to add a daytime textile department; there is currently an evening textile course.
The school will be built in a U-shape so that another wing can be added later.
New Streets
Finally, streets are planned on either side of the new school building, connecting with Haartsestraat. The municipal authorities also intend to build two homes on Ooster Kerkstraat for school staff. Work has not yet begun because of the building freeze.
The Domestic Science School
Plans for a new agricultural domestic science school are making less progress. A site on Oranjelaan is under consideration, but the owner of the land — the diaconate of the Dutch Reformed Church in Bredevoort — is asking such a high price that permission to purchase it could not be granted. Discussions are continuing. If they lead nowhere, another site will have to be found.