By Crystal Bozek
Staff Writer
August 17, 2008 05:47 am HAVERHILL — Erin and Kevin Bergin moved to Byron Street 10 years ago, excited to live next to historical Bradford College. But their excitement was short-lived, when just two years later, the college closed it doors and they were left living next to a hulking, overgrown, vacant property. So as the couple walked from their home to tour the South Main Street campus yesterday — the new home of Zion Bible College — there was a look of relief on their faces. "To see it at its end and to see this, it's such a big difference," Erin Bergin said, pointing out the manicured lawns, and the renovated buildings. "We're thrilled. I'm just so happy to have this back, to have a school again." Dozens of neighbors turned out for Zion Bible College's open house yesterday to meet their new neighbors and check out the results of the more than $5 million the school reportedly poured into the Bradford campus. "I'm just so happy this didn't end up all houses," said Haverhill resident Jocelin Marcoux, whose daughter attended Bradford College in the 1980s. "We would have been losing a piece of this city's history. ... It's so beautiful." Neighbors felt jilted when the 200-year-old school shut its doors in May 2000 following years of financial troubles and declining enrollment. Over the past eight years, there was talk of housing developments coming in, as well as a school for troubled boys — all options neighbors were not happy with. Nothing ever materialized, however, and the once thriving college campus slowly took on the neglected look of a ghost town. Neighborhood meetings were scheduled. Residents complained that even the leaves weren't being raked. The property was purchased in 2007 by David Green, the billionaire businessman and evangelical Christian who founded The Hobby Lobby chain of retail stores. He gave the campus to the Rhode Island-based Zion school. Abutters weren't the only people who left the school impressed yesterday. Groups of former Bradford College alumni visited, eager to remember the classrooms and dorms they hadn't been able to visit for years. "I remember coming back once to take a look, walking around and being stopped by a security guard asking what I was doing here," said Jennifer Long, who brought her two little girls and husband along on a tour of her former alma mater. "It's nice to not be locked out." Zion Bible College, associated with the Assemblies of God denomination, trains students for church ministries as pastors and missionaries. Classes are scheduled to start Aug. 26. Kristen Nolan, of Euclid Street, and Claudia and Zachary Freitas, of Byron Street, could not believe their eyes as they started their tour yesterday. "When we first moved here, we thought, 'Wow, there's a college here,'" Claudia Freitas said. "Then it closed. We think it's awesome it's back. It'll be nice to see kids back here again."
Zion Bible College Classes begin: Tuesday, Aug. 26 Students enrolled this fall: Around 300 Mission: Train students for church ministries as pastors and missionaries
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Photos
Kevin and Hope Joudrey of Derry N.H., and their daughters, Emma, 2 and Grace, 4 tour the Zion Bible College Campus, former Bradford College during the saturday open house. Behind them is the library and student union building. Hope Joudrey graduated from Bradford College in 2000, Bradford's last graduating class. Staff photo
Four-year-old, Troy Gagne, who lives in the college's neighborhood, tours the library of the Zion Bible College Campus, former Bradford College during the saturday open house. Staff photo