My trip back to BTHS was to see if those memories of this gigantic, special school were real, or imaginary. I got out of the DeKalb Ave. subway stop wondering if I could even find the school. Luckily the antenna guided the way. Some of the surroundings seemed familiar, but where was the Barton's (or was it Baricini's) Candy Factory?

I found the school, but when I approached I saw it was enshrined in a scaffolding. I didn't remember that the school was yellow brick, with polished granite on the street level.

The foundry was untouched and abandoned, and some of the shops looked like museums. I forgot how large the auditorium was. A balcony, and an upper balcony. I was too young the last time I was there to appreciate the architectural detail in the auditorium (and the school as a whole).

While I was there, Brooklyn Tech got the first computer in a high school, an IBM 1130 mini-mainframe. We had to line up to use the punch card machine. I learned electronics at a station similar to this one:

Now the classrooms now look like this:

I'd forgotten about this scene:

And I really went back to find out what was in this beautiful Cathedral above Fort Greene park. I asked around, and finally found the answer. Curious about life above the 9th floor?

BTHS was, and is, a very special place. I have fond memories of it being an environment that was actually exciting to learn in.