241 Bradford Street, by David W. Dunlap (2012).
Provincetown Vocational School (1963), courtesy of the Provincetown History Preservation Project.
It’s one of the largest buildings in town and — arguably — one of the ugliest. But No. 241 had a small role at a critical moment of national history. This warehouse was constructed as part of the Naval Mine Test Facilities, commissioned in 1942, which became a busy military post during World War II. The land had belonged to the Connell family. “The Navy took it with the promise of paying for it,” Jack Connell said in 2014. “We are still waiting.” In 1948, the town acquired a long-term lease from the United States for $1 and rehabilitated the structure as the Provincetown Vocational School. The “voke” program was conducted here for 15 years before moving to the high school. Arnold Dwyer, of Arnold’s Radio and Cycle Shop, purchased the building for storage.
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