After a century of service, first as a school building and then, most recently as administrative offices for the Bristol Warren Regional School District, the Town of Bristol is seeking to sell the Oliver School building at 151 State St.

Solicitor Michael Ursillo submitted a resolution to the Bristol Town Council at their last meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 9, that outlined the issue. With the Oliver School returned to the town by the school district on Jan. 10, and given the existing deed restrictions on the nearby Wally and Byfield school buildings prohibiting their sale, the town would like to sell Oliver and use the proceeds to offset necessary costs of maintaining the schools that are sited on the Common, as well as the Reynolds school, which has been repurposed as town and school district office space.

Because the Town Charter requires that sale of town property is contingent on a public hearing, one will be held at the next council meeting on Wednesday, March 2.

“The solicitor did a title search. We are able to sell it,” said Town Administrator Steven Contente of the property which has a total assessed value of $1,067,500 on the current tax roll. It’s not clear what the appraisal will be. That number is dependent on the possible future use of the building. At present, it is zoned residential and could be divided into two units, but a variance could allow for more than that.

“It’s a great, historic building, downtown, across from the Common — we see housing there,” said Contente.

Like the recent sale of 10 Naomi St., rather than contract with a real estate agent, the Town will publish a minimum bid and a Request for Proposals (RFP), then publicize its availability on online marketing platforms before accepting sealed bids. It’s a process that Contente hopes to complete by summer.

The Oliver School was dedicated Sept. 4, 1901, just 18 months after the town ordered its construction by architects William R. Walker & Son and contractors J.C. Walsh & Company.

“Citizens of Bristol, the erecting of this building; the key of which I have just received, places you in possession of a triumvirate of the finest school buildings of any town in the State, buildings of which you may be justly proud,” said Edward S. Babbitt, who served as chairman of the committee that organized the dedication.

While the Oliver School served the community well for a century, its sale reflects both the changing needs of education and the Town’s recent effort to streamline its real estate holdings.

“The Oliver School is costly to maintain in its current state, and it doesn’t make sense to hold on to it,” said Contente. “Hopefully it will make some people very happy as a nice residence.”