BETHEL HIGH SCHOOL 1940 Originally built in 1887, the first public high school in Bethel stood on South St.. just to the left of the current Bethel Fire House. The school, which graduated its first class in 1888, remained in service as an educational facility until it was replaced by a newer building on School Street in 1939. In 1942 the building was converted into a firehouse which served the town until a newer building was constructed in 1965.