Neibolt Street Church School

The Neibolt Street Church School is a fundamentalist Christian school in Derry, Maine, attended by Mike Hanlon during the summer of 1958. Located on the corner of Route 2 and Neibolt Street, it stands near the abandoned house at 29 Neibolt Street, a key site of the Losers' Club's confrontations with It. The school's proximity to the trainyards and the house on Neibolt Street makes it a significant landmark in the geography of the children's summer, representing the intersection of religious education, the town's violent history, and the supernatural threat lurking beneath Derry.

Location and Setting

The Neibolt Street Church School is situated at the corner of Route 2 and Neibolt Street, a mile or so from the Derry trainyards. The building is a shabby-neat wood-frame structure with a large cross on top and the words "SUFFER THE LITTLE CHILDREN TO COME UNTO ME" written over the front door in gilt letters two feet high. The school is located near the abandoned house at 29 Neibolt Street, a site where Eddie Kaspbrak encountered the leper and where the Losers' Club later confronted the werewolf. The area is characterized by its proximity to the trainyards, where Eddie often watched trains, and the Neibolt Street Church School itself, which sometimes hosted gospel music on Saturdays.

Mike Hanlon's Attendance

Mike Hanlon attended the Neibolt Street Church School because his mother was a devout Baptist. The school provided a religious education that included Bible drills, lessons on the Ten Commandments, and discussions on everyday moral problems. Mike played the trombone in the school's band, which marched in the annual Fourth of July parade, performing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," "Onward Christian Soldiers," and "America the Beautiful." On July 3, 1958, Mike walked to a final rehearsal at the school, intending to polish his trombone, but was chased by Henry Bowers and his gang, leading to the apocalyptic rockfight in the Barrens.

Significance in the Narrative

The Neibolt Street Church School serves as a contrasting element to the supernatural horrors of Derry. Its religious foundation and the presence of gospel music represent a form of institutionalized faith that stands in opposition to the chaotic evil of It. However, the school's location near the house on Neibolt Street and the trainyards places it within the geography of the children's summer adventures and confrontations. The school's proximity to the abandoned house, where Eddie Kaspbrak first saw the leper, and the trainyards, where Mike Hanlon was chased, makes it a landmark in the Losers' Club's journey. The school's religious teachings, while providing a moral framework, do not protect the children from the supernatural threat, highlighting the inadequacy of institutional religion in the face of primal evil.

The School's Role in the Town's History

The Neibolt Street Church School is part of Derry's broader landscape, which includes other religious and educational institutions. The school's existence reflects the town's religious diversity, with Mike Hanlon attending a Baptist school while other children attend public school. The school's location near the trainyards and the abandoned house on Neibolt Street places it within the area where many of the town's violent events occur, including the murders of children by It. The school's presence, however, does not prevent these events, underscoring the pervasive nature of the evil in Derry.