Abandoned school in Kentucky

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Tingley Elementary School plays an important role in the South Preston Street streetscape and is an important neighborhood landmarks. Its architectural design and quality of craftsmanship, evident in the building's facade, create an important addition to the architectural integrity of the surrounding area, Tingley Elementary, built in 1892, is an excellent local example of the Romanesque Revival Style.

Tingley Elementary School exhibits fine proportions, symmetrically arranged in an orderly fashion that pleases the eye, the typical Romanesque Revival Style. The central bays, forming the inside of a "U", have handsome windows, each with three rows of arched brick voussoirs to define its contour and a conforming brick stringcourse above. Another interesting use of brick as a decorative element can be found in the instances above the second-floor windows where the brick is used to form roundels, embellished with a basket weave bond in its center. The consoles and dentils found at the cornice line give a nice finish to the building.

Although the architect for Tingley is unknown, the designer had a clear command of symmetry and proportion. The building's lines are simple and well-defined and exhibit a lasting aesthetic quality even today. Tingley Elementary School was named in honor of George H. Tingley, superintendent of Louisville Public Schools from 1863 until 1893. Prior to being named superintendent, Tingley was principal of both the Hope Engine House School originally located on Third Street near Walnut and the old Second Ward School. Tingley Elementary was constructed in 1892 with an addition in 1955. The school is presently vacant.

Tingley Elementary School is an asset to the surrounding area both as a neighborhood landmark and as an excellent example of the Romanesque Revival Style. George H. Tingley served the City of Louisville as a prominent educational administrator and rightly deserved having a school named in his honor.

Building Description

Tingley Elementary School is located in a neighborhood of turn-of-the-century dwellings near Shelby Park in south-central Louisville. It rests in the center of a city block with a cafeteria addition to its south.

Tingley Elementary School is a two-story "U" shaped building with a shed roof, an ashlar stone foundation and a stone string course above. The eleven-bay building is symmetrically arranged. The three central bays have windows with arched heads, three rows of brick voussoirs and a conforming brick string course. This central portion is flanked by two slightly projecting two-story entrances with an arched multi-light transom, topped by two rows of brick voussoirs. These are in turn, flanked by projections of three bays each, Their window treatment is identical to those in the center. All of the first-floor windows have been boarded, but can be assumed to match the second-floor windows.

The central portion of the second floor has three two-over-two windows with arched multi-light transoms above. The window surrounds are identical to those on the first floor. These windows are flanked by paired six-over-six windows with wide stone heads. Corbeled brick roundels with a basket weave bond in the center, top the building. The three outermost windows have flat arched heads, double rows of brick voussoirs and rest upon a stone string course. Brick corbeling can be found above. Consoles support the cornice in the central portion while dentils line the cornice in the three outer bays with a denticulated pediment above. Corbeled brick roundels can be found in the pediments. Basket-weave brickwork adorns the center of each roundel.

The rear facade of Tingley Elementary has a shallow bay with five four-over-four windows. The exterior bays have arched windows while the remainder have relieving arches. All have triple rows of brick voussoirs. An exhaust stack centers the rear portion of the building.

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