Old vacant school building in Ohio

Central School, Amherst Ohio

Date added: November 30, 2023 Categories: Ohio School

The early growth of Amherst was due to the discovery and mining of sandstone. Amherst, at the time this school was constructed, had become one of the world's leading suppliers of structural sandstone. In 1909 Ohio ranked first in the nation in the production of sandstone, quarrying 20% of the nation's total output. The Amherst quarries were the most important locality for quarrying Berea sandstone in Ohio. The stone used in the school was quarried near Amherst and cut in the local cut-stone plant. The building is an expressive example of early 20th-century school architecture distinguished by a crenelated parapet, a four-story central projecting bell tower, segmental-arched entrances and rough-faced lintels and sills. Central School is the only sandstone school of this size and from this period in Amherst and the surrounding township. Earlier 19^th century one-room township schools were built of sandstone. Five of these schools still exist although they have been converted to other uses. The South Ridge Schoolhouse, in Amherst Township, was built in 1892. The Amherst Town Hall, built in 1884, was also constructed of sandstone.

Central School was one of a number of buildings in northeast Ohio designed by Cleveland architects Paul Searles and William Hirsh. Many of their works tend toward rather simple lines, but the castle-like ornamentation of the Central School can also be found, more fully developed, on the Glamorgan Castle in Alliance (Stark County), perhaps the most outstanding example of their work. The firm, under the name of Steffens & Searles until 1896 and Steffens, Searles and Hirsch until 1901 were Cleveland architects designing numerous cultural, residential, and municipal projects during the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries.

Central School also represents a significant period in the educational history of Amherst. In the early 19^th century the village was served by the one-room township schools, until 1856 when Amherst (then known as Amherstville) was organized into a union school district. The Amherst Union School District was an oddly shaped area much larger than the village. Students came from all over Amherst Township to attend school.

Built in 1907, the Central School was built on the site of two earlier schools, each of which burned, the first in 1893 and the later one in 1907. Central School and the 1922 addition represented the most up-to-date school facilities including a gymnasium-auditorium, industrial arts shop, home economics department, cafeteria, and science laboratories. Central School served as the only school building in Amherst with the High School, Intermediate, and Primary Departments all in one building until 1957 when additional elementary buildings and a high school were built. Central School continued to serve as a school until its closing in 1985.

Building Description

Central School is a three-story rectangular building, measuring approximately 75'x85', constructed of native Amherst Township rock-faced coursed sandstone. The school building is located on about 1 1/2 acres in a residential neighborhood one block east of the small community's main commercial street. Trees and shrubbery ornament the spacious lawn surrounding the building. The property extends back to Main Street with a playground located to the rear. The building retains a high degree of integrity through its local building materials and massive masonry architectural features including crenelated parapet, four four-story central projecting bay, and segmental arched entrances.

The three-story school is distinguished by a crenelated parapet and a four-story central tower projecting from a recessed bay. The double doors under the tower's segmental arch main entry have been replaced, but the double doors with transoms, under similar arches in the recessed walls on both sides of the tower, are original. Two decorative shield medallions flanking the main entry bear the construction date of 1907. Windows are triple-hung sash with rock-faced ashlar lintels and sills. A 1922 rear addition doubles the size of the school. However, it was constructed of the same coursed ashlar and in the same design as the original building, presenting a unified and harmonious appearance. Later alterations to the exterior include the bricking of third-story windows on the sides and rear, the replacement of some doors, and the addition of aluminum storm windows.

The interior still essentially retains its original configuration as well as staircases, woodwork, and moldings. Storage areas converted to offices, painting, and some dropped ceilings have been the only major interior changes.