Old school in Ohio

Felton School, Columbus Ohio

Date added: May 04, 2023 Categories: Ohio School

Felton School was built in 1893 and designed by noted Columbus architect David Riebel.

Felton School is an excellent example of the Romanesque Revival, which is a monumental style well suited to school and other public buildings. The masonry construction, small window to wall ratio, round-arched openings and arcading and tower are typical of the style. In addition, this building exhibits particularly fine and extensive decorative brickwork. Both interior and exterior features remain virtually unaltered, although the building was used until the mid-1970s. The monumental scale and central tower have made this an important neighborhood landmark since it was built.

David Riebel began his architectural practice in Columbus in the early 1890's and was later joined by his sons. Riebel & Sons continued to be an active and important architectural firm until 1937. The Felton School (1893) was one of the first educational buildings designed by Riebel and is nearly identical to the Southwood School (1894), also designed by Riebel and built a year later. During. his career, he was responsible for the design of a number of educational, buildings including the following: Indianola School, West High School, Michigan Ave. School, St. John's School, St. Francis School, Heyl Avenue School and Ohio Avenue School: in Columbus; College Township School, Clintonville High School, and Central-College School in Gambier.

This particular building was designed early in his career and the choice of Romanesque Revival firmly places this building in the late 19^th century. It is quite different from schools designed by Riebel a little more than a decade later. For example, his design for Indianola High School in 1907 exhibited horizontal lines and neo-classical detailing more typical of the early 20^th century and his later design work.

Columbus, like many cities, has a rich collection of architecturally significant school buildings. Many were designed by important-local architects and some of the finest were built during a major school expansion program that took place from 1890-1920s. However, changing school populations and economic factors have led to the demolition, sale, and mothballing of a number of these building. Felton School was closed and after 2 previously unsuccessful attempts to sell the building, it was purchased and rehabilitated to use it as a corporate office building.

Building Description

The Felton School is a handsome Romanesque Revival building, designed by noted Columbus architect David Riebel and completed in 1893.

The building is brick-bearing wall construction on a raised rock-faced ashlar stone foundation. A smooth stone watertable separates the foundation from the 2 story brick section. The roofline is a steeply pitched hip and is slate-covered. Gabled dormers pierce the roofline on the east and west elevations. The massing is symmetrical with a central entrance tower. dominating the composition. The rhythm of the facade is accentuated by the 2 pairs of hipped roof blocks with the central tower recessed between them.

The round-arched main entrance is located in the base of the tower and is surrounded by three rows of brick voussoirs, one of which has the name of the school on it. Additional round-arched openings, corbel and other decorative brickwork, a pyramidal roof with gabled dormer on each side and tourelles at the four corners further embellish the tower.

The south, east and west elevations are similar in that they all feature rectangular openings at the basement and first-floor levels and round-arched windows on the second level. All the windows are double-hung 1/1 sash. The spandrels between the first and second levels are embellished with designs in the brickwork.

The north elevation (rear) is the simplest with rectangular windows on all levels and the absence of the spandrel decoration and dormers.

The interior plan is symmetrical. The entrance tower contains a staircase that leads to a central east-west axis. All of the 8 classrooms per floor are reached from this hallway. Most of the classrooms are intact with coatrooms along one side, slate blackboards, hardwood floors and pressed metal. ceilings. Much of the wainscoting has been damaged or removed, however.

During the mid-1950s one-story wings were added to the east and west sides of the building. They are not compatible in design but because of their scale and the connection by only a hallway to the main building, they do not compromise the integrity of the original.

The Felton School is located at the end of Monroe Avenue and the tower can be seen from several blocks away. Urban renewal projects surround the property on two sides and the new school building is across the street. The older residential neighborhood is only to the southwest of the school.