Front View of Thomas House

Ward-Thomas Museum

Ohio Association of Historical Societies and Museums

Five images of buildings and grounds

Niles High School

Ward — Thomas Museum
Home of the Niles Historical Society
503 Brown Street Niles, Ohio 44446

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'The Little White School House drawing. PO1.1169

President William McKinley's first grade teacher, Miss Sanford, is seen riding in this carriage during a parade on North Main Street and Park Avenue.

President William McKinley's first grade teacher, Miss Sanford, is seen riding in this carriage during a parade on North Main Street and Park Avenue. The Allison Hotel, later the Antler Hotel, is in the background. ca 1910.

Niles High School.

The first public school, a little white frame building, was erected after 1834 on North Main Street, on the McKinley Memorial grounds next to the Presbyterian Church. In this one room school house, the teacher was expected to teach the three R's to all levels and maintain discipline.

One room school houses were also located on Chestnut Street, Walnut Street and two more were reported on the South Side of Niles.

In 1842, the Leslie Avenue School was built near the northeast corner of Leslie and Linden Avenues. This frame building was renamed Grant Street School in 1920. It has been razed.

The three story brick and mortar Central School Building opened in 1871. Frank Carl E. Robbins was the first student to graduate from Cental School in 1875. After a fire in the mid 1920's, Central School was demolished and a public park with a band pavillion and wading pool was erected on that site. Link to Central Park Story.


Location of Central High School on 1924 map.

Location of Central High School on 1924 map.

The first brick school, Central School, was located on Furnace Street, now State Street, near Church Street. The building was a three story brick structure with arched windows and brick details on each corner of the building. There were six teachers employed including the principal. The road was dirt and transportation was by horse and wagon.

The bell for the tower was cast by A. Fulton and Sons of Pittsburgh, PA.

In 1926, Central School was demolished and in 1928 a band pavillion and wading pool was built on the site.

Link to Central Park history.

Front view of Central School showing brickwork.

Front view of Central School
showing brickwork.
PO1.1178

 


The cornerstone is being laid

In 1914, Niles High School was under construction facing Church Street between Arlington and Chestnut Streets.

The cornerstone is being laid in the image to the left. Construction workers use scaffolding to work on third floor windows in image on the right.

In 1958 it was renamed Edison junior High School when the new Niles McKinley High School opened on Dragon Drive. In 2004 it was razed and senior apartments were built.


PO5.52

Scaffolding at Niles High School.

Construction scaffolding at Niles High School.

Niles High School shortly after construction was completed. Note the arch window on top floor center. The Central School bell has not yet been placed on the school grounds.

The industrial arts room on the second floor of the Annex.

Industrial arts room on the second floor was added to the Annex. PO1.1957

Niles High School as it appeared in 1936.

Niles High School as it appeared in 1936. PO2.480

Front entranceway of the former Niles High School that would become Edison Jr High in 1958 housing grades 7-9.

The front portico is now featured inside the new Middle School on Brown Street that was built in 2003. PO3.38


Outdoor playground which later became the enclosed Annex

Open Air Playground built in 1921

New Classrooms for Niles High School.
The open air playground was built to provide play/exercise spacefor the elementary school children protected from the environment. Just four years after the Niles High School opened in 1917, this area would have brick walls and two floors to accomodate new technical classes.

The columns and roof would become a part of the new Annex. A long covered concourse would be added along the outside wall on the west side of the building to provide access to the new classrooms. Steps provided access to the lower level areas. A cafeteria and open space for for lunch tables and gym classes would laterbe added.

“Teams are at work excavating for the foundation which is soon to be laid beneath the open air playground, transforming the institution into a school for vocational training. The dirt being hauled from the structure is being used for filling at the new Madison Avenue School.”
Niles Daily News May 17, 1921


People gathered for a program inside of Edison Jr. High auditorium.

People gathered for a program inside of Niles High School auditorium. PO1.1667

 

Cheerleaders posing in front of Riverside Stadium, ca 1948.

Cheerleaders posing in front
of Riverside Stadium, ca 1948.

Example of wooden desks that would be fastened to the wooden floors in the rooms at Niles High School.


group of male students in front of main high school entrance.

Row 1. Louis Tauro, Sietz, Jim Chiarmonte, Sam Biviano, Soda
Row 2 .Pete Dunco, Phil Ragazzo, Sam Infante, Guy Churazzi, Bill Bender, Bill Litvin, Bob Slick, Cornell LePore, Lew Smith Coach
Row .3 Bill Jones, Muche, Jack Sanyer, Dean Rees, Joe Driscoll,
Royce McCormick, John Madden
Row 4. Sam Matteo, Steve Halleck, Joe Schink, Joe McCormick,
John Kosance, Joe Tricomi.
Row 5. Palmer Scarnecchia, Pete McMurray, Francis Scarnecchia, Chick Waters, John Baer, John Lewis, Alex Yuhasz. PO11.287

The Junior class of 1928 taken in front

The Junior class of 1928 taken in front
of the old Niles High School. PO2.495

Niles School band 1941 all in uniform. Ruth Fisher, first front row; Mary Whitney, last front row. James Bill Holmes, marked on second row.

Niles School band 1941 all in uniform. Ruth Fisher, first front row; Mary Whitney, last front row. James Bill Holmes, marked on second row. PO11.180


The football stadium was built as a WPA project in 1934.

The football stadium was built as a WPA project in 1934. PO3.7

 

Click here to continue to Niles McKinley High School (1958 - present day) webpage



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