Front entrance to Central High School. PO1.1177
Photo by E. Earl Porter, 1917.

Central High School.

Central High School or Union School- Between 1854 and 1870 the population of Niles had mushroomed from 1000 to 3000 people. The need for better educational facilities resulted in the building of the city's first high school. Its construction began in 1870 and it opened in May 1871, with six teachers, including the principal. It was built at Furnace Street and Church Street. It was a red brick building with three stories and a basement, and cost $37,980.

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. The road was dirt and transportation was by horse and wagon.

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.

There were six teachers employed including the principal.

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

After a fire in the mid 1920's, Central School was demolished and a public park was erected on that site with a band pavillion and wading pool. Link to Central Park history.

The Union school district was organized in 1869, and the following school board elected: Josiah Robbins, Jr., and T. C. Stewart for three years; S. D. Young and William Davis for two years; W. C. Mason and William Campbell for one year. Mr. Robbins was elected president, and Mr. Stewart secretary of this board.

At a meeting held May 22, 1869, it was voted: First, that the board be empowered to procure a site for a schoolhouse. Second, that the board be empowered to build upon said site such a schoolhouse as will, in their estimation, be adapted to the wants of the district. Third, that a tax of $15,000 be levied in said district for the building of said schoolhouse, and that said money be raised in three successive annual installments of $5,000.

In 1870 two new members of the board of education were elected: George S. Baldwin and W. Campbell for three years. May 18, 1870, it was voted to accept the proposition of C. E. Cooley & Co., of Cleveland, to build the house for $27,950, taking the bonds of the district at eight per cent, in payment. Before this action, however, a vote was taken to make an additional levy of $10,000 for erecting the house. The building was completed and ready for occupancy in 1871. Some of the principal expenses are included in the following items: For the school site, one acre and sixty rods of land, $1,375; school desks and school furniture, $2,000; bell, $573; besides the cost of the heating apparatus of the building, the wages of workmen employed in setting up the furniture, the heaters, etc. Twenty-three thousand dollars in bonds were issued, and all paid up May 15, 1875.

The school building is by far the best in the county. It is large, built in a good style of architecture, forming an ornament to the town and a monument to the enterprising spirit of the citizens of Niles. The house is of brick, three stories and a basement. There are four school rooms on the first floor, and the same number on the second. The grammar and high school use the upper floor, which is also a public hall for entertainments of various kinds. It is furnished with a good stage, scenery, etc.

In October 1869, Rev. T. Calvin Stewart was elected as acting superintendent of the public schools of the district, to devote at least two days of each week to the schools, at a salary of $400 per year. In 1871 L. L. Campbell was elected superintendent and principal and proved a very faithful and efficient teacher. In 1872 his salary was increased to $1,200. "He continued as superintendent until 1875, when he was succeeded by Miss M. J. Stewart for two terms. C. E. Hitchcock began his labors as superintendent in the spring of 1876; continued the balance of that year and through the school year of 1877-78. T. H. Bulla, who had been the high school teacher under Mr. Hitchcock, was elected to the superintendency in September 1878, and continues to discharge the duties of that responsible position in a most capable and satisfactory manner. His present salary is $1,100 per year. The school has been ably managed by faithful teachers ever since the union district was formed.

Among those whose long service in the schools of Niles is a sufficient testimonial of their ability and fidelity as teachers, we mention Mrs. Nellie B. Sanderson, Miss Lottie Bowell, and the Misses Thorne.

At present the schools are well graded, with courses of study admirably arranged. Nine teachers and a superintendent are employed in the brick building, outside of which there are two primary schools. The school population of the district as ascertained by the enumeration of 1881 was 1,337.

The janitor of the school building, Mr. J. R. Davis, has taken faithful care of the school property for many years, and deserves honorable mention in this connection. (Source: http://www.ohiogenealogyexpress.com/trumbull/trumbull_county_hist1882_ii_weathersfieldtwp.htm)

The first school in Niles was opened in 1834 on South Main Street, south of the Mahoning River. The first teacher was Herman Harmon, a descendant of the first settler, Ruben Harmon. A second school, Grant School (also known as Leslie Ave. school), was later built on the corner of Leslie Avenue and Linden Avenue Both were one room school houses. In 1870, Central School was built. (Source: History of Niles, Ohio by The Niles Centennial History Club and McKinley High School, 1984, published by The Niles Daily Times.)

1908 Central School graduation picture. This was the largest class to graduate since the school opened in 1871. PO1.1175

L to R :1st row: Alma Morrell Woods, Lida Crooks, Hazel Butler Tritt, Viola DeGarmo, Edna Cornwall and Anna Hughes Johnson.

Five in back of the first row: Mable Cramer, Clyde (that's right) Armstrong, Mae Holeton, Nellie Fisher and Clyde Stillwagon.

Back row: Lee Goehring, Sophia Tibbets Shaw, Salina Evans Rettig, Mary Patterson Hunt, Olive Carlton, Mae Lloyd Bostwick, Olive Erwin, Hazel Hanson Law, Mae Watson, Ida Armstrong and Ruth Cleverly.

1917-Central High School girls.
L to R: Margaret Bemer Mills, Georgia King, Florence Cramer Hall, Ethel McQuarrie Jenkins, Hilda Woodcock Smith, Erma Morral Solomson, Margaret Richards Kelsey and Edith De Garmo. PO1.1181

Early one room Niles schoolhouse.

Notice there is a door for the females and one for the males.

The sign on the left is a warning to anyone who might consider trespassing and was posted by the Board of Education. PO1.1614

Not all children attended Central School as there were several neighborhood one-room scchools throughout the city.

A group of schoolchildren posed with their teacher on the front steps of a school identified on the chalkboard as Walnut Street School No. 2. PO1.1534