South School (Yellow Springs, Ohio)
Encyclopedia
The South School is a historic school building in the village of Yellow Springs
, Ohio
, United States
. Over its history of more than 150 years, it has served a wide range of purposes, although it is presently not used as a school.
Upon its completion in 1856, the South School served one of the school district
s of Miami Township
. At that time, small schoolhouses covered Greene County
; more than a hundred were still in existence into the late twentieth century. This position it held only for a short time; just two years after its completion, it was converted for use as Yellow Springs High School
; at that time, only white students were permitted to attend
. After fourteen years in the South School, the high school moved to a different property; from 1872 until 1874, no school typically met on the property. It was reopened in the latter year to serve as the black school
, which purpose it served until 1887. Since its closure as a school, it has been converted into apartment
s.
Architecturally, the South School is a distinctive example of the Greek Revival
style of architecture. Constructed on a limestone foundation, it is built of brick and covered with a metal roof. Among its most distinctive elements is the decorative brickwork that appears at certain points on the exterior; such styling is common on buildings constructed during Yellow Springs' golden age
in the mid-19th century, but is a stark difference from the county's other historic school buildings. Architectural historians have seen the brickwork as an indication that the school was constructed by local brickmaker and contractor J.W. Hamilton, who established his business in the community in 1848 and was an active part of the community for over thirty years.
In 1984, the South School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
, both because of its important architecture and because of its place in local history. Key to its place in local history is its use as a segregated school by both races.
Yellow Springs, Ohio
Yellow Springs is a village in Greene County, Ohio, United States, and is the location of Antioch College and Antioch University Midwest. The population was 3,487 at the 2010 census...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Over its history of more than 150 years, it has served a wide range of purposes, although it is presently not used as a school.
Upon its completion in 1856, the South School served one of the school district
School district
School districts are a form of special-purpose district which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools.-United States:...
s of Miami Township
Miami Township, Greene County, Ohio
Miami Township is one of the twelve townships of Greene County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,106 people in the township, 1,215 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
. At that time, small schoolhouses covered Greene County
Greene County, Ohio
Greene County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 161,573 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Xenia, and it was named for General Nathanael Greene, an officer in the Revolutionary War. Greene County was established on March 24, 1803.Greene County is part...
; more than a hundred were still in existence into the late twentieth century. This position it held only for a short time; just two years after its completion, it was converted for use as Yellow Springs High School
Yellow Springs High School
Yellow Springs High School is a public high school in Yellow Springs, Ohio. It is the only high school in the Yellow Springs Exempted Village Schools district, teaching grades 9-12. McKinney Middle School is the district's only secondary school, teaching grades 7 & 8. Mills Lawn Elementary is the...
; at that time, only white students were permitted to attend
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
. After fourteen years in the South School, the high school moved to a different property; from 1872 until 1874, no school typically met on the property. It was reopened in the latter year to serve as the black school
Black school
Black schools originated under legal segregation in the southern United States after the American Civil War and Reconstruction era, in southern states' public policy to keep races separated and maintain white supremacy. In the United States white opposition to African American success resulted in...
, which purpose it served until 1887. Since its closure as a school, it has been converted into apartment
Apartment
An apartment or flat is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a building...
s.
Architecturally, the South School is a distinctive example of the Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style of architecture. Constructed on a limestone foundation, it is built of brick and covered with a metal roof. Among its most distinctive elements is the decorative brickwork that appears at certain points on the exterior; such styling is common on buildings constructed during Yellow Springs' golden age
Golden Age (metaphor)
A golden age is a period in a field of endeavour when great tasks were accomplished. The term originated from early Greek and Roman poets who used to refer to a time when mankind lived in a better time and was pure .-Golden Age in society:...
in the mid-19th century, but is a stark difference from the county's other historic school buildings. Architectural historians have seen the brickwork as an indication that the school was constructed by local brickmaker and contractor J.W. Hamilton, who established his business in the community in 1848 and was an active part of the community for over thirty years.
In 1984, the South School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, both because of its important architecture and because of its place in local history. Key to its place in local history is its use as a segregated school by both races.