This past weekend, Preservation Ohio paid a visit to northwest Ohio to engage with a building featured on the 2018 List of Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites and the community working to preserve it.
Below, Preservation Ohio Board President Marian Vance shares these thoughts about the visit:
“Members and friends of Preservation Ohio visited the Defiance Junior High School building on Saturday, April 6.
The building sets majestically at the end of the downtown of Defiance. It was built in 1918 and is was described by one of our board members as still being a “fortress.”
We were met by Ralph Hahn, President of the local Save our School committee and about 20 members of the local committee. Fortunately, we were able to tour the building which just recently had the asbestos remediated. The school had been holding classes until December of this past year. There were remnants of chairs, and tables and dry erase boards everywhere. We still remarked about what good shape the school was in. Marble and wood floors still were visible. Surely, a new purpose for this building can be achieved.
The Save Our School committee would like to see it turned into senior living. They have located a developer who is willing to do that. That proposal has been made to the Board of Education which still owns the building. The community is passionate about saving the school and rightfully so.
Preservation Ohio will correspond with community leaders, the school board and the local newspaper. We will encourage them to do what they can to save this historic school which has been an integral part of the community for so long.”
The 1918 Defiance High School. Click any image for a larger view.
