An East Side Landmark was demolished last year
(1958) accompanied by deep seated regrets in the hearts of many
people in our community. The Sturdy East Side School building
was the victim of progress. It gave up its existence with stubborn
resistance so the demolition crew reported for it was a product
of the days when buildings of that type were expected to serve
their purpose for many years.
Mrs. Arch McKeller (Ada Henry) had a special reason for remembering
this building and brought a gift to the Museum , a splendid photograph
of the school. It shows her father , George Henry, its first
custodian, in front of the building mowing the lawn, Evidently
the picture of the building was taken a year or two after it
was erected (about 1885) for the trees were small, the grass
uneven, and the walks located as they were when the building
was first built. You will note too, the high wooden fence in
the back of the school on the east side of the grounds to keep
the pupils from getting into the back yards of the neighbors.
A low frame building near the fence house the plumbing common
to that day and age.
This particular picture has an interesting frame,of a style not
seen in our shops today. It was framed by George Herr, who operated
a furniture store and an undertaking establishment at the southwest
corner of East Bucyrus Street and Washington Avenue. In connection
to his work he did picture framing. That is how we came to have
this example of picture framing art.
The East Side School was the second brick school building to
be built in Crestline. The first was the three-storied Union
School built in 1869 adjacent to the present site of our High
School Auditorium. It contained both the High School and the
grade school, and was demolished some years ago.
At the time the East Side School was built the business section
of our village was located east of the New York Central tracks.
There was the Jenner Block, which contained the Odd Fellows Hall,
Dr. Clutter's Office, and Knisleys Drug Store. Located across
the street was there was a two story brick containing Davis'
Dry Goods Store, the Masonic Temple and other offices. Then came
Judge Babst's Law office, Dave Billow's printing shop, where
the Advocate was printed and Castle and Zint's Hardware Store.
Farther East was Talbott's Mill, Kerr's Grocery and meat market,
Going west from the Jenner Building was the Stump Block, containing
J.M. Martin's Jewelry Store and P.W. Poole's office, former Mayor
and Lawyer, then Dr. Bennetts office and next the private school
kept by the Gregory sisters and their brother Prof. Gregory.
There was also a busy Railroad Avenue running East from Bucyrus
Street, south to the Continental Hotel and Union Station. There
was also
a business center east of the tracks on East Main Street; Bower's
Warehouse, Heffelfinger's Grocery, Reeds Grocery and Morkel's
Grocery and Lolcus's Meat Market and others.
Mr. Henry was the first janitor ( the term custodian is used
today ) for the school and served for many years in that capacity.
Having started my formal education in the East Side School I
can recall Mr. Henry very well. At recess time he was kept busy
sharpening pencils for the pupils, not only lead pencils but
slate pencils as well. Pencil sharpeners were not yet invented
or if so were not in use at that school. Slates were still in
use generally in the lower grades. Paper tablets for general
school use came a little later.
Several janitors who followed Mr. Henry were Dave Baker, John
Harrison, Mr. Leach, Andy Hoffman, Mr. Harrison, an Englishman
we called Pappy who was also janitor for the English
Lutheran Church which then located South of the East School.
There were other Janitors whom I do not recall. The last one
to serve before the school was torn down was Mr. Robbinette.
The Historical Society is grateful to Mrs. McKeller for this
addition to the Museum's picture gallery. It will be placed in
the school room. The photograph was made by an early Crestline
Photographer, Abe Dille, whose studio was on East Bucyrus Street.
Abstracted from an October 1959 Crestline
Advocate-Crestline Public Library
The picture of the East School does appear in the
Advocate
This is just one of the many articles written by
the late Dr. Hesser, which helps to preserve both the written
and oral history of our community.
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