Union School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Michigan State Historic Site
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Location	205 W. Baldwin St., St. Johns, Michigan
Coordinates	42°59′52″N 84°33′39″W / 42.99778°N 84.56083°W / 42.99778; -84.56083
Area	2.5 acres (1.0 ha)
Built	1885
Architect	Oliver Hidden, Watkins & Arnold
Architectural style	Tudor Revival, Queen Anne, Jacobean
NRHP reference No.	80001851[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	May 15, 1980
Designated MSHS	February 27, 1980[2]

The Union School, also known a Central Elementary School, was an educational building located in St. Johns, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site^[2] and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.^[1] The school building has been replaced by a housing development.

History

The St Johns school district was founded in 1857; the district re-organized in 1862 and built their second permanent building on this site in 1864.^[3] The school burned in early 1885, and construction began on the Union School, the third building constructed for the St. Johns school district, later in the year.^[2] It was designed by architect Oliver Hidden of the Bay City/Detroit firm Watkins, Hidden, and Arnold. The building was used as a school by the district until 1986.

The district sold the building to private owners,^[2] and houses were constructed on the former site of the school in 2000.^[4]

Description

The St. Johns Union School was a 2-1/2 story red brick building set on a raised stone foundation and topped with a slate roof.^[2] The school covered an area 147 feet (45 m) long 74 feet (23 m) wide.^[3] It had a central mass with a hip roof and two T-shaped wings, also with hip roofs. Broad gable roof dormers broke up the roofline on the front facade, and a square belfry tops the center mass. The exterior decoration included Tudor Revival elements on the entrance surrounds, and first- and second-floor window hoods.

On the interior, classrooms were located in the main masses, with the narrow connecting "T" legs containing stairways, a library, and administration offices.^[2] When it was constructed, the building had state-of-the-art lighting, heating, ventilation, and fireproofing.

References

Further reading

• Jean Martin (1985), A Brief History of Central School, St. Johns, Michigan, 1885-1985, Central School Centennial Committee