Blume High School

Blume High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of the school
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Location	405-409 S. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta, Ohio
Coordinates	40°33′58″N84°11′50″W / 40.56611°N 84.19722°W / 40.56611; -84.19722
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1908; 1923-25
Architect	William M. Runkle; Frank L. Packard
Architectural style	Mixed
NRHP reference No.	96000933 [1]
Added to NRHP	August 22, 1996

The former Blume High School is a historic building in downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio, United States. It was the first exclusive home of Wapakoneta High School. Prior to that time, WHS was housed with other grades. ^[2]

The original part of the high school was built at a cost of $41,315. This original section was designed by local architect William M. Runkle. In the mid-1920s, it was expanded with the construction of a gymnasium, a library, and the "Red Brick Section" addition; while the last portion was built with money raised from bonds, the library and gym were financed with a bequest from L.N. Blume. ^{[3] : 112} These additions were designed by Frank Packard of Columbus. ^[1]

Growth in the Wapakoneta City School District resulted in overcrowding by the mid-1950s. ^{[3] : 112} After a series of failed attempts, the school board succeeded in winning voter approval for the construction of a new school in 1956, and the new Wapakoneta High School building, which today serves as the Wapakoneta Middle School, opened at the beginning of 1959. ^{[3] : 113} Blume was converted into a junior high school for several years, but a 1988 vote resulted in the school's closing by 1990. ^{[3] : 112}

In 1996, the former Blume High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its architecture. ^[1] It has since been converted to apartments.

Notable alumni

• Neil Armstrong (1947) - NASA astronaut, first man to walk on the Moon
• Dudley Nichols (1913) - Oscar-winning screenwriter and director

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. The 1916 Retrospect. Vol. IX. Wapakoneta High School. 1916. p. 7.
3. Dahill, Harold. "Wapakoneta City Schools". Auglaize County Historical Society, ed. A History of Auglaize County Ohio. Defiance: Hubbard, 1980, 111-113.