Central School (Peoria, Arizona)

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Central School
P-Peoria Central School 1906.jpg
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Location10304 N. 83rd Ave., Peoria, Arizona
Coordinates 33°34′43″N112°14′17″W / 33.57869°N 112.23800°W / 33.57869; -112.23800
Arealess than one acre
Built1906
Architectural styleMission/spanish Revival
NRHP reference No. 82002080 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 12, 1982

The Central School, at 10304 N. 83rd Avenue, is a historic two-room school in Peoria, Arizona. It was built in 1906 for School District 11, in Mission Revival architecture and Spanish Revival architecture. [2]

Contents

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. [1]

Its two classrooms are each 39 by 25 feet (11.9 m × 7.6 m) and are separated by an 11 feet (3.4 m) wide central hall. [3]

History

Peoria Central School was built as a two room schoolhouse in 1906 to replacing the city’s one-room frame schoolhouse from 1891. The school was expanded with three additional classroom buildings in 1910, which still sit adjacent to the school today, and an auditorium building in 1918, which has since been demolished. The school was used continuously over the next seven decades, being purchased by the city in 1978. [2]

The structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is the oldest standing schoolhouse in the Peoria School District. [2]

The building was occupied by the Peoria Arizona Historical Society Museum, also known as the Peoria Central School Museum, which was operated by the Peoria Arizona Historical Society. The city spent $19,000 securing artifacts of the PAHS and arranging for an inventory to be completed. [4] The Society was dissolved in 2017, due to a dispute over control between two groups of members. [5] In July 2019, it was stated that the two groups had refused arbitration, and that the PAHS's lease with the city was terminated. The museum was closed as a result. [6]

In the years that followed, the city has tried finding new uses for the building. In 2022, the city agreed to a deal that would allow developers to lease the building and proposed the video of the former school becoming a restaurant. In 2024, Theater Works used the school building as part of their limited engagement Old Town Ghost Tour. [7] In December 2024, the city announced plans to evaluate the building for a rehabilitation project with the aim creating an arts and cultural center as part of a larger initiative to reinvigorate the downtown. [8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 "Timeline (1900 to 1929)". City of Peoria. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  3. ↑ Ann Tilghman; Historic Preservation Section, Arizona State Parks Board (February 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Central School". National Park Service . Retrieved October 27, 2021. With accompanying seven photos from 1981
  4. ↑ Haldiman, Philip (November 18, 2019). "Peoria historical society dispute reaches into taxpayer pockets". Peoria Independent.
  5. ↑ Laura Gómez (March 17, 2018). "Peoria museum closes due to dispute over rightful leaders of historical society". The Arizona Republic.
  6. ↑ "City Retains Museum Expert for Historic Artifacts". July 25, 2019.
  7. ↑ Theater Works. "Old Town Ghost Tour". www.instagram.com. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Downtown Development - School House Renovations Project Number: EN00646-3". gis.peoriaaz.gov. February 20, 2025. Retrieved March 31, 2025.
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