Old Arkansas City High School

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Old Arkansas City High School
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Location300 W. Central St., Arkansas City, Kansas
Coordinates 37°03′45″N97°02′29″W / 37.06250°N 97.04139°W / 37.06250; -97.04139 Coordinates: 37°03′45″N97°02′29″W / 37.06250°N 97.04139°W / 37.06250; -97.04139
Arealess than one acre
Built1890-91
Built byRobert Baird
Architect Charles Sumner Sedgwick
Architectural styleRomanesque
NRHP reference # 74000824 [1]
Added to NRHPNovember 21, 1974

The Old Arkansas City High School, now known as Ireland Hall and part of the Cowley Community College campus, is located at 300 W. Central Street in Arkansas City, Kansas. It was built in 1890-91. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Cowley Community College

Cowley College is a community college in Arkansas City, Kansas. It also operates locations in nearby Wellington, Winfield, Mulvane, and downtown Wichita. In addition to an online presence the college offers on-site courses at nine area high schools. Cowley College is accredited by the NCA's Higher Learning Commission.

Arkansas City, Kansas City in Kansas, United States

Arkansas City is a city in Cowley County, Kansas, United States, situated at the confluence of the Arkansas and Walnut rivers in the southwestern part of the county. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 12,415.

National Register of Historic Places federal list of historic sites in the United States

The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance. A property listed in the National Register, or located within a National Register Historic District, may qualify for tax incentives derived from the total value of expenses incurred preserving the property.

Contents

History

The building was designed by architect Charles Sumner Sedgwick. It was previously called the Arkansas City High School. [2] and was home to Arkansas City High School (Kansas).

Charles Sumner Sedgwick

Charles Sumner Sedgwick was an American architect based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Arkansas City High School (Kansas) public high school in Arkansas City, Kansas

Arkansas City High School is a public high school in Arkansas City, Kansas, United States, operated by Arkansas City USD 470.

The marble and stone masons of the building were Charles Fredrick Rothfus and Antonio and Joseph Buzzi. [3] Construction began on July 10, 1890, and it was occupied beginning September 7, 1892, with all work done by 1893. In 1922 the high school moved to a new building, and so it served as a sixth-grade center until elementary schools absorbed the sixth grade in 1941. [4]

Area citizens protested against district plans to raze the building. Cowley Community College took possession of the building in 1971. [4] The building was renovated by the college in 1982 and renamed Ireland Hall. In 2018 it was occupied by the Criminal Justice Program, the Office of NJCAA Commissioner, and Cosmetology classrooms. [5]

Architecture and features

The main entrance has lion figures created by M. E. Roderick. There was a fountain, garnished with plants, in the center of the ground floor foyer. Fireplaces were installed in the board room and superintendent's office. When the school first opened, Brussels carpet was used to furnish them. [3]

It is a three-story-with-full-basement Romanesque Revival-style building which is 90 by 55 feet (27 m × 17 m) in plan. Its NRHP nomination explains its coloration:

Romanesque Revival architecture style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century

Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid-19th century inspired by the 11th- and 12th-century Romanesque architecture. Unlike the historic Romanesque style, however, Romanesque Revival buildings tended to feature more simplified arches and windows than their historic counterparts.

It was constructed of white Silverdale limestone set in red mortar. At the time of construction the only red color available for mortar was vermillion, which was not waterproof. As a result of rain and weather, pink streaks soon appeared on the white stone, and the stone absorbed the color. With the passage of time and continual weathering, the entire structure has acquired a rosy hue. The color has led many viewers to the mistaken conclusion that the building was made of pink Colorado sandstone. [2]

The building was deemed notable as

an outstanding example of the stonecutter's art. The fine detail and workmanship evident on the exterior make it one of the city's architectural landmarks. The building is also significant to the educational development of Arkansas City, having served the community since 1890. [2]

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References

  1. National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 Richard D. Pankratz (August 14, 1974). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Old Arkansas City High School / Arkansas City High School". National Park Service . Retrieved January 4, 2018. With photos, historic and from 1973-74
  3. 1 2 Ferguson, Heather D. Arkansas City: People, Places, and Events. Arcadia Publishing, 2011. ISBN   0738560499, 9780738560496. p. 112.
  4. 1 2 "Ireland Hall". Cowley Community College . Retrieved 2019-04-21.
  5. "Ireland Hall". Cowley College. Retrieved June 3, 2018.