Nomination for Bantam Ridge School

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

United States Department of the Interior date entere OCT 1 1981 See instructions in How to Complete National Register Forms Type all entries - complete applicable sections Bantam Ridge School and/or common street & number - not for publication X vicinity of city, town - State 3. Classification .district X public X unoccupied - agriculture X museum X building(s) - private .commercial , - park -both - work in progress - private residence . site _ in process X yes: restricted . scientific _ being considered - yes: unrestricted _ transportation _military - other: 4. Owner of Property Cross Creek Township Trustees Steubenville, Ohio 5. Location of Legal Description courthouse, registry of deeds, etc. Jefferson County Courthouse has this property been determined elegible? - yes X no _federal depository for survey records 039 Ohio Accessible entertainment government Category 2.

Location None code date educational structure object Status historic industrial religious Ownership congressional district Public Acquisition Present Use Cadiz Road 18th 1. Name National Register of Historic Places Heritage Conservation and Recreation Service Inventory-Nomination Form 6. Representation in Existing Surveys FHR8300 (1178) For HCRS use only Bantam Ridge Road title received SEP 4 Wintersville wc. county - _ local 43952 081 c/o Corwin Coe 7. Description _ excellent X original site X altered _ moved X fair The Bantam Ridge School is a rectangular single-story frame structure measuring approx- imately 20' x 30'. It sets on a cut and hammered sandstone foundation and is sided and has some cut-out barge board molding near the cornice-line.

A brick chimney pierces the center of the roof and a new belfry was constructed near the front of the ridge to replace the original damaged when the bell was removed after its abandonment in the 1950s. the rear of one side. The windows are tall and narrow with 9/9 double-hung sash and pedimented hood molds and curvilinear cut-out molding at the bottom of the sills. The interior has tongue and groove wooden flooring and narrow vertical beaded oak wainscoating around the interior walls. Slate blackboards line the front of the room. The windows are framed with fluted oak molding. of the building was rotated 180° so that the gable-end now faces the road. Condition unexposed Check one Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance

Description of the property

There are four openings on each side elevation with entrances in the gable end and to _ruins - - good _ unaltered The school was originally located inmediately on the berm of the road with its side elevation parallel to the roadway, but local residents felt that it obscured clear Society was created by former students and area residents to preserve the structure, and 1977 deteriorated vision and demanded that it be removed.The Original Bantam Ridge School Historical 8.

From the form

The catalogue entry the section above was filed under.

Significance Areas of Significance-Check and justify below - prehistoric . archeology-historic _ conservation _ agriculture - sculpture X education . architecture - social/ - philosophy -theater - politics/government - transportation - other (specify) Specific dates ca. 1875-1880 Statement of Significance

Statement of significance

(in one paragraph) The Bantam Ridge School is important as the sole surviving remnant of an important phase of the township district school system from the 19th century. One room-schoolhouses were a conmon element of the education heritage of the country prior to the consolida- tions which resulted in the major school systems of today. Due to major encroachments from strip mining and the urban sprawl of nearby Steubenville, few of these early Bantam Ridge School is significant for its high degree of structural integrity, retaining most of its interior and exterior detailing and finishes. ment in 1955. When threatened with demolition in 1977, the Original Bantam Ridge School Historical Society was formed and the building was acquired by the township trustees.

1800-1899 1700-1799 economics 1500-1599 commerce 1400-1499 communications 1600-1699 engineering invention industry Period exploration/settlement Builder/Architect humanitarian music science tion project. law 1900- military literature _art schoolhouses remain in the county. No others exist in Cross Creek Township and the of Education between 1875 and 1880. It served the first six grades until its abandon- They have been successful in relocating the structure and have already begun a restora- The Bantam Ridge School was built as a grade school for the Cross Creek Township Board 9.

The rest of the file

Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.

Major Bibliographical References Green, Mrs. Raymond. Interview, October 10, 1980. Houser, Marian. "Schoolhouse" in Wheeling News-Register, September 7, 1975. and 200' south of the side road. _state 11. Form Prepared By I-71 & 17th Avenue street & number city or town _ national 665), I hereby nominate this property for inclusion in the National Register and certify that it has been evaluated GPO 938 835 Northing county date Easting code Zone Columbus 1:24000 Attest: local National Register Quadrangle scale Steubenville West UMT References Quadrangle name February 23, 1981 State Historic Preservation Officer signature 12.

State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: List all states and counties for properties overlapping state or county boundaries name/title Chief of Registration For HCRS use only north by a side road; on the west by a fence line; and on the south by a line parallel to SHPO David A. Simmons Ohio 43211 As the designated State Historic Preservation Officer for the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (Public Law 89- according to the criteria and procedures set forth by the Heritage Conservation andRecreation Service.

telephone (614) 466-1500 Verbal boundary description and justification Acreage of nominated property Less than One Bounded on the east by Bantam Ridge Road; on the Fed Nom or Request-Agency _ Determination of Eligiblity Photos 3 State Request for Review - Keeper's Decision to Review Evaluation of Resource (cont. on back if necessary) II. Evaluation of Nomination | Adequate 1. Descriptive Statement Short Format _ Yes 2. Significance Statement 3. Concepts/integrity 4. Concepts/Criteria 5. Concepts/Boundaries 6. Contextual Evaluation General Comments (cont. on back if necessary): U.S.

Department of the Interior Good Nomination REJECT Comments Name dnr-3 Local Other Within: Maps Multiple Resource Area Site Structure Entered in the See Attached National Park Service Reviewer/Date 2nd Return Poor Nomination prepared by: Federal Register Date On Nomination Form State Staff Bldg(s) Thematic Group Object Action: National Register Check if Appropriate: 2.2.82 Bantam Ridge School, Wintersville Vicinity, Jefferson County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, October 1980 SEP 4 1 1981 Negative:OhioHistorical Society View of facade and southern elevation Jefferson County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, October 1980 Negative: Ohio Historical Society View of window on southern elevation Bantam Ridge School, Wintersville Vic., SEP 4 1 1981 Jefferson County, Ohio Photo: David Simmons, October 1980 OCT 1 1981 Bantam Ridge School, Wintersville Vic., View of interior looking northeast Negative: Ohio Historical Society SEP 4 1981 7.5 MINUTE SERIES (TOPOGRAPHIC) Bantam Ridge STEUBENVILLE WEST QUADRANGLE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR GEOLOGICAL SURVEY UNITED STATES 17/ 522840/4467480 June 1, 1981 1-71 & 17th Ave.

Columbus, Ohio 43211 The goal of the society is to restore it to its original state so that As of now, the local students must travel to Pennsylvania for a SEP 4 Sincerely, view it. NATIONAL Historical Society REGISTER Ohio Historical Center one room wooden school building should be preserved so as to further State Historie Preservation Officer Secretery The Old Bantam Ridge School Historical Soeiety believe this old Original Bantam Ridge School Mr.Dellas H.Harder the interest and kmowledge of future school children. numbers of counties and even the state of West Virginia children to first hand look at an old one room school and how classes were conducted Dear Mr. Harder: in years gone by. field trips and actual classes may be conducted in the building- It is the only old school building left as such in Jefferson County. STATE OHIO Oliver, John Ge, House stearns, Lyman, Farm Honorable J.

Willita Stanton Midwest Region, NPS For further information, please call the National Register at (202)343-6401 Location Eady/ts/10.7.81 OCT Name Jefferson County Also Notified Hentor Lake County Date Entered Honorable Douglas Applegate Honorable Howard M. Metzenbaum Wintersville vicinity Bantam Ridge School Honorable Ronald M. Mottl Cuyahoga County ENTRIES IN THE NATIONAL REGISTER State Historic Preservation Officer The Chio Historical Society 272.3504 Interstate 7l at 17th Avenue Coluabus, Ohio 43211 Dr.W.Ray Luce the last one-room schoolhouse in be paid by the township, with The society and Cross Creek and relocate the building, which and old pot-bellied stoves. An area church is believed to out of driveways nearby. After much discussion, the township trustees and members will be returned and put in the belfry. The society is trying to the wrecker's ball.

REGISTER NATIONAL the renovation costs footed by One-Room School Volunteers will be used as lease the school from township Jefferson County. from some area residents Society Rescues replacement of the blackboards Road was obscuring the view of has come under sharp criticism Township officials will renovate society officials hope the bell Society has come to the rescue the old school on Bantam Ridge several yards behind its present sometime nsxt year, solution to help the drivers and save the old schoolhouse from drivers going past it or pulling be the present owner of the the society. of the society agreed on the The school will be moved SEP site, with the front door facing of the old Bantam Ridge School, relocation-about $2,500will pected to which becompleted There were complaints that The Bantam Ridge Historical trustees.

The project is ex- much as Rather than destroy the last one- County, Cross Creek Township of- renovate the place restored by members of the Bantam officials the building, located at the edge of Bantam Ridge Road, was a or, pulling from driveways oo ad- Joining property. but unwilling to pay for renovation, complete the renovation. the restoration. Trustee John Hritz said. Details of the Raymond Green, society treasurer, yards behind the spot where it now stands to eliminate said the society will try touse as much renovating the school house replaced. "We think the original bell in the belfry on top." have sent donations, Green said. touring the facilities, he said. At some Restored renovated.

Many civic organizations such as school children will get first crack at To Be Once the renovation is completed pay any other costs connected with safety hazard since it obscures the The building will be turned so the the Cross Creek Township trustees The society now is seeking to lease view of drivers passing the structure schoolhouse will have a new home sometime in 1978. is in a church in Jefferson County a possible safety hazard. The building also will be historical society have decided to placing the old Bantam Ridge School building several Area residents had told Cross Creek Township Trustee Corwin Coe said on which it now stands.

the Wintersville Junior Woman's Club Reluctant to tear down the building moved several yards behind the spot Plans call for the school black time in 1978 the building will be made (Photo by Boyle) finally decided torelocate the and to allow the historical society to boards and pot-bellied stoves to be volunteer labor as possible in building away from the road's edge building. The historical society will front door faces the road when it is proximate $2,500 tab for moving the promised to return it and we'll put it plan remain to be worked out. which was the subjeet of recent The old Bantam Ridge School. ficials and members of an area requested it be torn down, will be deeided insnection.

he Cross Creek Township trustees have authorized Jefferson County's last remaining one-room Cross Creek will pick up the ap- Ridge Historical Society,t was contro ersy when area residents REGISTER NATIONAL SEP 4 RECEIVED SEP41981 - REGISTER schoolhouse still standing in the Indian Creek School The old Bantam Ridge School is the only one-room RECEIVED Built around 1875,the school was closed in 1955. SEP 4 District Interest has been expressed by some area NATIONAL residents in having it designated a historical landmark