In January 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation initiated a nationwide study of historic school buildings in response to growing alarm over the rate of their demolition, deterioration, and abandonment. The initiative called attention to the unfortunate plight of some of the country’s most significant, well-built older public buildings. The Trust’s study was undertaken at the state level by State Historic Preservation Offices (SHPOs) or nonprofit statewide organizations, and was meant to identify and understand the issues that affect historic school buildings.
Temple Hill
School, Temple Hill, KY (Barren County); This school is set to be demolished in
the Fall of 2001.
Kentucky’s SHPO, the Kentucky Heritage Council, began this effort through
development of several case studies. Historic schools at Temple Hill
(Barren County), Nicholasville (Jessamine County), Sadieville and Georgetown
(Scott County), and Bowling Green (Warren County) were examined in order to
understand this multi-faceted issue. Although the study demonstrated that
historic schools in Kentucky can and have been renovated, it became clear that
Kentucky’s historic school buildings are underutilized and under imminent threat
of demolition in favor of new school construction. This situation is
unfortunate given that schools are among the most significant historic buildings
in a community and have great potential for reuse, as schools, community
centers, daycare centers, etc.
Cub
Run School, Cub Run, KY (Hart County). This 1948 School was renovated in
2000 by the Hart County School Board for $2.6
million.
Lebanon School, Lebanon, KY (Marion County). The Lebanon
Schools are currently being renovated by the City of Lebanon to function as a
multi-purpose community center.
The Kentucky Heritage Council seeks to remedy this situation by forming a working partnership with citizens across the Commonwealth. We believe that Kentucky’s historic school buildings are not a relic of the past, but a gateway to a cost-effective, progressive future. Historic school buildings can furnish safe, even dynamic educational spaces through which Kentucky’s children can flourish in the 21st century. As we have seen in our study, elevators, office spaces, computer labs, and other modern amenities can be integrated into historic school facilities in a cost-effective, aesthetically pleasing manner.
Robinson
School, Ary Kentucky (Perry County). Demolished in July 2000 for parking
lot to serve the new school.
Somerset School, Somerset KY (Pulaski County). Somerset
school was renovated in 1997-98 for $2.3 million.
The following is a pdf file, you will need Adobe® Acrobat Reader to view it
Kentucky Historic
School Survey Form