Central High
School
a.k.a.
Central Court
Built:
1899
Located: 16th Street between South & Colfax Streets Noted Architectural Specimen
This Property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The original High School
in Blair dates back to 1869 when it occupied a hardware store at Grant and
Walker Ave (now 16th & Grant). After additional buildings were erected in
1871 and 1872, a new high school was constructed in 1899. The building was
designed by master architect, John Latenser, in the Richardsonian Romanesque
style. It was built for about $40,000. The H-plan of the building was
constructed over a raised brick basement giving the building 3 stories of useful
space.
A large assembly hall on the third floor required
a roof span of 60 ft and a ceiling which was finished in pressed metal including
an ornate cornice. The brick used was a very hard burned red brick with thin
mortar joints and a red sandstone trim. The corner stone was laid September 22,
1899 and the brick walls were completed later in November.
In 1929, a new modern building was built just
north of the 1899 high school which required the removal of the old grade school
in that location.
The building is in the Colonial Revival style and
includes a large auditorium with stage.
In recent years the
building was retired as a school and refurbished for use as apartments, office
space and social hall.
North Side of
Old Blair High School
Post Card image from online auction
Looking from the North East; showing back (North) side of the 1899 Building
and the 1872 Building on the far right.
