Old Center School
Also known as: Mayfield Center School
Why it's listed
Old Center School, also called Mayfield Center School, is a two-story red brick schoolhouse on S.O.M. Center Road in Mayfield Village, Ohio. Its design includes a forward-projecting central tower with an arched fanlight over the doorway, masonry-trimmed windows, and an open belfry with a steep slate roof. The Mayfield Center School District board voted to build it on May 28, 1906. It first served both elementary and high school pupils, with no running water, electricity or telephone, and its first graduating class in 1907 had nine pupils. Bell tower, steam heat, fire escapes and indoor plumbing came in later years. Enrollment peaked during World War II at as many as 200 children in four rooms. The school closed in 1954 and was used for storage until 1971, when the board of education restored it for administrative offices. It reopened in July 1972. Its listing recognizes local significance as an example of adaptive reuse of an early twentieth-century school.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant locally as a good example of preservation for adaptive use, involving a well-designed early 20th century small school building. After closing in 1954 and serving as storage, it was restored in 1971-72 with its woodwork and exterior preserved, and reopened for educational use.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73001426, listed April 3, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 784 S.O.M. Center Rd., Mayfield Village |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | April 3, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001426 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 20th Century (specific date 1906) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1971-72 and reopened in July 1972 for educational use as administrative offices after being closed in 1954 and used for storage until 1971. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.53991, -81.43909 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73001426.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q137727180
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.