Old District 10 Schoolhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1912 at the corner of Sheldon and Fry Roads, this brick schoolhouse in Middleburg Heights has one and a half stories, a raised basement, a steep slate hipped roof and a projecting gabled vestibule. A stone lintel carries the name District No. 10, and a hoodmold bears the date 1912. The school taught grades one through twelve to children from Berea, Brookpark and Middleburg until it closed in the early 1920s. The building later became central to local civic life. In 1927, residents protesting annexation by Berea gathered there, more than 100 strong, to discuss forming a new village. An election held in the schoolhouse in January 1928 chose the first mayor and council of Middleburg Heights, and the building briefly served as city hall. It was later a speakeasy and, from about 1940, a private home, with major alterations. After its last owner died in 1970 it passed to the city, which hoped to restore it as a cultural arts and community center.
Significance in brief: It served as the district school for children from Berea, Brookpark and Middleburg until the early 1920s. It is also described as the birthplace of the town of Middleburg Heights, where citizens met in 1927 and held the 1928 election of the first mayor and council.
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 73001427, listed October 15, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Corner of Sheldon and Fry Rds., Middleburg Heights |
|---|---|
| County | Cuyahoga County |
| Listed | October 15, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001427 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912 |
| Areas of significance | Education, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as not in use and being restored; owned by the City of Middleburg Heights. Condition is given as fair and altered, with interior alterations described as poorly constructed. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.38834, -81.81484 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 73001427.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24040167
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.