Shepard Street School
Also known as: Gahanna Nursing Home; Olde Gahanna Schoolhouse
Why it's listed
Built in 1889 by the Gahanna Special School District, the Shepard Street School is a red brick schoolhouse on one of the highest points in Old Gahanna. F. L. Packard designed it and Siegel & Ganz built it. It originally held four classrooms, with an auditorium and principal's office upstairs. A 55-foot square bell tower forms a landmark, and the auditorium hosted town meetings called together by the school bell. In 1918 a two-story, two-room wing was added, giving the front a nearly symmetrical look. After a new high school opened in 1928, the building served as an elementary school until 1948. It became a thirty-bed nursing home in 1950, operating until 1975. Facing possible demolition under zoning rules after a 1976 sale, it was saved with help from residents' petitions. The interior was then being converted to offices, with 12-foot ceilings and 1918 metal ceiling panels kept. Its restrained ornament is cited as typical of 19th century schoolhouse design.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a fine, sparsely ornamented example of late 19th century schoolhouse architecture with Victorian influence. It was also a focal point for Gahanna, hosting town meetings and educating many local leaders. Residents petitioned to save it from demolition in the 1970s.
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 79001841, listed November 29, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 106 Short St., Gahanna |
|---|---|
| County | Franklin County |
| Listed | November 29, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79001841 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | F. L. Packard - Architect; Siegel & Ganz - Contractors |
| Architectural style | Late 19th century schoolhouse with Victorian influence |
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Being remodeled into offices at the time of nomination; formerly a school (to 1948) and a nursing home (1950-1975). Described as in excellent or good condition and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 40.02047, -82.87688 (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 79001841.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q130900894
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.