Adams School
Also known as: Adams Elementary School
Why it's listed
Adams School is a 1½-story, T-shaped brick schoolhouse on Washington Street in Findlay, Ohio, west of downtown. Built in 1888, or 1889 by the nomination's later account, it has load-bearing brick walls, a steep slate roof, tall segmental-arched windows, and a limestone foundation. Its design combines Italianate and Colonial Revival influences. Inside, four classrooms open off a central hallway, with ancillary rooms below. A blonde-brick addition was built on the east side in 1957. The school was one of nine four-room schools put up in Findlay during the natural gas boom, when the student population grew sharply. It was named for James T. Adams, a local manufacturer, city councilman and school board member. Only four of the nine buildings survive, and Adams is the one that retains its original plan and character. It served as a school until 1981, then housed vocational training until 1996, and has been vacant since while remaining in excellent condition.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion A for education, as one of nine four-room "Gas Boom" schools built in Findlay in response to population growth from the natural gas boom. Only four of the nine remain, and Adams is the only one that keeps its original four-room plan and architectural integrity. Under Criterion C it is an example of late nineteenth-century school design that shifts from Italianate to Colonial Revival.
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 04000832, listed August 11, 2004. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 826 Washington St., Findlay |
|---|---|
| County | Hancock County |
| Listed | August 11, 2004 |
| Reference number | 04000832 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1888-1954 |
| Architect / builder | Architect: Unknown; Builders: Unknown |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Italianate; Late 19th and Early 20th Century Revivals/Colonial Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant since 1996 and described as being in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.04225, -83.66244 (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 04000832.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4680398
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.