Unionville District School
Also known as: Unionville Community Center
Why it's listed
Unionville District School is a one-story, L-shaped brick building on West Street in Unionville, Madison Township, Lake County, Ohio. Built in 1855 after a new brick schoolhouse was recommended in 1853, it sits on ground used for schooling since before 1835, when an earlier school building was sold to the school district. Around 1890 an ell was added to create a second classroom. Features include a random stone foundation with a cut stone water table, stone lintels and sills, a shingled gable roof, and an interior of one large room with tongue-and-groove walls and original woodwork with bulls-eye corner blocks. A frame addition with toilet rooms was built in the 1920s. The school served the community until 1962, and the township acquired it in 1968. It was recognized as a locally significant place for its role in basic education, its adaptation to growing needs, and its L-shaped plan, which departs from the typical red brick schoolhouse.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the school is significant locally because it stands on a site used for education since before 1835 and served the community as a school until 1962. Its L-shaped plan sets it apart from the typical red brick schoolhouse, and the 1890 addition shows adaptation to growing needs.
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 78002095, listed December 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3480 West St., Unionville |
|---|---|
| County | Lake County |
| Listed | December 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002095 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1855; 1890 |
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied, in good condition, and owned by the Township of Madison; acquired by the township trustees in 1968 after use as a school ended in 1962. Known as the Unionville Community Center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.77909, -81.00644 (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 78002095.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138456706
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.