Dennison High School
Also known as: Claymont Intermediate School
Why it's listed
Dennison High School is a large, two-story brick school on a hill above downtown Dennison, Ohio. Completed in 1928 to a design by Canton architect J. K. Griffin, it uses Collegiate Gothic elements, including a central entrance tower with corner turrets, two smaller end towers and limestone trim. Fireproof concrete floors, an auditorium and a gymnasium placed directly behind the stage reflected modern ideas in school design. The building replaced earlier high schools, and a nearby school burned while it was under construction. It served as Dennison's only high school until 1965, when the district merged with Uhrichsville's to form the Claymont district, and it now serves as an intermediate school. From 1931 to 1954 it housed the Primrose School, a program for children with physical and visual impairments. The school was also a regular host of district basketball tournaments. Its original corridor layout, terrazzo floors and auditorium survive, and its towers remain a landmark visible across town.
Significance in brief: The school is significant under Criterion A for its role in Dennison's educational history and as representative of early 20th-century trends in Ohio public education, including its 1930s Primrose School program for children with special needs. It is significant under Criterion C as a well-preserved Collegiate Gothic building and a prominent visual landmark in the community.
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 05001573, listed February 1, 2006. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 220 N. Third St., Dennison |
|---|---|
| County | Tuscarawas County |
| Listed | February 1, 2006 |
| Reference number | 05001573 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1928 - 1954 |
| Architect / builder | J.K. Griffin, Canton, Ohio - architect; Smith & Shaffer, Dover, Ohio - contractor |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals - Late Gothic Revival - Collegiate Gothic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently in use as Claymont Intermediate School, serving grades 5 and 6. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.39450, -81.33335 (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 05001573.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5259117
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.