A fond final farewell to Apple Creek School

It stood for over 100 years, providing a safe place for the education of tens of thousands of Apple Creek and East Union Township children. My father attended high school there. My siblings and I attended there in the 1960s when it was a K-8 school.

Apple Creek School was built in 1922 when crowding at the old school, built in 1874, became untenable. A $65,000 bond issue passed, and it was erected over the summer. Another bond issue for $10,000 passed to equip it.

From 1922-55 it served as the village and township high school. In 1937 overcrowding again became a problem, and another bond issue was passed, this time for $41,000, and an addition was built, creating seven new classrooms. During this time seventh grade and eighth grade were added to the curriculum.

In 1951 Apple Creek School became part of the newly created Southeast Local School District. This district included Mt. Eaton, Fredericksburg and, eventually, Holmesville when it lost its high school charter.

Once again a bond levy passed, and Waynedale High School was born. It received its first students in 1955. Perhaps surprisingly, it only operated as a high school for 12 years. In 1967, due to growth pressures, a bigger, more modern high school was built right next door. The old Waynedale became John R. Lea Junior High School, named after former Fredericksburg High School superintendent and then superintendent of Southeast Local School District.

That left Apple Creek School to provide education to K-6 students. The same applied to the other villages as well. That lasted until 2025 when a new school was opened that consolidated all grades, K-12, just north of the 1967 high school. Now all public school students in the district would be under one roof.

So that left Apple Creek School without a purpose, and the wrecking ball came.

On April 3 Ted and Tina Fry were there taking photos of the school’s demolition. Tina noticed one of two decorative plates lying on the ground near the city sidewalk. Not knowing if it was spoken for, she asked a worker from the demolition crew if the other still-attached piece was spoken for. The crew member said no. She told the worker she wanted it. The worker agreed to help preserve it.

The plate was delivered to the Fry residence. Word was passed via the Facebook group, “Apple Creek Villagers,” of it. Susan Orr, associated with the Apple Creek Historical Society, indicated the ACHS would be interested in adding the plate to its collection. The Frys agreed to donate it. Brian Orr agreed to transport the plate to ACHS in Apple Creek, where it will be preserved. Tina said she and Ted are very happy ACHS accepted it.