What’s in a name?
A look at school name origins in the area:
Simon Kenton Elementary: Named for pioneer and frontiersman Simon Kenton.
Lincoln Elementary: Named for President Abraham Lincoln.
Horace Mann Elementary: Named for noted educator Horace Mann, known as the "Father of the Common School."
Roosevelt Middle School: Named for President Theodore Roosevelt.
Clark Center: Named for George Rogers Clark, the namesake of Clark County.
Springfield High School: Named after the city, the earliest Springfield High School opened in 1855.
Schaefer Middle School: Named for Henry L. Schaefer, a prominent local businessman and political leader who held the office of county coroner.
Perrin Woods Elementary: Named to mark its location near Perrin Woods, once owned by early settler John Perrin.
Snowhill Elementary: Believed to be named for its original location on a hill which allowed approaching storms to be observed.
Kenwood Elementary: Named for the area and street on which it was constructed, which was selected by residents over a preferred location by the board of education.
Lagonda Elementary: Named in recognition of the village of Lagonda, a word that orginated from the American Indian name for Buck Creek, La'ohonda.
Warder Park-Wayne Elementary: Anthony Wayne and Warder Park schools merged into one. Anthony Wayne was named for Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne and Warder Park was named in recognition of Jeremiah and Anne Warder, who supported education.
Fulton Elementary: Started as the Dibert Street School and was renamed in 1913 after former teacher and principal of the Western School John Fulton, who was the first principal of Springfield High School and a vocal advocate for racial integration of the city schools.
Snyder Park Elementary: Named for the family of Henry Snyder, whose sons donated the land and funding to create Snyder Park.
Hayward Middle School: Named in honor of the Hayward family who settled in Clark County in 1803 and were active in civic and political affairs, with descendents serving on City Council and the board of education.
Keifer Academy: Named to honor J. Warren Keifer, a brigadier general in the Civil War and seven-term member of Congress.
— Springfield City Schools
SPRINGFIELD — Last year, when a group of residents proposed changing the name of Fulton Elementary, school officials were not sure about the name’s origin.
Some thought it was named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat, with no known local ties. Eventually, the district uncovered the real namesake: John Fulton, who was the first principal of Springfield High School and a vocal advocate for racial integration of the city schools — in 1855, nearly 100 years before Brown vs. Board of Education, the landmark Supreme Court case that integrated U.S. public schools.
Now, Springfield City Schools officials are taking steps to ensure the namesake of its buildings are well remembered.
The district celebrated “Heritage Day” Friday, presenting plaques at each school denoting the origin of their names.
“It was a way to remember our past and celebrate it and not forget it,” said Superintendent David Estrop. “We have new schools that lack physical history. We want the student to understand that public education goes back a long way and that they are a part of that history.”
The research by historians Art Thomas, William Kinnison and Ardath Dellapina is available for review at the Heritage Center.
The 30 plaques at 15 buildings were paid for by the school district, said Michael Whitfield, business manager for Springfield schools.
“We appropriated the money through the maintenance budget,” he said. “We contracted locally, using Macray Sign Company.”
The total cost of the plaques, which included installation, is about $10,000, said Kim Fish, the district’s communication consultant.
The plaques will be displayed at each building and students received a commemorative card with the dedication and plaque information for the school.
The wording of each plaque is available for viewing at the district’s website at spr.k12.oh.us.
“One of the complaints that we get is that our schools are new and have no history,” Whitfield said. “This is a way to add character and provide that history.”
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0373 or mgildow@coxohio.com.
About the Author