Springfield Then & Now: McGuffey school named after school book publisher

In 1937, the school was renamed McGuffey after the educator and school book publisher William Holmes McGuffey . PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Credit: HANDOUT

Credit: HANDOUT

In 1937, the school was renamed McGuffey after the educator and school book publisher William Holmes McGuffey . PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CLARK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

In 1833 the county commissioners passed a resolution to build an infirmary for the county’s poor and infirm and in 1835 construction began on a 12-room building that was completed for $2,500 and opened on May 30, 1836.

Eighty years later, the building was remodeled for $73,697.04 and reopened as Northern Heights School.

In 1937, the school was renamed McGuffey after the educator and school book publisher William Holmes McGuffey because the name was too close to the existing Northern School.

The building was demolished in June 1983. The site has been an empty field along McCreight Avenue since the mid 80's.

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