The doors of Greenfield Elementary School caught my attention while walking to the high school open house Saturday. Can you read the message?
Thought once awakened does not again slumber.
That’s the perfect sentiment for an elementary school. It is when we are small that we either decide we love learning or we hate it. Reversing that decision later in life is possible but not easy so it’s important to get it right the first time.
How lucky are the students of Greenfield, Ohio that they have such beautiful and imaginative places to learn and grow? Read about their magnificent high school here.f
People in Greenfield, Ohio are waking up this morning with a nagging question on their minds.
Who was that blond in the black shirt at alumni yesterday? She looked familiar but no one knew her.
That’s because I more or less crashed their alumni day just to see inside their gorgeous high school. To be fair, the high school open house was open to the public but it was a sea of people with name tags like – “Bill, Class of 62” and Shannon, Class of 94.”
One of them seemed to think he knew me and struck up a conversation. I’m a little ashamed to say that I didn’t confess to being a tourist. Honestly, I was having such a fun time I hated to out myself!
What brought me to this place?
My lovely reader Christine Lewis recommended that I take a tour of Greenfield’s McClain High School. She said that it’s a beautiful old building filled with artwork and she said it is the kind of place I would enjoy.
Christine was not wrong. This place is like no high school I’ve ever seen. It is magnificent.
Built in 1914, this brick three story behemoth was a gift to the community from inventor and industrialist Edward Lee McClain.
The building resembles an art museum with its marble staircase, murals, statues and hundreds of works of art in seemingly every nook and cranny.
The wood floors are almost blindingly shiny and the light is stunning.
The pool was built in 1923 and is believed to be the oldest high school pool still in use. The theater has a balcony that overlooks a large stage, pipe organ and gorgeous friezes that line the side walls.
The water fountains! Oh, how I loved them. They are backed by Rookwood tile from Cincinnati’s Over-The-Rhine neighborhood.
And the library! The library is anchored by two large murals and lined with busts of influential classic writers and paintings that depict them.
The old card catalog is no longer in use but it’s still there.
Plus, they still have the old bell system. I really liked this space.
Not to mention, the classrooms are pretty fabulous too.
I learned some things about Mr. McClain but my favorite factoid is that he built this school for all high school students in the community. There was no mention of race, religion, nationality or anything else. This school was integrated in 1914 – a full fifty years before most in southern Ohio.
What a gift to the community – not just the building but all it stood for in terms of equality and even access to beauty and art in a rural community where museums would not be easily accessible.
One thing I noticed is that they have done a nice job of keeping up with the times while honoring the integrity of the history and the artistry of this place. For example, the classrooms still have the original wood framed chalk boards. They also have white boards and technology tools that make the classrooms functional and modern.
The place buzzed with people surrounding the various alumni activities but I managed to find some quiet spaces. Those spaces felt different. They felt solemn and important. Those quiet places with dim light and antique features felt sacred. It felt like a cathedral of learning and I hope the students who get to learn there appreciate their surroundings.
I never would have known to go without Christine’s tip and I am grateful that she thought of me. If you ever get a chance to tour McClain High School – GO. You won’t regret it.
Built of Indiana limestone, it has occupied a full acre of a busy downtown street since 1902. It’s the Muncie Carnegie Library, a gorgeous old place that smells like history.
Today, the library system uses it as their history and genealogy library.
This neoclassical building features a large dome that’s an absolute showstopper.
The dome’s purple floral motif provided inspiration for the interior wall colors – ivory and lavender. While I wouldn’t have chosen this particular shade of lavender, it does reflect the tastes of the late Victorian era when the building was designed and built.
In addition to the research resources, this building houses some art and artifacts sure to catch your eye. Plus, there’s a small display about Garfield the cat illustrator Jim Davis. The Marion, Indiana native attended Ball State here in Muncie.
Want to go? Since they’re a research library, the hours more limited than you would find at a regular library. Be sure to check their website for updated information.
It was dedicated in 1879 and cost $18,599 to build. It’s Pickaway Lodge No. 23, a Masonic Lodge in Circleville, Ohio. I was fortunate to be in town for work yesterday and couldn’t resist grabbing some pictures.
It’s a grand building that remains an active lodge. Plus, there’s a great antique mall in the downstairs.
Much care was taken with the details in this building’s design and the round windows are absolute show stoppers. It’s even more fabulous in person than it appears in pictures.
Preparing an omelette for last night’s dinner summoned a memory of brunch with my Pittsburgh pal last year. She understands that I often select restaurants based on atmosphere rather than the promise of a good meal. Luckily, Pittsburgh’s Grand Concourse lives at the happy intersection of amazing atmosphere and delicious food.
This Pittsburgh landmark is located in a 1901 railroad station built by the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Friends, this is now one of my favorite restaurants anywhere.
The 80,000 square foot building was brilliantly transformed into a restaurant in 1978. The stained glass vaulted ceilings are magnificent. Marble columns look substantial. A grand staircase is, well, grand.
Even the hallways and restrooms are lovely with mosaic tile floors and exquisite woodwork. It’s no wonder this building, with its Victorian and Edwardian styles, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
We sat in a space that I believe is an enclosed porch, giving a terrific view of the outside world. There was some kind of fitness expo happening in town that weekend so we saw plenty of fit people walk by and even engage in some kind of bizarre bridal shoot for an extremely sculpted couple.
Meanwhile, I thoroughly enjoyed my brunch buffet and had a selection of small desserts. Fitness modeling is not in my future.
They have lunch and dinner menus, offer takeout, and host Sunday buffets as well as special buffets for holidays like Easter and Mother’s Day. Reservations are recommended even for a regular day. The prices are higher than a lot of restaurants near me but the food is better quality than your typical sit down restaurant and I was pleased with the value.
We saw people in all manner of attire but it feels like such a special place I was glad we dressed up a bit. I hated to look like too much of a hillbilly tourist in such a nice place so I made just a few photos. Besides, pictures really don’t do this building justice.
There’s something about this place, about the light and air and that makes it feel different. It feels timeless yet old, fancy but comfortable.
It’s a study in contradictions.
At one point, I found a settee near the buffet and simply sat down to absorb my surroundings. The late morning sun illuminated the stained glass and the air was filled with the murmur of conversation and clink of silverware. Servers scurried by with purpose while guests wandered about, making impossible choices from the buffet.
I swore if I turned quickly enough I might glimpse a Victorian couple or a traveling salesman with a trunk full of samples in tow.
This was a delightful experience and one that I would repeat if given the opportunity. Want to learn more and perhaps admire the menu? Click here to visit their website.
Everyone should have friends who are willing to derail their plans to slam on the brakes whenever you gasp the words “look at that!”
My Pittsburgh pal is a champ in this category. When we spotted this Catholic church atop a hill in a tiny western Pennsylvania village, she didn’t hesitate to look for the entrance.
The door was open so we were able to let ourselves in. My friend prayed while I admired the quiet and the light of this beautiful sanctuary.
It really is gorgeous.
It was built in 1893 and, while it feels historic, it also feels fresh and well cared for.
The stained glass is magnificent.
The cemetery contains numerous old graves with interesting, finely crafted headstones.
Lovely, eh?
Just before we left, we met a woman who is a longtime congregant. We had a quick chat with her and she confirmed that the church has an active congregation and she seemed positively thrilled that we showed an interest.
It made my heart happy to think there are still people out there so devoted to their church and faith and that they would make strangers feel so welcome.
