Downey School

The story

Written by AI from this property's National Register nomination and the record above; every sentence is checked against its sources before it appears here. Corrections: privacy@treealive.com

The Downey School is a two-story brick school at 212 Broadway St. in Downey, built in 1905 in the Classical Revival style. John G. Ralston was its architect, and Frank W. Chapman received the construction contract that year.

Why it's listed

It was listed under criteria A and C, with local-level significance in education. Its periods of significance run from 1850 to 1905, covering the community's earlier schools including one built in 1863, and from 1905 to 1916, covering the school built in 1905.

Physical character

The building is press brick on a limestone foundation, with a metal cornice, asphalt shingle roof, and central brick chimneys. It measures 38 by 62 feet, with four rooms including a west-side gymnasium and coat rooms for girls and boys. A stage and playground equipment were added in the 1930s, and the cupola was removed in 1978.

Historical context

Downey's early classes met in private houses, including those of James Crozier in 1860 and E. Riley in 1861, before the town built its first school in 1863 and rebuilt it in 1871 for 10,000 dollars. In 1905 the old frame school was moved and divided into two rental houses. Downey High School opened in 1906, and the school closed in 1954.