Urbana City Schools

Urbana High School was mentioned in the previous posts and I thought it only fitting to display a photo. This is not the original building, it caught fire and burned to the ground. In the mid to late 1890's they began building the new High School. I had their first year book in my possession and then turned it over to the school, believing that it may have been the only one left. After donating it to them they discovered one or two other copies but not in as good condition.

If I remember correctly, it was 1902 - which had the first class that attended High School all four years in the Castle.

The Castle is still in use today as part of the Junior High complex. It's rooms are small, the halls and staircases are narrow, but the community values the beautful structure more than the convenience and practicallity of a modern building.

It has been my suggestion that they remove everything but the shell, and install a library, offices and conference rooms, redone in a practical way but similuating the period in which it was built.

Urbana, Ohio

On the circle, in the square where Ohio State Routes 68 and 36 intersect, there is a statue of a veteran of the war between the states. In the backgound stands the 19th Century, Douglas Hotel.


It appears as though the statue is watching the traffic on the circle.


Urbana, Ohio citizens are for the most part interested in preserving their identity. They want to preserve the Douglas, they want to preserve the old High School that was built in 1899, and they want to preserve an iron fence in front of the South Elementary School, which is identical to the fence in front of the graveyard - the one across the road from where Simon Kenton is buried.


There's a lot to be said for preservation. It gives the community a strong sense of who they are and where they've come from.