herr2ck: Uncut Gems

January 2026.

Columbus, Ohio holds the distinction of establishing the first ever junior high school (middle school) in the entire United States. This school was the Indianola Junior High School, located in the University District. Although it has since closed, the original building and its successor still stand. This post focuses on the first location, which is in use by Graham Elementary and Middle School (GEMS for short).

GEMS is located at 140 East 16th Avenue in the University District neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. It is bordered by a parking lot to the north, 16th Avenue to the south, Indianola Avenue to the east, and houses to the west.

History

Historic photo of the building. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

Until the early 20th century, the idea of a tertiary school between elementary and high schools was not considered. However, the school district began to notice a high dropout rate after 8th grade, as students typically stopped going to school and began to work. (This makes me wonder if there were economic reasons for children to have to work, not just “laziness” or what-have-you.) 52% of Columbus students dropped out before 10th grade in the early 20th century, and just 7% went on to graduate high school. To combat this, it was decided that a new school system would be implemented to encourage students to stay in school. Superintendent J. A. Shawan and Ohio State president William Oxley Thompson came up with a curriculum for the school, and it was named the Indianola Junior High School.

In June 1909, the Board of Education approved four recommendations that would dictate how the school operated and drew its student population. First, it included students then in high school who came from Medary, Northwood, and 8th Avenue Elementary Schools. Second, the boundaries for its 7th and 8th grade students were north of 8th Avenue east of High Street and north of 11th Avenue west of High Street. The others involved composition of the other classes and the hiring of a male principal. At the time, the organization of the school system was a 6-3-3 grouping. (I’m not sure how the schools in Ohio are traditionally organized, as I’ve heard that my experience of a 5-3-4 system is not universal.) This was officially enacted by the school board and reorganized across the city in 1910. Thereafter, three additional middle schools opened in existing buildings--Hubbard, 23rd, and Champion Avenue Schools--and it was considered to convert Ohio Avenue Elementary School as well (though I’m not sure if this actually occurred).

A 1915 photo of the exterior. (Columbus Metropolitan Library)

The “nearly fireproof” Renaissance Revival school was designed by Columbus City Schools architect David Riebel. The brand-new Indianola Junior High School opened for classes on September 7, 1909.

Indianola Junior High soon outgrew its 1909 building within 20 years, and a new building on 19th Avenue was built by architect Howard Dwight Smith. I cover that one in a separate post. After the new middle school opened, this building became the Indianola Elementary School (later Indianola Alternative Elementary). I wasn’t able to find any history about the building afterwards, but it was listed on the Columbus Register of Historic Properties in 1984. There was also an addition at some point, which was built after 1961, probably in the 1970s or 1980s.

In 2009, Indianola Alternative Elementary moved to the larger Crestview School in Clintonville, and the 16th Avenue school was left vacant. A year later, Graham Expeditionary Middle School (currently the Graham Elementary and Middle School) began using the school, and they have since purchased the building from the school district.

Photos

The main thing I remember about visiting GEMS is that it was extremely cold that January day. The lighting was great, but I was having trouble operating my camera with my bare hands.

Needless to say I was pretty happy to call it quits soon after finishing these pictures.

This is a classic Renaissance Revival building as seen in its symmetry, stone details in the center, and giant cornice. The central portion also has a Palladian window in the center surrounded by Doric columns:

Very lovely lighting on all of the stone details.

The main entrance:

It has a flight of stone stairs leading up to it, and the doors and their framing are metal. There are also many stone details, as seen in the decorative window surrounds and above the entrance itself:

I don’t think the stained glass is original, but the sign and corbels definitely are.

A tablet below the west window credits Riebel’s firm for the design:

On the other side is the school district’s building committee, including none other than William Oxley Thompson.

Broken pediment above:

The Palladian window lends more credence to the fact that this is Renaissance Revival and not Beaux-Arts, a closely related movement:

The rest of the facade has simple rectangular windows with stone drip molds and sills:

There is also this odd modern sculpture out front.

Western end of the facade from here:

A view of it straight on:

As indicated by the flaking paint, the pediment and cornice are metal.

I always love my corner shots…tons of textural depth here:

The addition, which is much shorter in stature and uses a different shade of brick:

The west facade is obscured by that addition today, but all of the upper-floor details are still intact:

I was really enjoying the vibrancy and business of this cornice. Unfortunately, it seems to be rusting here.

This was the closest picture I could get of the matching east facade without obstructions in the way:

The stone details here are cool too:

Could you imagine being a student here and looking out your classroom window to some frat bros playing beer pong and blasting music at like 3pm on a Friday?