Blume High School

Blume High School
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Front of the school
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Location	405-409 S. Blackhoof St., Wapakoneta, Ohio
Coordinates	40°33′58″N 84°11′50″W
Area	2 acres (0.81 ha)
Built	1908; 1923-25
Architect	William M. Runkle; Frank L. Packard
Architectural style	Mixed
NRHP reference No.	96000933[1]
Added to NRHP	August 22, 1996

The former Blume High School is a historic building in downtown Wapakoneta, Ohio, United States. It was the first exclusive home of Wapakoneta High School. Prior to that time, WHS was housed with other grades.^[2]

The original part of the high school was built at a cost of $41,315. This original section was designed by local architect William M. Runkle. In the mid-1920s, it was expanded with the construction of a gymnasium, a library, and the "Red Brick Section" addition; while the last portion was built with money raised from bonds, the library and gym were financed with a bequest from L.N. Blume.^[3]: 112 These additions were designed by Frank Packard of Columbus.^[1]

Growth in the Wapakoneta City School District resulted in overcrowding by the mid-1950s.^[3]: 112 After a series of failed attempts, the school board succeeded in winning voter approval for the construction of a new school in 1956, and the new Wapakoneta High School building, which today serves as the Wapakoneta Middle School, opened at the beginning of 1959.^[3]: 113 Blume was converted into a junior high school for several years, but a 1988 vote resulted in the school's closing by 1990.^[3]: 112

In 1996, the former Blume High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places because of its architecture.^[1]

Notable alumni

• Neil Armstrong (1947) - NASA astronaut, first man to walk on the Moon
• Dudley Nichols (1913) - Oscar-winning screenwriter and director

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. The 1916 Retrospect. Vol. IX. Wapakoneta High School. 1916. p. 7.
3. Dahill, Harold. "Wapakoneta City Schools". Auglaize County Historical Society, ed. A History of Auglaize County Ohio. Defiance: Hubbard, 1980, 111-113.