Union School (St. Johns, Michigan)

The St Johns school district was founded in 1857; the district re-organized in 1862 and built their second permanent building on this site in 1864.[3] The school burned in early 1885, and construction began on the Union School, the third building constructed for the St. Johns school district, later in the year.[2] It was designed by architect Oliver Hidden of the Bay City/Detroit firm Watkins, Hidden, and Arnold. The building was used as a school by the district until 1986.

The district sold the building to private owners,[2] and houses were constructed on the former site of the school in 2000.[4]

The St. Johns Union School was a 2-1/2 story red brick building set on a raised stone foundation and topped with a slate roof.[2] The school covered an area 147 feet (45 m) long 74 feet (23 m) wide.[3] It had a central mass with a hip roof and two T-shaped wings, also with hip roofs. Broad gable roof dormers broke up the roofline on the front facade, and a square belfry tops the center mass. The exterior decoration included Tudor Revival elements on the entrance surrounds, and first- and second-floor window hoods.

On the interior, classrooms were located in the main masses, with the narrow connecting "T" legs containing stairways, a library, and administration offices.[2] When it was constructed, the building had state-of-the-art lighting, heating, ventilation, and fireproofing.

• Jean Martin (1985), A Brief History of Central School, St. Johns, Michigan, 1885-1985, Central School Centennial Committee