The OES visited Clifton School on September 23, 2007. Located on the border of Clark and Greene counties, the village of Clifton was once a hub for industry and travel in Ohio. In 1802, Owen Davis built a grist mill named Davis Mill, along with several other mills. Davis sold the mill to Colonel Robert Patterson, who renamed the village Cliff Town, later shortened to Clifton. Davis Mill produced material for the American Army during the War of 1812 and for Civil War troops fifty years later. Clifton became a major stagecoach stop on the trail between Springfield and Cincinnati. The village bustled with travelers and businessmen. An adequate school building was needed for the growing settlement. Clifton School was established in an old 1830s Methodist church to serve the thriving community with plenty of room for the town’s future. Unfortunately, the town’s future was not as grand as the townspeople thought. Clifton was bypassed when the railroads came through the area. Much of the town’s industry left soon after. Even though the population dwindled, the school building continued to serve the village up through the 1960s. During our visit, portions of the first floor were being used by the Clifton Historical Society and Clifton Old Timer’s Inc. Much of the remaining building was not being used and was closed to the public. If you have any other information about Clifton School, please email info@ohioexploration.com with the details.
Location Information: Active Society
Clifton School is located at the intersection of North and Clay Streets in the village of Clifton; Clark County.
Photographs
The Clifton School was a rather large building for the area.
The marker on the school's tower decaled it the "Clifton Union School."
The back corner of the school where an addition had been built.
This dark, rather spooky stairway went to the second floor of the addition.
A look through the window at the top of the stairs.
Clifton's historical marker was in front of the school.
One of the two stairways in the school's main foyer area.
The room on the left led to the Clifton Historical Society's space. The right room belonged to the Clifton Old Timers.
Various typewriters and a cash register were on display in the historical society's room.
The historical society also displayed this old post office counter.
A look from the second floor down onto the stairway.
The second floor foyer contained this built-in desk.
This was on the ceiling of the second floor. We weren't sure if it was decorative or a hatch of some kind.
A view out of the window to the street festival below.
The doorways of the second floor.
The door on the left opened to this classroom.
A row of old desks in the classroom.
Visitors had left their names and messages on the chalkboards.
This cabinet contained several nicknacks.
This storage area off of one of the rooms was unimproved.
Another storage area contained art supplies.
This was the back stairway.
A close look at the hardwood floor.
A drinking fountain in the hallway.
The basement stairs.
An old light switch for the basement area.
An old bicycle and chair were among the items in the basement.
The basement also contained some old road signs.
The basement floor was very dirty.
The school's foundation was made from blocks of limestone.
