Bluff Park School: Difference between revisions

From Bhamwiki
Jump to navigation Jump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
:''This article is about the historical school. For the present institution, see [[Bluff Park Elementary School]].''
:''This article is about the historical school. For the present institution, see [[Bluff Park Elementary School]].''
'''Bluff Park School''', later '''Bluff Park Community School''', '''Hoover Community Education''', and '''Artists on the Bluff building''', is a former school constructed in [[1923]] at 569 or 571 [[Park Avenue (Bluff Park)|Park Avenue]] in [[Hoover]]'s [[Bluff Park]] neighborhood. It replaced the older [[Summit School]] nearby.
'''Bluff Park School''', later '''Bluff Park Community School''', '''Hoover Community Education''', and '''Artists on the Bluff building''', is a former school constructed in [[1924]] at 569 or 571 [[Park Avenue (Bluff Park)|Park Avenue]] in [[Hoover]]'s [[Bluff Park]] neighborhood. It replaced the older [[Summit School]] nearby.


[[Linda Williams]] was hired by the [[Jefferson County Board of Education]] in [[1973]] to superintend the [[Hoover Community Education]] program from Bluff Park School. The program offered classes in square dancing, interior design, flower arranging, computer literacy, and personal finance in the evening hours. She remained in that role as [[Hoover City Schools]] split away from the county system and developed evening programs at multiple locations.
The original one-story 3,472-square-foot building housed two light-filled classrooms, one at each end of the building, flanking a central hallway with the principal's and secretary's offices and two restrooms. [[D. O. Whilldin]] designed the building and [[Holly & Davis]] contractors of [[Ensley]] were awarded construction based on their low bid of $12,796.81. [[Pearl Cranford]] and [[Ethel Hale]] were the first teachers at the new school. In [[1930]] Mrs Hale succeeded Mrs [[Asa Cranford]] as principal.


The original school building was expanded to 32 classrooms in [[1988]].
In [[1962]] the Bluff Park School's Parent-Teacher Organization held a $3,500 fund-raising event with the theme of "Invest in the Best". In return for a $10 donation, investors received a printed "stock certificate" showing how the money raised would be divided between instructional, library, administrative and cleaning supplies.


In [[1996]] a new [[Bluff Park Elementary School]] was constructed just south of the existing campus. The older buildings remained in use for day care, community school programs, and community meetings. Hoover Community Education ended its operations at Bluff Park School when Williams retired in [[2010]]. At that time, the former school building was in poor repair, with junk piled up in unused classrooms and sagging roofs.
[[Linda Williams]] was hired by the [[Jefferson County Board of Education]] in [[1973]] to superintend the community education programs at Bluff Park School. The program offered classes in square dancing, interior design, flower arranging, computer literacy, and personal finance in the evening hours. After Bluff Park was annexed into the city of [[Hoover]] in the 1980s and [[Hoover City Schools]] was established in [[1987]], Williamson was made director of [[Hoover Community Education]]. In that role she developed evening programs at multiple locations.
 
Meanwhile, the original school building had been expanded several times, growing to 32 classrooms by [[1988]], and the system also leased portable classrooms which were located behind the school.
 
Between [[1993]] and [[1996]] the first phases of an all-new [[Bluff Park Elementary School]] were constructed just south of the existing campus. The older buildings remained in use for day care, community school programs, and community meetings. Hoover Community Education ended its operations at Bluff Park School when Williams retired in [[2010]]. At that time, the former school building was in poor repair, with junk piled up in unused classrooms and sagging roofs.


In [[2011]] Williams and [[Rik Lazenby]] formed the non-profit [[Artists on the Bluff]]. The group negotiated an informal agreement with [[Mayor of Hoover|Hoover Mayor]] [[Tony Petelos]] and superintendent [[Andy Craig]] according to which the city would repair and maintain the building and provide a $50,000 annual allocation for three years. The school board continued to pay for utilities. Artists on the Bluff provided classes and programs and organized exhibitions. It also subleased 20 studio and gallery spaces to artists and gallerists. The renovated facility opened in September [[2012]]. The organization flourished and served as a model for other publicly-supported arts programs.
In [[2011]] Williams and [[Rik Lazenby]] formed the non-profit [[Artists on the Bluff]]. The group negotiated an informal agreement with [[Mayor of Hoover|Hoover Mayor]] [[Tony Petelos]] and superintendent [[Andy Craig]] according to which the city would repair and maintain the building and provide a $50,000 annual allocation for three years. The school board continued to pay for utilities. Artists on the Bluff provided classes and programs and organized exhibitions. It also subleased 20 studio and gallery spaces to artists and gallerists. The renovated facility opened in September [[2012]]. The organization flourished and served as a model for other publicly-supported arts programs.
Line 14: Line 18:
In [[2017]] the school board determined that it could no longer subsidize the Artists on the Bluff by paying for utilities, which had sharply increased with the opening of the [[Capers on Park Avenue]] restaurant in [[2015]]. Williams agreed that the non-profit should negotiate a fair lease. Within a few months, the school system determined that it could not afford to bring the building up to code nor to continue allowing it to be used without doing so. It agreed to lease the building to the City of Hoover if the city was willing to renovate it, but the [[Hoover City Council]] voted in September not to fund that work, thus requiring Artists on the Bluff and other tenants to move out. School board president [[Earl Cooper]] expected the superintendent to recommend razing the building.
In [[2017]] the school board determined that it could no longer subsidize the Artists on the Bluff by paying for utilities, which had sharply increased with the opening of the [[Capers on Park Avenue]] restaurant in [[2015]]. Williams agreed that the non-profit should negotiate a fair lease. Within a few months, the school system determined that it could not afford to bring the building up to code nor to continue allowing it to be used without doing so. It agreed to lease the building to the City of Hoover if the city was willing to renovate it, but the [[Hoover City Council]] voted in September not to fund that work, thus requiring Artists on the Bluff and other tenants to move out. School board president [[Earl Cooper]] expected the superintendent to recommend razing the building.


In [[2021]] Hoover City Schools contracted for demolition of all of the former elementary school buildings except for the original 1923 schoolhouse. It was restored and reopened in [[2021]] as the home of the system's student services department.
In [[2021]] Hoover City Schools contracted for demolition of all of the former elementary school buildings except for the original 1923 schoolhouse. [[Davis Architects]] designed the restoration work, budgeted at $1 million, which included new fire sprinklers, central heating and air, and other systems. While the original pine flooring was re-used, the floor structure required extensive repairs. Matching bricks were ordered from New England and insulated windows were constructed to match the originals. The remodeled interior contains three offices, a conference room, a kitchenette, storage closets, and two accessible restrooms.
 
[[Battle Miller Construction]] carried out the work on the historic building while [[Complete Demolition Services]] brought down the other buildings and regraded the site for a total project cost of $1,652,300. The historic schoolhouse reopened in [[2021]] as the home of Hoover Public School's Student Services department, which relocated from [[Brock's Gap Intermediate School]].


{{stub}}
{{stub}}
==Principals==
* Mrs [[Asa Cranford]], 1929–1930
* [[Ethel Hale]], 1930–1933
* [[Merrill Collins]], 1953–1954
==Tenants==
==Tenants==
* [[Hoover Historical Society]] (2012–2017)
* [[Lazenby's Decorative Arts]] ([[Rik Lazenby]] 2012–)
* [[Lazenby's Decorative Arts]] ([[Rik Lazenby]] 2012–)
* [[Learning To Be The Light]] ([[Robin Schultz]] 2012–)
* [[Learning To Be The Light]] ([[Robin Schultz]] 2012–)
Line 23: Line 35:
* [[Soon-Bok Lee Sellers Art Gallery]] ([[Soon-Bok Lee Sellers]] 2012–)
* [[Soon-Bok Lee Sellers Art Gallery]] ([[Soon-Bok Lee Sellers]] 2012–)
* [[Tangled Stones Studio]] ([[Darla Williamson]] 2012–)
* [[Tangled Stones Studio]] ([[Darla Williamson]] 2012–)


==References==
==References==
* "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll8/id/32273/rec/2 Construction Comments]" (July 25, 1924) ''[[The Dixie Manufacturer]]'', Vol. 55, No. 2, p. 21 - via {{BPLDC}}
* Spotswood, Frances (September 3, 1962) "[https://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p4017coll2/id/10925/rec/1 Bluff Park 'buys' shares in children]." {{BN}} - via {{BPLDC}}
* Markham, Madoline (September 24, 2012) "[https://hooversun.com/peopleplaces/artists-on-the-bluff-renewing-hoovers-creative-spirit/ Artists on the Bluff renewing Hoover's creative spirit]." {{HSun}}
* Markham, Madoline (September 24, 2012) "[https://hooversun.com/peopleplaces/artists-on-the-bluff-renewing-hoovers-creative-spirit/ Artists on the Bluff renewing Hoover's creative spirit]." {{HSun}}
* Anderson, Jon (May 26, 2017) "[https://hooversun.com/news/capers-on-park-avenue-closing-artists-on-the-bluff-staying526/ Capers on Park Avenue closing; Artists on the Bluff staying]." {{HSun}}
* Anderson, Jon (May 26, 2017) "[https://hooversun.com/news/capers-on-park-avenue-closing-artists-on-the-bluff-staying526/ Capers on Park Avenue closing; Artists on the Bluff staying]." {{HSun}}
* Anderson, Jon (September 18, 2017) "[https://hooversun.com/news/artists-must-vacate-former-bluff-park-elementary-school/ Artists must vacate former Bluff Park Elementary School]." {{HSun}}
* Anderson, Jon (September 18, 2017) "[https://hooversun.com/news/artists-must-vacate-former-bluff-park-elementary-school/ Artists must vacate former Bluff Park Elementary School]." {{HSun}}
* "Renovation of the Old Bluff Park School Has Been Completed." (April 14, 2022) Hoover Public Schools
* Anderson, Jon (September 30, 2022) "[https://hooversun.com/news/appreciating-the-past-renovation-of-old-bluff-park-school-honors-history-of-100-year-old-building/ Appreciating the past: Renovation of old Bluff Park School honors history of 100-year-old building]." {{HSun}}


==External links==
==External links==
Line 34: Line 49:


[[Category:Bluff Park School|*]]
[[Category:Bluff Park School|*]]
[[Category:1923 buildings]]
[[Category:1924 buildings]]
[[Category:1988 buildings]]
[[Category:1988 buildings]]
[[Category:2021 demolitions]]
[[Category:2021 demolitions]]

Revision as of 16:18, 9 November 2023

This article is about the historical school. For the present institution, see Bluff Park Elementary School.

Bluff Park School, later Bluff Park Community School, Hoover Community Education, and Artists on the Bluff building, is a former school constructed in 1924 at 569 or 571 Park Avenue in Hoover's Bluff Park neighborhood. It replaced the older Summit School nearby.

The original one-story 3,472-square-foot building housed two light-filled classrooms, one at each end of the building, flanking a central hallway with the principal's and secretary's offices and two restrooms. D. O. Whilldin designed the building and Holly & Davis contractors of Ensley were awarded construction based on their low bid of $12,796.81. Pearl Cranford and Ethel Hale were the first teachers at the new school. In 1930 Mrs Hale succeeded Mrs Asa Cranford as principal.

In 1962 the Bluff Park School's Parent-Teacher Organization held a $3,500 fund-raising event with the theme of "Invest in the Best". In return for a $10 donation, investors received a printed "stock certificate" showing how the money raised would be divided between instructional, library, administrative and cleaning supplies.

Linda Williams was hired by the Jefferson County Board of Education in 1973 to superintend the community education programs at Bluff Park School. The program offered classes in square dancing, interior design, flower arranging, computer literacy, and personal finance in the evening hours. After Bluff Park was annexed into the city of Hoover in the 1980s and Hoover City Schools was established in 1987, Williamson was made director of Hoover Community Education. In that role she developed evening programs at multiple locations.

Meanwhile, the original school building had been expanded several times, growing to 32 classrooms by 1988, and the system also leased portable classrooms which were located behind the school.

Between 1993 and 1996 the first phases of an all-new Bluff Park Elementary School were constructed just south of the existing campus. The older buildings remained in use for day care, community school programs, and community meetings. Hoover Community Education ended its operations at Bluff Park School when Williams retired in 2010. At that time, the former school building was in poor repair, with junk piled up in unused classrooms and sagging roofs.

In 2011 Williams and Rik Lazenby formed the non-profit Artists on the Bluff. The group negotiated an informal agreement with Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos and superintendent Andy Craig according to which the city would repair and maintain the building and provide a $50,000 annual allocation for three years. The school board continued to pay for utilities. Artists on the Bluff provided classes and programs and organized exhibitions. It also subleased 20 studio and gallery spaces to artists and gallerists. The renovated facility opened in September 2012. The organization flourished and served as a model for other publicly-supported arts programs.

The school's former cafetorium was used as a coffee shop. The Hoover Historical Society began keeping their archives in the former school library. The school continued hosting public meetings for the Hoover Art Alliance, Girl Scout Troop 30746 and other clubs.

In 2017 the school board determined that it could no longer subsidize the Artists on the Bluff by paying for utilities, which had sharply increased with the opening of the Capers on Park Avenue restaurant in 2015. Williams agreed that the non-profit should negotiate a fair lease. Within a few months, the school system determined that it could not afford to bring the building up to code nor to continue allowing it to be used without doing so. It agreed to lease the building to the City of Hoover if the city was willing to renovate it, but the Hoover City Council voted in September not to fund that work, thus requiring Artists on the Bluff and other tenants to move out. School board president Earl Cooper expected the superintendent to recommend razing the building.

In 2021 Hoover City Schools contracted for demolition of all of the former elementary school buildings except for the original 1923 schoolhouse. Davis Architects designed the restoration work, budgeted at $1 million, which included new fire sprinklers, central heating and air, and other systems. While the original pine flooring was re-used, the floor structure required extensive repairs. Matching bricks were ordered from New England and insulated windows were constructed to match the originals. The remodeled interior contains three offices, a conference room, a kitchenette, storage closets, and two accessible restrooms.

Battle Miller Construction carried out the work on the historic building while Complete Demolition Services brought down the other buildings and regraded the site for a total project cost of $1,652,300. The historic schoolhouse reopened in 2021 as the home of Hoover Public School's Student Services department, which relocated from Brock's Gap Intermediate School.

This article is a stub. You can help Bhamwiki by expanding it.

Principals

Tenants

References

External links

Retrieved from "http://bhamwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Bluff_Park_School&oldid=208461"