309 East Academy Street
City Directories and History: 1954 – Central School
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Feb. 24, 1870 – “Union had a fire last Tuesday. It began in the kitchen of Major D.A. Townsend, Principle of the male academy. The fire destroyed his house, including his furniture and provisions. He had purchased the house about three years ago but because of legal issues was unable to occupy it until January.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Jan. 15, 1890 – “Union will have a large brick school building to cost $7,000.”
Constructed in circa 1891 as the Central Graded School of Union. Built in 1891, Central Graded School is the oldest surviving public school building in Union County. Architecturally, it is a good example of the plain, solidly built, “modern” school building of the late nineteenth century. The influence of the Romanesque Revival style current in the 1890s is evident in the large semi-circular arched openings of the bell tower, the prominence of the tower, the variation in size of windows, substantial brick masonry walls, and an asymmetrical floor plan. The original portion of the building is T-shaped, with the square bell tower in one angle of the “T.” The interior of the older portion, including 12 classrooms of simple and functional design, apparently remains essentially as it was when built. Rear portions of the building, added in 1899, 1904, and ca. 1930, generally match the style and
construction of the original portion. The two-story school was built on the site of the Unionville Female Academy. Ownership of the building was transferred in 1976 to the University of South Carolina, Union Regional Campus. Listed in the National Register March 30, 1978. [Courtesy of the S.C. Dept. of Archives and History]
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