Not too many towns in America can lay claim to having a school in the same location for over 180+ years.  Chagrin Falls, a town that loves its traditions and history, can do just that.  The first school to be built there was the Asbury Seminary.  This school was privately owned, but conducted under the interest of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Lorenzo Dow (L. D.) Williams served as the first principal.  Rev. Mattison taught languages, Reuben Harris taught mathematics and Miss Almeda Booth served as preceptress.   Asbury Seminary  was purchased by the board of education (which had been established in 1849) in 1858 as they consolidated the many one-room schools into a Union School.  Hugh Christian was the first person to receive a Chagrin Falls High School diploma in 1879.  He was the only person in his class.  This school stood on this site until 1893 when it was sold as salvage. A bell was added to the belfry of the Asbury Seminary in 1852. This bell was moved to the 1885 school when it was constructed.  The bell was removed when the 1885 school was demolished in 1940 and was put in the boiler room of the 1940 Philomethian addition.  This bell became the victory bell at the High School from 1965 till it was stolen in 1970. 

History of Schools on Philomethian Street in Chagrin Falls, Ohio

A Historic Educational Tradition in Chagrin Falls

Few communities in America can claim that a school has occupied the same location for more than 180 years. Chagrin Falls, Ohio, a village known for preserving its history and traditions, proudly maintains this distinction. The Philomethian Street campus has served generations of students and remains one of the most historically significant educational sites in the region.

The Founding of Asbury Seminary (1848)

The first school established on the Philomethian Street site was Asbury Seminary, a private institution operated under the guidance of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The school opened in 1848 and quickly became an important educational center for the growing community.

The original faculty included:

• Lorenzo Dow (L.D.) Williams, Principal
• Rev. Mattison, Languages Instructor
• Reuben Harris, Mathematics Instructor
• Miss Almeda Booth, Preceptress

In 1849, the Chagrin Falls Board of Education was established. As the village expanded, local leaders sought to consolidate the area’s one-room schoolhouses into a centralized educational system. In 1858, the Board of Education purchased Asbury Seminary, transforming it into the community’s first Union School.

A bell was installed in the Asbury Seminary belfry in 1852. Over the next century, the bell became an enduring symbol of Chagrin Falls education. It was relocated to subsequent school buildings on the campus, eventually serving as the Chagrin Falls High School Victory Bell from 1965 until its theft in 1970.

In 1879, Hugh Christian became the first graduate of Chagrin Falls High School. Remarkably, he was the sole member of his graduating class, marking a unique milestone in the village’s educational history.

The original Asbury Seminary building remained in use until 1893, when it was demolished and sold for salvage.

The 1885 Union School 

As enrollment continued to grow, a larger school building was constructed in 1885 just north of the original Asbury Seminary. Located approximately where the eastern parking lot of today’s school campus stands, the new building became known as the Union School.

1885 School Building.

The structure housed grades kindergarten through twelve and served as the center of education in Chagrin Falls for more than five decades.

Expansion and Improvements

The campus expanded steadily to meet the needs of a growing student population:

• 1892: A 750-seat auditorium and additional classrooms were added.
• 1909: A separate two-classroom building was constructed for first- and second-grade students.
• 1923: A gymnasium was added to support athletics and physical education.
• 1930: A separate cafeteria and home economics building was constructed near Federated Church.

The Chagrin Falls High School (1914)

A major milestone occurred in 1914 with the construction of a new high school building on the Philomethian Street campus. This structure represented a significant investment in education and reflected the community’s commitment to academic excellence.

The 1914 building celebrated its centennial in 2014 and continues to serve students today, making it one of the oldest continuously used school buildings in Northeast Ohio.

The WPA Campus Expansion of 1940

By the late 1930s, the village once again faced overcrowding and aging facilities. In 1940, a major addition transformed the campus into a modern educational complex.

The expansion included:

• Elementary school classrooms
• Library facilities
• Auditorium
• Gymnasium
• Cafeteria
• Industrial arts wing

Upon completion of the addition, the 1885 brick school and the 1909 primary-grade building were demolished. The separate cafeteria and home economics building remained until 1946, when it was sold for scrap.

Postwar Improvements and Modernization

The Philomethian Street campus continued to evolve throughout the second half of the twentieth century.

Key improvements included:

• 1952: Addition of a third floor above the cafeteria.
• 1971: Expansion of the library.
• 1972: Building-wide renovations.
• 1989: Major modernization and renovation project.
• 1999: Renamed Chagrin Falls Intermediate School and designated for fourth- and fifth-grade students.
• 2003: Replacement of the building’s boiler system.

These updates allowed the historic campus to remain functional while preserving its important architectural and educational heritage.

2019 Renovation of the Philomethian Street Campus

In 2019 a major renovation occurred on the Philomethian campus.  Because Chagrin Falls loves its history, a strong push was made to renovate the existing schools on Philomethian rather than build elsewhere in the area.  The 1940 classrooms were demolished, and new and improved classrooms.

Legacy of the Philomethian Street Campus

For more than 180 years, the Philomethian Street school campus has been at the heart of education in Chagrin Falls. From the founding of Asbury Seminary in 1848 to the modern Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, generations of students have learned on the same historic grounds.

The campus stands as a testament to the village’s enduring commitment to education, community, and the preservation of local history. Today, it remains one of the most significant historic educational sites in Ohio and an important part of Chagrin Falls’ heritage.