Historic Central High School in Duluth, Minnesota, was built in 1892, of locally-mined sandstone at a cost of $460,000. Overlooking the Duluth harbor, it features a 230-foot clock tower with chimes patterned after Big Ben in London and clock faces that are each 10½ feet in diameter. Architectural details such as gargoyles are the work of George Tharna.
Duluth Central Alumni Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN 92-1841335).
Originally built on the hillside, Duluth Central High School was famed not only for its grand clock tower, which could be seen for miles, but also for its wide halls, sweeping stairways with iron banisters, large chandeliers, and beautiful statuary.
Due to age and safety conditions, the Duluth School Board decided in 1970, that they would have to build a new school to replace the Historic Old Central High School.
The new Central High School building was built on top of the hill and the school moved there, leaving School District administrative offices in the old building.
In 1972 the Central Preservation Committee and other interested citizens saved the historic building and created an 1890s classroom museum within the structure.
The Duluth School Board announced that they would support the long-range “Red Plan” for the district which would close Duluth Central and keep a renovated Ordean Middle School (now Duluth East High School) and Duluth Denfeld High School as the only two high schools in Duluth.
The class of 2011 was the last graduating class of Duluth Central High School. The grounds and the buildings would remain empty until sold by the school district.
In November 2013 the Duluth City Council met to finalize plans to rezone the land from an R-1 (residential zone) to a commercial C zone paving the way for ISD 709 to sell Central High School to potential land developers for commercial purposes. In December 2014, the sale of the property was announced. That sale was never finalized and as of Dec. 2017, the property is still listed as "For Sale".
Some of the contents of the 1890s Classroom went to auction and a small group of DCHS grads were on hand to purchase items so the Central legacy could continue.
It was announced on August 8, 2022, that Chester Creek View LLC purchased the majority of the property, including the school building. Demolition of the building began on November 14, 2022.
In March 2023, the Duluth Central Alumni Association was formally created as a 501c3 to preserve and protect the Duluth Central legacy.
Chair: Barbara Jankowski Darland, DCHS Class of ‘77
Vice Chair: Gary Doty, DCHS Class of ‘66
Treasurer: Matt Baumgartner, DCHS Class of ’02
Secretary: Marla Preston Yolo, DCHS Class of ’66
Kim Stellmaker Anderson, DCHS Class of ‘89
Gina Yee Blair, DCHS Class of ’04
Marian Watson Costello, DCHS Class of ‘82
Don Ness, DCHS Class of ‘92
Steve Hennessy, DCHS Class of ’89
Karen Stromme, DCHS Class of ’78
Don Ness, Class of ‘92
Gary Doty, Class of ‘ 66
Barbara Jankowski Darland, Class of ‘77
©
Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Website by The Cultural North
