Hidden Heights High
If you think you know Heights High, guess again.
During a two-hour tour of the sprawling Heights High complex on a recent Saturday morning, a dozen “tourists” learned little known facts about its design, construction, and current condition.
The tour was one in a series of National Historic Preservation Month events sponsored by the Cleveland Heights Landmark Commission, Cleveland Heights Historical Society, FutureHeights, and the Heights Observer. Lita Gonzalez, coordinator for PATH (Parent Ambassadors To Heights), helped to organize the event. Torian Slaughter, an assistant custodian, wielded his bundle of keys to give the tourists access to spaces rarely seen.
The tour guide was Steven Shergalis, Business Manager for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District. While part of his job is to know and care for district facilities, his walking lecture also revealed a personal interest in school history and architecture. His comments reflected a balance of respect for historic values with hands-on understanding of the challenges of operating and maintaining an aging structure in fiscally demanding times.
The original Heights High was constructed in 1925. Describing the development of a school system in what is now an inner-ring suburb, Shergalis said, “Cleveland Heights was in competition with Cleveland schools and wanted to make a statement about highly valuing education. That is why they built such a grand structure.”
The features of the Diana Reeves Evans Theater exemplify that intent. Four antique chandeliers are suspended from an immense open span ceiling. They are serviced via hatches in the floor above. The chandeliers complement stunning woodwork on the ceiling, walls, and doors. “No new schools are being built anywhere with auditoriums this grand,” said Shergalis.
The auditorium ceiling and the “floating” third floor above are somewhat of a design marvel. With no visible means of support on the interior, they are suspended from a hidden, riveted roof truss system which the tourists viewed in a locked equipment room. The district has recently installed new air conditioning equipment among the ancient trusses.
After the original construction in 1925, the district continued to build additions – in 1930, 1949, 1959, 1960, 1961, and 1973 - to accommodate a growing student body. One tourist, who “graduated from Heights High a long time ago,” amused the group by recalling that during years of very high enrollment, certain stairwells were designated for only “up” or “down” student traffic to ease class change movement in the crowded building.
Admiring the original 1925 structure and its clock tower, one tourist dubbed the style “collegiate gothic.” The street view of that original façade is blocked by one of the more controversial additions - the “science wing”. The wing was built in 1959 and occupies the entire Cedar Road frontage of the building. “What were they thinking when they built that?” asked one tourist. Shergalis agreed that the addition was “not the kind of architectural statement we would like to present to the main street today.” He suggested that the location may have been chosen to prevent disruption of the athletic fields and parking lot and that the added hallways improved east-west movement.
The tour also revealed some of the building’s quirks – among them, the “corridor to nowhere”, the abandoned 1959 stairwell, and the 2nd floor pool. Shergalis explained that no one is sure why the pool was built on the 2nd floor, but one story suggests that it was built above the original steam boiler as a fire protection device in case of an explosion!
Another piece of history imbedded in this stately high school is the original Otis elevator, which recently gave up its ghost after 83 years of operation.
Recent improvements to the building were also highlighted. Energy-efficient replacement windows were selected to blend into the architecture of the building. The library has been moved from the third floor to a new and more accessible area on the first floor. Renovation of the old library space for new classrooms uncovered original columns, curved ceilings and beautiful corbels. Skylights were reopened and indoor glass block windows help to make use of natural lighting. The tourists suggested that the blend of old architectural features and newer construction was “reminiscent of art deco style.”
Moving beyond architectural questions, the tourists asked about current students and programs. Lita Gonzalez explained how each of the five small schools, Legacy, The Mosaic Experience, P.R.I.D.E., R.E.A.L. and Renaissance, occupies a different wing and floor of the school building whose foot print looks like an “H”. Shergalis shared ideas for future building improvements which may support the individual styles of the small schools.
Mark Majewski is a 20-year resident of Cleveland Heights and a community planning consultant.
Lita Gonzalez, a long time community volunteer, lives in Cleveland Heights with her husband Mark. Both her daughters are Heights High graduates.
