Peoria school building added to National Register of Historic Places
Jan 3, 2019, 4:10 AM
(City of Peoria Photo)
(City of Peoria Photo)
PHOENIX – A high school building in suburban Phoenix was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Peoria High School’s Old Main building was added to the list of historic U.S. properties deemed worthy of preservation in November.
“The city of Peoria has a remarkable history and through the preservation of our important assets, such as this extraordinary site, we solidify our commitment to carrying our incredible heritage with us and passing it along to future generations,” Mayor Cathy Carlat said in a press release.
Old Main was built in 1922 on a 10-acre lot surrounded by hundreds of acres of farmland, the release said, and was the high school’s only structure for nearly 50 years.
The building at 11200 N. 83rd Ave. needed repairs after more than 80 years of use and was closed in 2008.
The Peoria Unified School District began renovations in 2011 and completed the process in 2014.
Today, Old Main houses the district’s Medical, Engineering and Technology Professional Academy and its Peoria Flex Academy.
“Within its grand and historic façade are modern educational programs that are preparing a new generation of students to shape the future,” Peoria Unified Superintendent Linda Palles Thompson said in the release.
“We are incredibly grateful to our community for providing the support necessary to restore this beautiful building.”
Earlier in November, the Phoenix Motor Company in downtown Phoenix was added to the registry.
That 1920s building was closed for years before being renovated and reopened in 2017 as The Van Buren, a popular concert venue.
