FoW Tour - Triadelphia Middle School (Triadelphia High School)

On June 30, 2022 Friends of Wheeling toured Triadelphia Middle School / Triadelphia High School led by retiring Principal Ann Coleman.

History:
As the population of the “out the pike” neighborhoods of Wheeling began to grow, the need for a local high school became apparent. By 1910, a high school was established at the Kruger Street School for the Triadelphia District, serving a student body of 12. Subjects taught were English, Latin, mathematics, American history, and general science. In 1912, a high school was established in Woodsdale, then the two schools were joined together to form a four-year high school at the Edgington Lane School. At the time, there were 116 students , a principal, and four teachers.

The enrollment increased rapidly, and soon the Edgington Lane school was filled to more than capacity. Plans were then begun for a high school building at Oak Park. In 1914, a bond issue was passed but was declared illegal. In 1915, a bond issue was legally passed, and construction began. Noted Wheeling architect Frederick F. Faris designed the “blond brick neoclassical” building, and contractor Ralph Kitchen was hired to do the work. According to the National Road Historic District nomination (1993), “There are three stories with a lower level and twenty-one bays. The center double doors have a transom and sidelights with corbelled moulding. Flanking the doors are torch light fixtures. Above the doorway are two engaged columns stretching from the second to third floor. On the roof edge is a terra cotta medallion.”

In 1919, the first class of 31 students graduated. The original Triadelphia District High School building did not include the auditorium and gymnasium, which were completed in 1921. Later, an annex was built across the driveway to the rear of the main building, containing classrooms for industrial arts, drawing, cooking, and sewing, a cafeteria, and storage space. Below this building were the showers and dressing rooms for outdoor sports.

With the construction of Wheeling Park High School in 1976, the building was remodeled to serve as a junior high and then later a middle school. A $450,000 gymnasium was added in early 1976, allowing the library to be moved to the old gymnasium location.

Major construction was completed in 2022. This three-year, $8M project added several new vocational and music classrooms in the lower level of the school plus a large cafeteria on the first floor. These changes eliminated the need for students to walk from the main building to the annex, which now houses offices and other support services. As work was being done, original skylights were discovered in the roof over the original stairwell and were returned to use.

Video, Part 1: youtu.be/PvQ1PFA8dOg
Video, Part 2: youtu.be/eypDDbh6hm4