Olive Branch School Preservation Society

OBSPS Press Releases

News announcements related to Olive Branch School Preservation Society events and milestones.

The Olive Branch School Preservation Society has been awarded a grant from the William G. Pomeroy Foundation for a roadside marker commemorating Olive Branch High School’s inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places…

10-09-2019

Press release announcing the official launch of the OBSPS web site including details about the Open House event planned for Nov. 4th, 2012.

10-19-2012

Press release announcing the Dedication Ceremony for Olive Branch School’s inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.

12-23-2009

Tecumseh Local Schools announces that it has received a letter of congratulations from the Ohio Historical Society regarding the listing of the Olive Branch High School on the National Register of Historic Places.

09-15-2009

Olive Branch in the News

The list below contains links to .pdf files of newspaper & media stories about the Olive Branch School from the early 1900s to present day.

Cyndie Gerken and Scott Suther, members of the Olive Branch Preservation Society, share information regarding their efforts to restore the “Little Round Building”.
Facebook Post (NC Rotary Club) - March 2022

Chosen article for a Women’s History Month project by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Entries honored 1000 women and a place with which they were associated.

National Trust for Historic Preservation - March 2020
“…An Open House and National Register sign unveiling was held at Olive Branch High School on Saturday, Oct. 19…”
Springfield News-Sun - October 22, 2019
“…I’m amazed at how many people have worked together to save this unique structure even from the beginning…”
Springfield News-Sun - October 16, 2019
“…the Olive Branch School Preservation Society will unveil a sign that speaks to the historic importance of the “Little Round Building”….”
Springfield News-Sun - October 13, 2019
“…The historic Olive Branch School on West National Road will get a new roof by next fall…”
Dayton Daily News - August 17, 2015
“…The Olive Branch School has once again been listed as one of Ohio’s most endangered historic sites…”
Springfield News-Sun - June 1, 2015
“…A historic Miami Valley high school building was named to Preservation Ohio’s 2015 list of most endangered historic sites…”
WDTN - Dayton 2 - May 21, 2015
“…Preservation Ohio, Ohio’s oldest statewide preservation organization, announces the 2014 Ohio’s Most Endangered Historic Sites…”
New Carlisle News - July 23, 2014
“…Collegeville, PA resident Dave Brown was recently in Ohio on a journey which he calls a “Walk Across America to Benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund…” (pictured with Cyndie Gerken at the Olive Branch School)
New Carlisle News - May 1, 2013
“…The OBSP Society hosted an open house of the Olive Branch “Little Round School Building” on Sunday, November 4 to launch Phase One-$50,000 fundraising…”
New Carlisle News - Nov. 14, 2012
“…The Olive Branch School Preservation Society extends an invitation to all New Carlisle Residents to attend an Open House…”
New Carlisle News - Oct. 31, 2012
“…Phase I fundraising seeks $50,000 for Olive Branch building that is on national list…”
Springfield News-Sun - Oct. 28, 2012
“…the Olive Branch School Preservation Society (OBSPS) recently announced the launch of their organization’s web site…”
New Carlisle News - Oct. 24, 2012
“…The OBSPS debuted its beautiful new information brochure which details their mission and history…”
New Carlisle News - Feb. 1, 2012
“…The Olive Branch School Preservation Society (OBSPS) continues its work to preserve and restore the 1908 Olive Branch ‘ little round school’ building…”
Tecumseh Connecting Link Newsletter - Oct. 2011 - Issue 66
“…Since September 2009, a small group of trustees has been working diligently on the restoration of the old Olive Branch High School…”
New Carlisle News - Oct. 19, 2011
“…Clark County residents added to the list on Jan. 17 with the rededication of Olive Branch School…”
New Carlisle News - Jan. 20, 2010
“…National Register of Historic Places adds Tecumseh’s unique Olive Branch school…”
Springfield News-Sun - Jan. 18, 2010
“…Rededication of Old Olive Branch High School Slated for Jan. 17…”
New Carlisle News - Jan. 13, 2010
“…On July 23, 2009, Clark County’s Olive Branch High School, located at 9710 W. National Road, was listed on the National Register…”
Ohio National Road Association Newsletter - Fall 2009
“…Final revisions to the Olive Branch School (1908 ’round’ building) National Register nomination have been approved by the Ohio Historical Preservation Advisory Board…”
Tecumseh Connecting Link Newsletter - Aug. 2009 - Issue 58
“…The Olive Branch School Preservation Society (OBSPS) continues to work to preserve the old Olive Branch School…”
Tecumseh Connecting Link Newsletter - March 2009 - Issue 57
“…I attended first through third grades at the Olive Branch School building located at 9710 W. National Road, 10 miles west of Springfield…”
Ohio National Road Association Newsletter - Spring 2008
“…The Olive Branch School Preservation Society (OBSPS) is a group of local community members formed with the approval of the Tecumseh Local Board of Education…”
Tecumseh Connecting Link Newsletter - March 2008 - Issue 53
“…The last ‘old’ building left in the district is Olive Branch School…”
Tecumseh Connecting Link Newsletter - Nov. 2007 - Issue 52
“…The newly formed Olive Branch School Preservation Society met with the Tecumseh School Board…”
New Carlisle Sun - Oct. 3, 2007
“…This Olive Branch High School class of 1911 ‘really’ goes back to the ‘horse and buggy days’…”
New Carlisle Sun - May 20, 1981
“…The Olive Branch High School graduating class of 1927 drew 100 per cent of the living members to its 50th reunion…”
New Carlisle Sun - June 1, 1977
“…Students in the second grade at Olive Branch School are shown in this photograph dating back to 1916…”
Publication Unknown - Sept., 1957
“…Clark County can claim several ‘firsts’ and one of them is the first rural high school in Ohio…”
Publication Unknown - NA
Photo and Caption – “…Olive Branch elementary pupils are busy molding their clay into the trinkets and pottery…”
Publication Unknown - NA
Photos and Caption – “…1925 Olive Branch High School Basketball Team…”
The Springfield Daily News - 1925
“…One of City’s Most Successful Architects (Olive Branch School) Dies of Paralysis..”
Dayton Daily News - February 14, 1923
“…Commencement festivities at Olive Branch High School open next Sunday afternoon with the baccalaurrate address…”
New Carlisle Sun - May 20, 1915
“…Teachers and 110 Pupils Escape Safely From the Burning Building…”
The Springfield Daily News - Nov. 11, 1913
“…Olive Branch Graduates One of Largest classes in History of High School…”
The Springfield Daily News - May 16, 1908
“…Residents of Bethel Township Hold Mass Meeting at New Building at Forgy…”
The Springfield Daily News - May 15, 1908
“…commencement week exercises of the Bethel Township high school were begun yesterday…”
The Springfield Gazette - May 11, 1908
Photo and Caption – “…farmers of Bethel Township at work tearing down the Olive Branch High School building…”
The Springfield Daily News - July 11, 1907
“…Board of Education and Farmers work Like Beavers to Carry Out Plans…”
The Springfield Daily News - July 8, 1907

“…Motion to Dissolve Injunction Was Argued – Claim Board Has Plenty of Cash to Erect Building…”

The Springfield Gazette - May 31, 1907

“…fight to prevent the erection of a new high school building in Bethel Township may result in a split and the forming of two special school districts…”

The Springfield Gazette - April 6, 1907
“…Bethel Township School Board Finds Way Out of Their Dilemma…”
The Springfield Daily News - March 26, 1907
“…Bethel Township School Board is Enjoined from Erecting New Building…”
The Springfield Daily News - March 22, 1907
“…Injunction against erecting new building issued by Judge Kunkle…”
The Springfield Gazette - March 22, 1907
“…talk of getting out an injunction against the Bethel Township School Board to prevent the erection of the new $16,000 High School building at Olive Branch…”
The Springfield Gazette - March 18, 1907

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