There’s a newly-listed York County site on the National Register of Historic Places
York County has a new historic site listed among the country’s most significant places.
The McCelvey Center in York is now part of the National Register of Historic Places. It joins sites like the York County Courthouse and York Historic District in that city. There are dozens more across York County.
Culture & Heritage Museums staff members Sara Johnson and Nancy Sambets nominated the McCelvey Center based on its architectural and educational significance. York’s first public school, the building at 212 E. Jefferson St. is listed on the national register as York Graded School.
In an announcement Tuesday, Sambets said most people assumed the McCelvey Center already was part of the national register.
“It is such a recognizable structure within the community,” said Sambets, Historical Center of York County director of archives. “So, we are very pleased to make this a reality based on its history and architecture.”
Johnson, preservation and restoration specialist for the museum system, said the national listing recognizes the role a prominent building plays in York.
“Also because it creates a thorough record of the building’s history and architecture,” Johnson said.
According to the application and information from Culture & Heritage Museums, other names for the building include York Elementary School and McCelvey Elementary School. Construction dates back to 1902 and 1922. There was significant renovation in 1956. The 1902 construction happened on the foundation of a school built in 1853, that burned in 1900.
Architecturally, the most similar building in York is the also-listed York County Courthouse. The two buildings were designed by the same architect.
The earliest school on the property, according to the museum system, was the Yorkville Female Collegiate Institute founded by Bethel Presbytery. The first public school followed in 1889, in what was then called Yorkville. York Graded School held class for grades 1-12 until a new high school was built in 1951.
The school was desegregated during the 1970-71 school year and in 1973 named McCelvey Elementary School after long-time York Graded Schools principal George McCelvey. The building was last a school in 1987.
The venue also has been used as a performing arts center, among other activities. Culture & Heritage Museums acquired the property in 2001. The building is temporarily closed now for repairs but houses museum collections.
