History
The Bezaleel Wells School was established in 1875 as a four-room schoolhouse in Canton, Ohio. Located along McKinley Avenue SW and 6th Street SW in downtown Canton, the school was originally called Plumb Street School because it faced Plumb Street. In 1890, the school added four rooms and added another four in 1896. The school was eventually renamed to McKinley School in honor of William McKinley, former United States President and Canton native.
In 1918, the city built another school called McKinley High School, prompting the McKinley Schoolhouse to be renamed to Bezaleel Wells School. It was named after Bezaleel Wells, an Eastern Ohio land owner and surveyor, who donated land for the school, as well as a church and cemetery. By 1925, the school had expanded into the largest elementary school in Canton, with over 1,000 students in attendance. A preschool began during World War II for children with working parents. The school and its playground occupied an entire city block by 1952. The building eventually closed in 2008 after it served as an administrative building for several years.
As of 2019, the building is under a million dollar renovation from a family seeking to use it as a living space.
Source(s): About Stark County, Columbus Monthly
In 1918, the city built another school called McKinley High School, prompting the McKinley Schoolhouse to be renamed to Bezaleel Wells School. It was named after Bezaleel Wells, an Eastern Ohio land owner and surveyor, who donated land for the school, as well as a church and cemetery. By 1925, the school had expanded into the largest elementary school in Canton, with over 1,000 students in attendance. A preschool began during World War II for children with working parents. The school and its playground occupied an entire city block by 1952. The building eventually closed in 2008 after it served as an administrative building for several years.
As of 2019, the building is under a million dollar renovation from a family seeking to use it as a living space.
Source(s): About Stark County, Columbus Monthly
MISSION Report
Members: Brandon Greavu, Jacob Andrews, Seth Richards, Christian Grimm
Date: February 12, 2017
Report: The MEPS Visited the Bezaleel Wells School on February 12th, 2017 the same night that we also visited the Lehman School. We parked at the Canton Classic Car museum at about 8pm. From there we proceeded to sneak across part of the city and cross many roads avoiding cars and people and most importantly staying out of sight in the night. We finally arrived at the wells school standing before the fence that guarded it. Thankfully, the main gate in the fence to the school was wide open and we proceeded to walk in once we were in we began looking for an entry point only to find that there was a camera blinking red right above us keeping watch. We manged to stay close around the building and we were not seen by the camera. Now on the side of the building looking for a way in, we managed to discover a doorway with only 2 thing boards covering it up so we were all able to squeeze through them and get into the wells school. Once inside we found out how trashed and vandalized the wells school was but still we managed to successfully explore its halls and classrooms. We were able to get a lot of good and cool pics of the building and the group. And we were also able to succeed and complete the MEPS tradition at all places which is standing up on the roof as if we had defeated the place. On the roof we looked out and saw the beautiful Canton City nightlife which as always was a pretty sight to see.
Haunted Activity: None
Date: February 12, 2017
Report: The MEPS Visited the Bezaleel Wells School on February 12th, 2017 the same night that we also visited the Lehman School. We parked at the Canton Classic Car museum at about 8pm. From there we proceeded to sneak across part of the city and cross many roads avoiding cars and people and most importantly staying out of sight in the night. We finally arrived at the wells school standing before the fence that guarded it. Thankfully, the main gate in the fence to the school was wide open and we proceeded to walk in once we were in we began looking for an entry point only to find that there was a camera blinking red right above us keeping watch. We manged to stay close around the building and we were not seen by the camera. Now on the side of the building looking for a way in, we managed to discover a doorway with only 2 thing boards covering it up so we were all able to squeeze through them and get into the wells school. Once inside we found out how trashed and vandalized the wells school was but still we managed to successfully explore its halls and classrooms. We were able to get a lot of good and cool pics of the building and the group. And we were also able to succeed and complete the MEPS tradition at all places which is standing up on the roof as if we had defeated the place. On the roof we looked out and saw the beautiful Canton City nightlife which as always was a pretty sight to see.
Haunted Activity: None
LOCATION
Address: McKinley Avenue @ 6th Street SW
Canton, Ohio 44707
Coordinates: 40°47'43.3"N 81°22'48.4"W
Status: Abandoned
Canton, Ohio 44707
Coordinates: 40°47'43.3"N 81°22'48.4"W
Status: Abandoned
GALLERY
The pictures displayed below were taken by members of the group during the mission (February 12, 2017).