Historical Overview

Each year, members of the Holland Springfield Historical Society visit with elementary students in each of the school district’s four elementary schools to share a wealth of information about the greater Holland community. During the presentation, students learn that in 1898, Springfield Schools held its first commencement exercises for a class consisting of two graduates - Mabel Hovey and Eathel M. Wood. Students learn an interesting fact about Ms. Hovey - she later became Holland’s first Mayor and believed “What Holland had been was nothing compared to what it could be.” When elected mayor, Ms. Hovey was one of only two women mayors ever elected in Ohio. She later went on to teach Holland students for more than 27 years.

School Facilities

Three Winged School House

The first school house in Springfield Township was a log cabin on the south side of Angola Road between McCord and Clark Street. Land for more schools was deeded to the Township. The Eight Square School on Garden Road in 1846; the Red School on Holloway Road in 1847; the Green School on Holland-Sylvania in 1847; Starr School at Crissey in 1848 and Clark Street School in 1847. In 1893 the community rose to the challenge and completed the three winged school house for grades 1-12. It was located where our current Holland Elementary now stands on Kittle Road and Madison Street. Mr. Leo Jacobs was the first Principal.

By 1921 Holland had a centralized school system with nine teachers and 300 students. The library consisted of 261 volumes and a school bus fleet of two! The school budget for 1921 was $15000.

In 1925 a grassroots effort took place to fund a gymnasium. With the help of the Manual Training Boys and several generous citizens, the gymnasium was built for entertainment and sport events. Then, seating capacity was 1,350. It was the largest auditorium in Lucas County. Through the years, this auditorium has served the community well. It housed the music department in the 1950's-1970's. From the 1970's through 1980 this building housed the district’s Administration offices.

Springfield Township again worked together to build a new high school. On January 21, 1938, the community held a dedication ceremony for the most modern high school in Lucas County. The estimated cost of the project was $150,000.  Click here to view the program prepared for the dedication, provided to us by Alumni Bob Price! Per the program designed to commomorate the dedication, the total enrollment of the district at that time was 947 students.  Touted as "the most modern building in Lucas County, the high school was complete with clocks in all classrooms, the latest in visual education and sound equipment, a cafeteria and cafeteria kitchen, a modern stage, the latest improved typewriters, the most modern and up-to-date heating and ventilating system, a seperate library room, individual steel lockers, a girls' rest room, and chair storage. The graduating class for that year numbered 26. This remained the high school until 1968. Since 1968 this building has housed Springfield Middle School. Many additions have also been made to this building, which is now connected to the newly renovated (2005-06) Holland Elementary School.

In 1942, Crissey Elementary School was a three-classroom schoolhouse. Additions and renovations to Crissey through the years have increased classroom space to accommodate the growing number of students in attendance. Currently, Mrs. Cheri Copeland Shull serves as Principal and oversees a staff of 44 and 450 students.

In 1900, Dorr Street School was opened and they nicknamed it “rabbit center” because of the rural location and its propensity to wildlife. In 1942, Dorr Street had four teachers and a teaching principal. Through the years Dorr Street has also seen lots of changes. Currently, Dorr Elementary School has 470 students, 31 classrooms and a staff of 44. The Principal at Dorr Elementary School is Dr. Ken Newbury.

Holland Elementary was originally built in the 1920's. As with all of the other elementary schools, Holland too needed to grow. So through the years, additional classroom space has been added. Following the previously mentioned renovations between 2005-2007, Holland now has 33 classrooms, 550 students and a staff of 48. Beginning in the fall of 2008, Holland welcomed new principal Mr. Gary Devol.

Adjacent to Holland Elementary School are the 58 classrooms, gymnasium, and “café-nasium” that comprise Springfield Middle School. Once a “junior high school”, Springfield Middle School is now configured with teacher teams called "Houses" that provide students in grade 6-8 with an organizational structure anchored by an interdisciplinary team approach to instruction. Core subject matter in taught within a smaller-sized per group of approximately 100 students per House. The Principal at Springfield Middle School is Mr. Matt Geha, who supervises a staff of 98 with support from Assistant Principals Mr. Jeff Pendry and Ms. Dana Damman.

In 1960 Holland Schools became Springfield Schools and changed its high school mascot from the Holland Blue Zippers to the Springfield Blue Devils. Why Blue Devils? During World War I, a regiment of soldiers, composed of the youth of France, was known as the Blue Devils. Only the strongest, both mentally and physically, could pass the rigid examination to become a Blue Devil.  They wore royal blue uniforms trimmed in white.  When an attack was imminent, it was the mighty Blue Devil regiment that hurled themselves to check any attack by their enemies.  A true Blue Devil stands for everything that is high and noble with a world-wide reputation as the hardest fighters and the cleanest  soldiers. They were courageous on the battlefield, chivalrous when back of the lines,  Blue Devils were always respectful of one another, women, the aged, those  in authority, and the rights of other citizens and their property.  When offered the opportunity to select their new mascot, Springfield High School students conducted research, learned of the honor associated with the regiment, and  Duke University's Blue Devils ,and recommended in the early 1950s that the mascot be changed from the Blue Zippers to the Blue Devils. That was also the year that the school colors changed from blue and gold to blue and white. Students started attending the “new” high school in 1968. This building still houses the current high school, but has also enjoyed many renovations and additions since 1968. Springfield High School now has a field house, gymnasium, the Tombaugh Auditorium/theater that seats 800, a beautiful media center that holds 13,000 volumes, and 68 classrooms (many with SmartBoard and desktop technology.) Two computer labs are available for student use each day. SHS Principal Steve Gwin supervises 101 faculty members and support staff with support from Assistant Principals Ms. Elizabeth McIlwain and Ms. Rhonda Jemison. In fall 2010, 1,200 students are expected to attend the school! While the class of 1968 graduated 152 students the most recent “Class of 2010” expects to graduate 288 students.

In 1992, Springfield Township again supported its school system and voted a bond issue to fund a new elementary school. In 1994, Holloway Elementary School opened for the 1994-95 school year. Holloway is located on Pilliod Road and currently educates 461 students in 28 classrooms. The Principal at Holloway Elementary School is Mr. Bill Renwand, who supervises a staff of 46.

Voter approval of a “no new tax” bond levy in November of 2007 also allowed the district to add classrooms and updated fitness facilities to Springfield High School, a off-street loop for bus transportation at the high school and middle school, and additional parking for Springfield Middle School and Holland Elementary School guests.

Athletics, Music and More

The first football team was organized in 1927 with Jay R. Bone serving as the coach.

A swimming pool was built behind Holland Elementary in the mid 1930's. From all records, the pool closed because of the lack of availability of water and the expense of maintenance.

In 1947 the Memorial Football Stadium was built at a cost of over $11,000. This stadium was financed again by the community pulling together. Bonds were sold, the American Legion, the Athletic Department and the community all helped to finance the stadium. This stadium has stayed in the same general location. It now runs east and west on Hall Street, as opposed to originally it ran north and south. Springfield has a tradition of great football. In 1947, 1948 and 1952 Holland won the Maumee Valley League championship. Since 1962, Springfield has participated in the Northern Lakes League and achieved first place honors in 1970,1974,1981,1991,1992,1993, and 1994.

Thanks to support from voters in 2007, a "No New Taxes" bond issuance financed the construction of new athletic facilities, classrooms, and a fitness center on the Springfield High School campus.  Included was "Springfield Community Stadium" dedicated in August, 2009, a new running track, tennis courts, and a bus "loop" linking the high school and middle school. The "Blue Devil Fields," a new baseball and softball facility, was dedicated in May 2009, on district-owned property located off Angola and Albon Roads.