Enoch Doddridge taught at the first school in what was to become the Fairland School District. The school was opened in 1815, had packed dirt floors and was made from logs. By 1879, a four room high school was built in Proctorville, B. F. Forgey became the teacher and eventually became the principal for three years.
The first school named St. Joseph was erected in 1898.
In 1911, Nannie Kelley Wright sold the property on South 6th Street between Quincy and Adams Streets (Ironton, Ohio) to the Saint Joseph Parish. It was the original site of the Nannie Kelley Wright House which currently resides at 917 South 6th Street, Ironton, Ohio.
In 1916, the Mason High School was located in the townhouse on Greasy Ridge near the Old Baptist Church on the property of Oath Massie. This building was eventually torn down and replaced by a long, one-story building which was able to be divided by a petition. The new building had two pot belly stoves, two water fountains, two outhouses and a basketball court outside. Students carried buckets of water from a near by well to fill the two water fountains.
Established in 1956, Ohio University Southern Campus has played a large role in the education of Lawrence County residents. Since its first dean, James Mains, to its current dean, Dan Evans, OUSC has changed in many ways.
Located at the northwest corner of Center and 7th Streets, the St. Lawrence Catholic School was built in 1909. The two story building is an example of Neo Classical Design. Brick was used to form the foundation and walls. St. Lawrence has a truncated roof with composite shingles and five front bays. The front entrance projects out from the rest of the building and has a rounded arch.
The Big Room
