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Yarnworks is located in Old Central School, right in the heart of Grand Rapids. The School is a beautiful old building with a rich history - rather than screw that up, however, I have been given permission by Brian Carlson of the Itasca County Historical Society to quote freely from the research he has done on the School. Thanks, Brian - and if anything is wrong, it’s because I messed up!
Historical Background
Central School was designed by F.W Hollister and built in 1895 by Schwartz and Spindler, all from Saginaw, MI. Central School is designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style which was popularized by Henry Hobson Richardson. This was a very popular style for public buildings in the late 19th century, although quite rare in this particular area at the time it was built.
Central School was the first school in the northern part of the area outside of Duluth to offer high school It also housed the first library in Grand Rapids, and the District One offices. District One was one of the largest school districts in the United States, covering all of Itasca County.
Central School became a grade school (K-8) in 1901 when a new high school was built a few blocks away. Central School became an elementary school (K-6) in 1922, and later it housed grades K-5.
In 1972, Central School’s formal school days were over, and the building was transferred to the City of Grand Rapids. The building was then used as a heritage and arts center, housing the Kozy-Rest Senior Citizens, Itasca Art Association, Craft Shop, and Itasca County Historical Society - all using the building mainly during the summer months.
The fate of the building was uncertain because many structural improvements were needed. A rather heated community debate ensued, with some believing that the people of Grand Rapids would be better served by having a parking lot at the school site. Central School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 1980’s and preservation prevailed with the passing of a city bond issue. Tenants moved out in spring of 1983 when restoration began. The work was completed a year later and tenants returned in July of 1984.
Restoration of Central School was funded by the Blandin Foundation, a City of Grand Rapids bond issue, the Itasca County Historical Society, the Itasca Art Association, Bass Brook Township, the MN Historical Society, the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, and approximately 300 donations from individuals and other organizations. The total cost was about one million dollars. The building continues to be owned by the City of Grand Rapids.
Use and Restoration
Central School has four main rooms on each of the two main floors, and two of similar size on the lower level which had been used as classrooms. There were also two smaller rooms on the first floor and four on the second floor, which were used as offices, library, storage, Normal School, and possible lunch rooms. The south main rooms on each floor had one cloak room each. Those on the north had two each. Actual use of each room is hard to determine as the use changed from year to year as needed.
The basement also had a girls’ rest room ,south center; boys’ rest room, northwest; a furnace room, northeast, and a fan room, north center.
The attic (Yarnworks’ home!) was originally accessible only by a ladder through a trap door in the ceiling of the west center room and contained only fresh air duct work. The large and small grills in the rooms were the heat supply, from the fan room in the basement, and the fresh supply, from the attic ducts and small cupola on the roof. The original boiler was wood fired, then changed to coal and then to oil.
The original roof structure and the base for the bell tower are visible in the third floor. A few framing members were removed or relocated to provide headroom.
The bell tower was removed sometime prior to World War II for safety reasons. The airplane was built just after Lindberg’s flight in 1927 and mounted on the bell tower, and later where it is now located when the tower was removed. It was restored by the Blandin Paper Company. It had also been rebuilt some time ago when it “took off” in a windstorm.
The framing in the center of the attic is the old light shaft from the skylight on the roof (now closed) to the skylight in the second floor ceiling. The raised platform in the attic is the structural support and lighting for the skylight.
The present elevator and fire code stairway on the north center eliminated the fan room in the basement and an office and two cloak rooms on each floor.
Three fire escapes were added over the years, two on the north and one on the south. These were removed during restoration. Also removed was a coal bunker on the north. Many years ago, there was a metal school bus garage and shop in the parking lot that was removed about the time of World War II.
Present Tenants
The third floor, accessible by stair or elevator, is the home of Yarnworks and The Scrapbooking Corner. Formerly the attic, the space has been kept open to the rafters of the building, providing a unique atmosphere. And yes - it stays cool in the summer, warm in the winter and dry during storms!
Second floor is home to the Itasca County Historical Society’s Museum, Research Center, and Gift Shop. The museum includes exhibits about Judy Garland, who was born in Grand Rapids; the famous picture “Grace”, which was taken at a photography studio in Bovey, just down the road from Grand Rapids; and other historical information about the area.
First floor boasts Auntie Em’s Cafe and Gift Shop, where you can get wonderful coffee drinks, wraps, salads, ice cream, and other good stuff; Prescott Too, a unique boutique featuring jewelry, clothing, candles, and other gift items; the ABC’s of Quilting, which can satisfy the quilt fabric and notions cravings of any quilting addict; and Stained Glass With Class, where you can purchase beautiful stained glass items or learn to make them yourself!
The Garden level is primarily office space for various social service agencies in Itasca County. But be sure not to miss Granny’s Doll Closet, where all the doll clothing, made to fit Barbie Doll to American Girl, is handmade - and reasonably priced as well!
Visit all the tenants in Old Central School and enjoy your stay!
