Grant Beach in Springfield in Greene County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Bailey School

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 6, 2025

1. Bailey School Marker

Inscription. This property has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1931.

Location. 37° 13.061′ N, 93° 17.709′ W. Marker is in Springfield, Missouri, in Greene County. It is in Grant Beach. It can be reached from West Central Street east of North Main Avenue, on the left when traveling east. Marker is at the side (west) entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 W Central St, Springfield MO 65802, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

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least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pearson Mill Stones (approx. 0.2 miles away); Benton Avenue A.M.E. Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Alberta's Hotel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Stone Chapel (approx. 0.4 miles away); Fairbanks Hall (approx. half a mile away); Yellow Bonnet Girl (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Fairbanks Hall (approx. half a mile away); Tau Eta Gamma (local) (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Springfield.

Regarding Bailey School. Excerpt from the National Register nomination:

By the mid-1920s, lack of funding, paired with ever-increasing numbers of students, had resulted in a serious deficiency in the building stock of the city’s public school system. Elementary schools were in particularly poor condition. A comprehensive review of district buildings that was undertaken in 1928 concluded that “the great majority of the elementary schools of Springfield are obsolescent.” Not long after that study was completed, voters approved a major bond issue, which funded the largest school building program the city had seen to date. That
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 7, 2025

2. Bailey School Marker
intensive two-year program produced seven new elementary schools, including Bailey School. The building program was overseen by nationally prominent school architect William B. Ittner. For the Springfield building program, Ittner devised a flexible prototype school plan that could be modified to meet a variety of requirements, and he worked with local architects to customize the plans as needed. As a result, each of the seven schools is unique, but all share common design elements which reflect educational standards of the day. Bailey School is the only elementary school in that group to utilize Jacobethan Revival Styling, which was favored by Ittner. It is also the most intact elementary school building of the group, and a good example of 1930s elementary school architecture in Springfield. … It embodies the distinctive characteristics of the 1930s building program that was overseen by master school architect William B. Ittner, and is a significant local example of Ittner’s work.

Also see . . . Bailey School (PDF). National Register nomination for the former school, which was listed in 2016. (Prepared by Debbie Sheals; via Missouri State Parks)

Bailey School image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 7, 2025

3. Bailey School

The front of the former school, which has been converted into loft apartments.

(Submitted on May 3, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on December 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 141 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 3, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.