Tower Township in Buffalo in Cass County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1916 Buffalo High School

— Buffalo Historical Tour —

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

1. 1916 Buffalo High School Marker

Inscription. The High School is the last remaining example of non-residential Classic Revival style architecture in Buffalo. It was designed by Architect A. J. O'Shea and built in 1916 by Meineke Building Company of Fargo at a cost of $20,000. The school closed its doors in 1978 and became the property of the Buffalo Historical Society, Inc. In 2001 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected by City of Buffalo Historic Preservation Commission, U.S. Dept of the Interior, National Park Service's Historic Preservation Fund. (Marker Number 1.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.

Location. 46° 55.257′ N, 97° 33.025′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, North Dakota, in Cass County. It is in Tower Township. It is on Pearl Street North west of Bush Avenue North, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in a planter to the right of the main stairs. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 303 Pearl Street North, Buffalo ND 58011, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this

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marker is in the Red River Valley

and in Greater Fargo Area.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: First Presbyterian Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Calgary Episcopal Church Rectory (about 300 feet away); More House (about 300 feet away); Old Stone Church (about 300 feet away); St. Thomas Church, Grotto and Crucifix Shrine (about 500 feet away); Buffalo Area Veterans Monument (about 500 feet away); Peterson House (about 700 feet away); Sibley Trail (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.

Also see . . . 1916 Buffalo High School. National Register Nomination Form, prepared by Dale Roland Bentley - Chairman, City of Buffalo Historic Preservation Commission, 2000<blockquote>The 1916 High

1916 Buffalo High School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

2. 1916 Buffalo High School and Marker

School was built in a solid Classical Revival style. Decorations found on the original public school, such as the porch and cupola, were not included. Instead, a building of symmetrical proportions and even more mass was constructed. The symmetry of the building with its gabled front pediment, and the detailing ofthe main entrance solidifies the style’s nature.

Buffalo had already outgrown its first one-room schoolhouse, and had lost its second wooden schoolhouse to fire in 1901. As with most rural settlements, education of children was considered a type of luxury; therefore, school buildings showed the level of pride a community placed on its youth. After fire destroyed the second Victorian style wood-frame school, a petition was circulated and enough emphasis was placed on the construction of a new "brick" schoolhouse to bring in one of the premiere architectural firms in the area, Hancock Bros, of Fargo, ND. The 1902 Buffalo Public School was a fine example of the Hancock Bros.' distinctive style of work. The Classical Revival style, with Victorian and Italianate suggestions, was typical of their work at the time.

The 1916

Full view Buffalo High School, now home to Buffalo Historical Society image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

3. Full view Buffalo High School, now home to Buffalo Historical Society

High School building represents the growth of larger, better equipped high school facilities in rural communities as a result of changing trends in education during the early part ofthe twentieth century. Another factor was the growing number of students that continued their education beyond the required eighth grade level. As small one-room country schools closed, cities had to provide larger and more well rounded educational facilities. The 1902 public school connected by a short hallway, was then converted to serve as a grade school only. The high school, being built within a relatively short period of time after the construction of the public school, indicated that Buffalo was experiencing significant growth, as well as consolidation of several small, one-room country schools.

The new high school was built with materials that resembled those used in the construction ofthe earlier public school section of the property. It is speculated, based on photographs, that the wooden porch on the 1902 public school was removed at this time and replaced with an entrance that more closely resembled the one on the new high school. The architect

1916 Buffalo High School National Register Historic Places Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

4. 1916 Buffalo High School National Register Historic Places Marker

for the 1916 Buffalo High School is assumed to be Fargo, ND architect A. J. O'Shea. Although our research has been unable to substantiate the claim, he was working on other commissions in the Buffalo area for the school treasurer and town banker S. G. More. Mr. More was a leading citizen in the campaign to build the 1902 public school, and was again directly involved in the 1916 high school construction. It is also known that architect A. J. O'Shea loved to design schools, and designed many of his commercial and institutional structures in the Classic Revival style. (Submitted on July 17, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Buffalo High School entrance. National Register plaque on the right image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 27, 2025

5. Buffalo High School entrance. National Register plaque on the right

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 17, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 195 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 17, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.