Ford City in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Education In Ford City

— The Ford City Trail —

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

1. Education In Ford City Marker

Inscription.

Education In Ford City. . , Ford City's educational community was a combination of the public school and the Catholic school system. The town, because of its ethnic diversity, endeavored to accommodate all., Ford City High School laid its cornerstone in 1908 and accepted students in 1909. It was considered the "crown jewel" of town. After a number of additions in 1922 and 1961, it took up one half of the Eleven Hundred block between Fourth and Fifth Avenue. Ford City High School served the community well. It produced many successful individuals in all fields. The first graduating class was in 1910. Its first four year graduating class was in 1912 and the last class to graduate was 2015. Ford City High School was razed in 2018. Ford City students now attend Armstrong High School which is a consolidation of Ford City High School, Kittanning High School, and Elderton High School., (Captions):, F.C.H.S under construction, F.C.H.S before the 1922 addition, F.C.H.S after the 1922 addition, F.C.H.S. after the 1961 additions on the Fifth Ave side, Built in 1889, this four room building was constructed on land donated by John B. Ford at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. This was the first Ford City High School., In need of more space, Ford City students utilized the upper rooms of the A.C.Bailey Building in 1908-09., Ford City Elementary School was opened in October of 1929. It was located on Fourth Avenue directly across the street from Ford City High School. It served the community until 1968 when the elementary schools were consolidated into Lenape Elementary School in Manor Township. The building was razed and is now the parking lot across the street., The new Saint Mary Catholic School provided much more classroom space for the students. But, as time went on, decreasing population and enrollment brought about consolidation of St. Mary and Holy Trinity Schools. In 1973 the building was renamed Ford City Catholic School. In 1992, Ford City Catholic School was renamed as the Divine Redeemer Catholic School, and is designated as a regional Catholic School. It now serves the Catholic School educational needs of the surrounding communities., The original St. Mary Catholic School was built in 1891 and stood next to St. Mary Catholic Church at 726 Fourth Avenue. Because of increasing enrollment, it was razed in 1958 and replaced with the new, much larger school., Holy Trinity Slovak Catholic School was built in 1913 at 1008 Sixth Avenue. It operated until 1973 when the two catholic schools were consolidated to form Ford City Catholic School. The building is being used today as Armstrong County Head Start., Photos are courtesy of Bill Oleksak and Larry Vorpe

Ford City's educational community was a combination of the public school and the Catholic school system. The town, because of its ethnic diversity, endeavored to accommodate all.

Ford City High School laid its cornerstone in 1908 and accepted students in 1909. It was considered the "crown jewel" of town. After a number of additions in 1922 and 1961, it took up one half of the Eleven Hundred block between Fourth and Fifth Avenue. Ford City High School served the community well. It produced many successful individuals in all fields. The first graduating class was in 1910. Its first four year graduating class was in 1912 and the last class to graduate was 2015. Ford City High School was razed in 2018. Ford City students now attend Armstrong High School which is a consolidation of Ford City High School, Kittanning High School, and Elderton High School.

(Captions):

F.C.H.S under construction

F.C.H.S before the 1922 addition

F.C.H.S after the 1922 addition

F.C.H.S. after the 1961 additions on the Fifth Ave side

Built in 1889, this four room building was constructed on land donated by John B. Ford at Sixth Avenue and Sixth Street. This was the first Ford City High School.

In need of more space, Ford City students utilized the upper rooms

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of the A.C.Bailey Building in 1908-09.

Ford City Elementary School was opened in October of 1929. It was located on Fourth Avenue directly across the street from Ford City High School. It served the community until 1968 when the elementary schools were consolidated into Lenape Elementary School in Manor Township. The building was razed and is now the parking lot across the street.

The new Saint Mary Catholic School provided much more classroom space for the students. But, as time went on, decreasing population and enrollment brought about consolidation of St. Mary and Holy Trinity Schools. In 1973 the building was renamed Ford City Catholic School. In 1992, Ford City Catholic School was renamed as the Divine Redeemer Catholic School, and is designated as a regional Catholic School. It now serves the Catholic School educational needs of the surrounding communities.

The original St. Mary Catholic School was built in 1891 and stood next to St. Mary Catholic Church at 726 Fourth Avenue. Because of increasing enrollment, it was razed in 1958 and replaced with the new, much larger school.

Holy Trinity Slovak Catholic School was built in 1913 at 1008 Sixth Avenue. It operated until 1973 when the two catholic schools were consolidated to form Ford City Catholic School. The building is being used today as Armstrong County Head Start.

Photos

Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 3, 2025

2. Education In Ford City Marker

View is looking north on the Armstrong Trail.

are courtesy of Bill Oleksak and Larry Vorpe

Erected 2020 by The Ford City Lions Club.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 40° 46.395′ N, 79° 31.852′ W. Marker is in Ford City, Pennsylvania, in Armstrong County. It is on 2nd Avenue 0.3 miles north of River Street, on the right when traveling north. The marker is located on the Armstrong Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Ford City PA 16226, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Pittsburgh.

It is also in the American Northeast,

in the Mid-Atlantic,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Town Of Worship (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); 10th Street Station (about 600 feet away); The Center Of Town (about 700 feet away); The Pottery Industry in Ford City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Ford City / Armstrong Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pittsburgh Plate Glass Ford City Works (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Ford City Park (approx. ¼ mile away); German World War II Cannon (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ford City.

Credits. This page was last revised on November 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 1, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia. This page has been viewed 59 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 1, 2025, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.