History

Middlebranch High School represents many firsts for secondary education in Plain Township. Not only was the high school the first for Plain Township, the school was also the first rural high school built under the county school consolidation plan.

Originally, Middlebranch High School was a two year accredited school, then the next year a three year accredited school and finally a four year accredited high school. The first class of the four-year program graduated at the end of the 1928-1929 school year. This first class actually graduated three times. These students had gone through a high school program that offered English, history, science, math, home economics, physical education and foreign languages. As the class sizes continued to grow, a need for a separate building was of growing importance. At this point, the high school was using classroom space in Middlebranch Grade School and a portable classroom (which later became the Plain Township Grange #2.) With a curriculum in place and students waiting to learn, it was time to build a building to house them and their enthusiasm.

By 1931 it was determined by the Plain Township Board of Education that the township would erect a new high school. Middlebranch High School was to be a three-story brick building trimmed with stone at the approximate cost of $70,000. The high school drew from the eastern part of Plain Township and westward to the boundary of the North Canton School District. Other students in the district would continue to attend McKinley High School. The architectural firm of Firestone and Christman drew up plans for the new school and separate gymnasium. Both Charles Essig Firestone and Lowell Christman had ties to Plain Township.

“Middlebranch has one of the most beautifully built and equipped high school buildings in this section of the state. It was erected in 1931, is modern in character, and has 15 rooms. Boiler rooms are located on the basement floor. On the first floor is found the 6th and 7th grade rooms, home economics, and manual training rooms. The library, general study hall, offices and class rooms are located on the second floor. The science room, commercial rooms, music rooms, and rest room for the teachers are located on the third floor. Each floor is provided with student lockers and lavatories. A combination gymnasium and auditorium constitute a part of the high school building equipment.” 1935 Administrative Handbook

In 1940, Middlebranch High School became a member of North Central Association of Accredited Schools and Colleges. In 1951 plans were developed for an addition to Middlebranch High School to accommodate the increased class sizes. A new Home Economics department was added that housed a sewing room, kitchen, and child development and home management area. Also in this addition was a much needed expansion to the Industrial Arts Department. Areas were created for art and drafting. A new cafeteria kitchen was added along with eating space that doubled as a band room. This expansion also included instrumental practice rooms, storage room, two hundred lockers, dressing rooms for both boys and girls, and larger library. To top off the project, a new gymnasium was built.

Plain Township was growing rapidly at the end of the 1950s. New allotments were created from the abundant farm land. With these new homes came young families with children who needed to go to school. Existing buildings were getting old and were not built to contain the number of students who were projected to enter the schools.

It was also hoped that Plain Township high school students could, at last, have a centralized school that could contain and educate all of them in one building. Students from Middlebranch High School would be joined by other Plain Township teenagers who were attending Canton McKinley, Canton Lehman, and Canton Timken high schools. The plan that was developed was that Middlebranch ceased to be open as a high school with the graduation of the class of 1956-57. Undergraduate students all went to the new high school called Glenwood High School.

The school name likely named for the village in which it is located. That name came from its proximity to the Middle Branch of the Nimishillen Creek that flows at the back property line of the school. According to the 1942 Middlebranch High School Yearbook, the team name, “Diamonds” came from the largest employer in the area, Diamond Portland Cement established in 1892.

For more information on the Plain Local School District please visit their website plainlocal.org

For more information on the Plain Local School District Foundation and Alumni Association please visit their website plainfoundation.com.