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| The 1931 Vocational Agriculture Building. |
Corner of Jefferson St. and New York St.
This hidden gem was constructed during the summer of 1931 as a new Vocational Agriculture building for Smith Center High School. From late 1930 to early 1931, a number of individuals, including the school superintendent, argued for the addition of vocational agriculture to the school's curriculum in order to keep more area boys in school through high school and to better provide them with the knowledge and skills they would need to be an effective part of the agricultural community. The building was constructed, the curriculum was developed, and the enrollment of students increased. The architect(s) included Art Deco elements (including the decorative corners and buttresses) in the design alongside Mission Revival elements (such as the front parapet) and Classical elements (such as the egg and dart pattern along the edge of the canopy).
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| The Vocational Agriculture Building, c. 1946. |
Several exterior and interior changes have been made to the original building over the years, including two separate structures added onto the east side. At least one of those additional structures was built onto the east side to provide more classroom space while the new elementary school was being constructed nearby in 1955. Today, the north side of the building is an elementary school classroom and the south end is a garage for the school district.
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| Detail of a corner parapet of the 1931 Vocational Agriculture Building. |
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| The name sign, canopy, and Mission Revival parapet of the 1931 Vocational Agriculture Building. |
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