Olentangy High School Then and Now
The name “Olentangy High School” has seen its use in two buildings. While the building that carries the title today was constructed in 1990, OHS’s history goes further back to what is now known as Shanahan Middle School. The Shanahan building was originally constructed as Olentangy High in 1952 and consolidated the original Powell, Hyatts, Berlin, and Orange school buildings. 260 K-12 pupils were served in the 53-54 school year, and the school’s colors were chosen as blue and gold (which were originally Berlin’s colors.) Interestingly, there was no principal or secretary in this first year; the Superintendent ran the school and women in the typing class took on the office. School alumni were interviewed about the original building in 2003, the 50th anniversary of OHS. “It was kind of scary because the school was so big” said Diane Cox, a junior during the building’s first year.
In 1969, the building began to see expansion into what it is today, through additions of modular buildings throughout the years. In 1988, the Olentangy Local School District saw incredible growth, and a new school was needed. The district began construction late that year, and Olentangy High School, as it’s known today, finished in 1990. This building has served thousands of students to the present day, a far cry from the original graduating class of 1954 (42 members!) The original building from the 50s is now Shanahan Middle School, which serves grades 6-8.
This is a special posting written by John Freeman, an Olentangy High School student as part of a learning project held on March 19, 2022.
