Esther Dennis Middle School

Preserving History...The center circle of the auditorium/gym built in 1930 was placed above Bruno in the front of the new Northridge High School gymnasium. Northridge High School was built in the fall of 1926. Grades six through nine moved into the building in January of 1927. Grades ten through twelve attended schools in downtown Dayton. The building added 18 classrooms and the auditorium/gym in 1930. In the fall of 1932 grades first through eleven were attending classes in the building. The seniors were allowed to finish their schooling at their downtown schools. On June 16, 1931 the District became the Northridge School District and John H. Morrison was named the first Superintendent of Northridge School. In 1945 a new cafeteria and nine classrooms were added to the school. The old cafeteria was moved and replaced by a mechanical drawing, arts, and woodworking classroom. The building was closed school year 1980-1981 for remodeling. Admin offices and the BOE were added to the south end of the school. The named changed to Esther Dennis Middle School (EDMS), to honor a long time employee of the district. The auditorium/gym was the home of the 1945 Northridge Polar Bears State Championship Basketball Team. (Thanks Mike Mescher)

Originally built in 1926 for the Ebenezer School District. Grades six through nine started in January of 1927. Grades one through five attended 11-A and 11-B and Beardshear School was closed. In June 1931, the Name was changed to Northridge School and in 1932 with an 18 room addition grades 1-11 were attending allong woth a new auditorium/gym. Nine rooms and a cafeteria were added in 1945. The building was closed school year 1980-1981 for remodeling and admin offices and the BOE were added to the south end of the school. It was renamed during the 1975-76 school year in honor of Esther Dennis, a long-time resident, former teacher, and assistant principal. In 2005, a new gymnasium was built off the back of the building. Due to faults in the foundation and other major areas of disrepair, the historic school building was removed to make way for the new PK-12 scheduled to be completed by fall of 2019. The building stood as a Icon of Northridge and Dixie Highway from 1926 to 2016. The only section remaining is the Gymnasium added in 2005 which was integrated into the new school. The Front door archway is displayed by the flag pole out front of the new building.

Northridge DD Model