Willson Middle School
1625 East 55th Street Cleveland, OH, 44103
-Abandoned 2005
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History of Willson Middle School
The Willson Middle School in Cleveland, Ohio, was built in 1903 and was named after the road next to it, Willson, which was named after Hiram V. Willson, a district court judge for Northern Ohio from 1855 to 1866. In 1905, the road was renamed E 55th St. This change occurred as Cleveland Ohio, adopted a numbered road system like those of other cities, most notably New York City and Chicago. The school served the Cleveland area for 103 years until it was closed in 2005 as part of a district reorganization plan. After nine years of abandonment, almost all the windows had been removed, alongside the vandalism the school faced during that same time frame. By 2022, the northwest corner flooring of the school had collapsed due to the lack of maintenance. To this day, the school remains abandoned, with no plans for demolition or redevelopment.
Recollection from the author
Willson was our first dive into the abandoned schools of Cleveland, while Willson was a tame school, it was a great exploration as most abandoned schools are. From the brightly lit corridors to the auditorium the school was a great photo opportunity. However with the open windows one would have to be quiet to take in the atmosphere of the school. The cop cars running by on the main road next to the school was a funny sound to listen to knowing well we are in this building and their attending to more important matters around Cleveland.
1st floor main concourse, debris piles line the floor
On one of the entrances debris lines the stairs
Basement entrance at side entrance to school
A old piano next to one of the side entrances to the school
1st floor hallway
another shot of the 1st floor hallway
One of the classrooms on the 1st floor
another 1st floor classroom
In another classroom on the 1st floor papers and books line the floor
Classroom with boards on it on the 1st floor
Courtyard section of sorts
Hallway next to auditorium on 1st floor
Auditorium entrance looking out to the hallway
The auditorium is trashed much of the seating has been destroyed
Auditorium shot 2
Auditorium shot 3
Auditorium shot 4
Auditorium shot 5
Balcony seating of auditorium shot 6
Hallway to gymnasium in the basement
Locker room adjacent to Gym
Another section of the locker rooms
Gymnasium shot 1
Gymnasium shot 2
Gymnasium shot 3
Gymnasium shot 4
Gymnasium shot 5
Gymnasium shot 6
Gymnasium shot 7
Hallway in the basement next to the gym
Basement doorway nearby to the gym
Likely once a library on the 2nd floor
Library shot 2
Many lockers have been tagged over
2nd floor hallway
The 2nd Floor has lockers laid across the floor that were likely attempted to be scrapped out
Many rooms on the uppers floor have been scrapped of there windows
In the northwest corner of the school much of the floor has collapsed in recent years
Same room as seen from the 3rd floor
Same room as the damage pulled downwards to the basement
A separate classroom has faced similar damage
Chalkboard still decently intact
Staircase leading to 2nd floor and 3rd floor
Lockers laid across the 2nd floor concourse as seen from a staircase
On the 3rd floor lockers are laid about as well
3rd floor hallway
Possibly a cafeteria on the 3rd floor area with the open floor plan and openings
Roof access HVAC units
3rd floor concourse
Very old Pepsi machine in the basement
Basement classroom
A more intact basement classroom
A unique colored classroom in the basement
Another classroom in the basement
Basement utility room with flooded water rising slowly over the years
Flooded boilers in the basement, due to the rainy day we explored water can be seen actively dripping in the pool of water
doorway to a side room next to boilers
Another utility room in the basement
Basement corridor
Lockers in the basement common in many older schools
Main concourse in the basement