The Orders Road School

The Orders Road School at Century Village in Fryer Park stands today much to the efforts of the late Ray Easley. In 1988, the city purchased the Fryer Farm with plans to tear down the old school building but Easley approached city council with plans to restore the building as a historic landmark. Marilyn Gibboney, then president of the Southwest Franklin County Historical Society became involved, writing an article in The Grove City Record that encouraged others to join the effort. Restoration proved to be a challenge because a portion of the brick structure had been removed to install a garage door. Finding brick to match the building was an issue until Marilyn Wright offered the old Walnut Grove School building on her property as a source of matching brick. Mayor Cheryl Grossman had the city tear down the Walnut Grove building and volunteers cleaned more than 13,000 bricks for the Orders School restoration project. The Grove City Lumber Yard donated new window frames and the Grove City High School Industrial Arts class built desks, benches and installed a new roof. In 2003, the school was dedicated and an Ohio Historical Marker, donated by Edna Wade Taylor, was unveiled.