Former Evans City school sign saved for history
The efforts of a recent Seneca Valley graduate and the Evans City mayor will ensure the memory of the former Evans City Elementary/Middle School lives on long after its planned demolition.
Evans City Mayor Dean Zinkhann, along with Braden Sarver, a 2022 graduate from the district, are arranging for the former school’s front sign to be kept at the Evans City Historical Society. Sarver wanted to donate the sign to the Evans City Historical Society in honor of his great-aunt, Rita Schoeffel.
Schoeffel, who passed away two weeks ago at the age of 93, was a local historian who served as the president of the historical society, along with other roles involved in the community. She graduated from Evans City High School in 1946.
“It upset me, seeing the school being torn down,” Sarver said. “I’ve seen the windows blown out; they’re about to start the demolition.
“I knew Dean and I called him up, and asked about it. I wanted to see if there was anything being given to the historical society.”
Evans City has a lot of history that Sarver and Zinkhann admire. Various places throughout history, such as the Evans City train depot, the only train depot built alongside a body of water, are part of the borough’s fabric. The school, located along West Main Street, is one of those places, the they said.
The pair don’t want aspects of the borough’s history to be forgotten.
“We’ve seen a lot of things leave this town. This town’s lost a lot of history. And I wanted to make sure the historical society had a piece of history from this school,” Sarver said.
The sign, which used to be held up by two pillars right by the flagpole in front of the building, is being moved and stored at the historical society museum, located at 1 S. Jackson St.
Zinkhann taught fourth-graders in room 12 at Evans City Elementary School for 32 years after he graduated from the district in 1962. He said he became the mayor of Evans City in large part due to how many people he knew in the community, particularly through his school connections.
The historical society plays an important role that Zinkhann wants Schoeffel to be remembered for.
“If it weren’t for Schoeffel, we probably wouldn’t still have this society,” Zinkhann said.
Seneca Valley School District announced its plans to demolition the former school building in November, saying cost in maintaining the space was a significant factor in the decision.
The 138,000-square-foot school building has been vacant since it closed in June 2022 with the opening of Ehrman Crest Elementary/Middle School. The Evans City Elementary/Middle School was previously used for 84 years.
The district has said its plans for the property are to keep it available for “potential future development.”
