Arson gutted the historic one-room Lichtenwalter Schoolhouse at Boettler Park in Green early Tuesday morning, authorities said.
The Green Fire Department was called to the restored school at 4:51 a.m. and was on the site of the fully engulfed building three minutes later. Jackson Township and Greentown firefighters assisted the department in extinguishing the fire.
The State Fire Marshal ruled the fire an arson, the city said.
“We’re deeply saddened by the loss of historic property,” said Green city spokeswoman Valerie Wolford.
Other parts of Boettler Park and Ariss Park, 2520 Wise Road, were also found vandalized.
The Ohio Blue Ribbon Arson Committee is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for any tips leading to an arrest.
“We’re hoping someone has information and will come forward,” Wolford said.
There are security cameras at Boettler Park that likely will be reviewed by law enforcement, Wolford said.
Wolford said it is too soon to determine what will happen to the charred remains of the schoolhouse at 5300 Massillon Road.
The brick building, first known as the Shaffer Schoolhouse, was built in 1885. The one-room building with only one door and 10 windows hosted hundreds of students from Green and Jackson townships until it closed in 1912.
It was originally located on Robert Boettler’s property near what is now the Akron-Canton Airport, and it was moved to its current location in the 1960s.
In 2000, the building became Green’s first historical landmark, and the city began its restoration in 2001.
Since 2004, the schoolhouse has hosted Green third-graders on field trips to simulate what class was like in 1885.
Carol Baltrinic, a retired Green elementary teacher, has worked with the building nearly two decades. She was on the Historic Preservation Committee when the building was designated historical, and she was one of the teachers who wrote the school’s curriculum in 2004.
“What a shame,” Baltrinic said. “It really makes you feel sort of sick when you work with something for so long and in one day, it’s almost gone.”
Baltrinic said donated objects were on display in the building, like an old carpet beater and clothing from the 1800s, and they were kept in a vintage showcase.
Other damages include breaking and entering into restrooms and vandalism of Heritage Hill playground at Boettler Park, along with a vandalized concession stand at Ariss Park.
Greg Mazzagatti, the president of Green Youth Football who runs the concession stand, estimated the damages exceed $1,000.
He said the vandals pried the metal window open, destroyed one of the hot dog warmers and stole all of the candy and several cases of soft drinks.
“I was shocked,” Mazzagatti said. “We’ve never had these kind of problems in Green.”
Mazzagatti said the damage to the schoolhouse, though, was far worse.
Boettler Park was closed Tuesday and will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
Mazzagatti said he hopes to have the concession stand open on Wednesday, but at the latest, it will be open Thursday.
Anyone with tips should call the Summit County Sheriff’s Department at 330-643-2181 or Green Fire investigations at 330-896-1811.