Introduction
David Riebel (August 7, 1855 – July 29, 1935) was a German-American architect in Columbus, Ohio. He was the head architect for the Columbus public school district from 1893 to 1922. In 1915, The Ohio Architect, Engineer and Builder considered his firm, David Riebel & Sons, to be the oldest and among the best architects in Columbus.
Early life and career
David Riebel was born on August 7, 1855, in Blenheim, Canada West. He was married in Bosanquet Township on November 3, 1875. At the time, he was described as a carpenter. With his wife, Margaret Ann Clemens, by 1895 he had four children: Laura, Elroy, Frederick, and Mary Edna.
Riebel began practicing architecture around 1878. His first major commissions were in Forest, Ontario: its town hall (built 1883-84, demolished in 1982) and the Second Empire-style mansion of Dr. James Hutton (built in 1887 and demolished in 1935).
Riebel moved with his family to Columbus, Ohio, in February 1888 to open up a new architectural office. He became the first head of the architectural department of the Columbus Board of Education (the lead architect for Columbus City Schools) in 1893. In that position, Riebel designed about 40 Columbus public school buildings between 1891 and 1921; the remaining buildings are some of Columbus's most notable landmarks. His two sons joined him in designing buildings in 1904, after thorough training, giving the firm the name "David Riebel & Sons". Riebel continued in the position until 1922.
For a time, Riebel had his offices in the William J. Lhota Building, originally known as the New First National Bank Building.
David Riebel died on July 29, 1935. He is buried at Green Lawn Cemetery.
Works
In Columbus
Riebel was involved in the design of numerous Columbus buildings:
| Name | Image | Address | Date completed | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beck Street School | 387 E. Beck Street | 1884 | In use | Used by the South Columbus Preparatory Academy | |
| Avondale Elementary School | 141 Hawkes Avenue | 1892 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| Medary Avenue Elementary School | 2500 Medary Avenue | 1892 | Vacant | Bridgeway Academy vacated in 2021 | |
| Felton School | 920 Leonard Avenue | 1893 | Demolished | Nearly identical to the extant Southwood Elementary School | |
| The Ohio Street School / Ohio Avenue Elementary School |  |
505 S. Ohio Avenue | 1893 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools |
| The Great Southern Hotel & Theatre | 310 S. High Street | 1894 | In use | Credited to Dauben, Krumm, and Riebel | |
| Hubbard Avenue School / Hubbard Mastery School | 104 W. Hubbard Avenue | 1894 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| Southwood Elementary School |  |
1500 S. Fourth Street | 1894 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools |
| Highland Avenue Elementary School | 40 S. Highland Avenue | 1895 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| The Schlee-Kemmler Building | 328 S. High Street | 1895 | In use | Credited to Dauben, Krumm, and Riebel | |
| Chicago Avenue School | 40 Chicago Avenue | 1897 | In use | Operated by Franklinton Prep High School | |
| Ninth Avenue Elementary School |  |
221 W. 9th Avenue | 1897 | Demolished | |
| North Side High School addition |  |
100 W. Fourth Avenue | 1899 | Demolished (original building) In use (additions) |
C. 1899 addition by Riebel, in use by Columbus City Schools. |
| East High School / Franklin Junior High School | 1390 Franklin Avenue | 1899 | Demolished | Visually similar to the extant Charles S. Barrett Building | |
| South High School / the Charles S. Barrett Building | 345 E. Deshler Avenue | 1900 | In use | Used as an apartment building | |
| Livingston Elementary School |  |
825 E. Livingston Avenue; 744 Heyl Avenue | 1901 | Demolished | Replaced with a new structure |
| Mansion Day School / William A. Miller Residence |  |
72 Woodland Avenue | 1904 | In use | |
| Bellows Avenue Elementary School / Bellows School | 725 Bellows Avenue | 1905 | Vacant | Under renovation, at risk of demolition | |
| Fourth Avenue School / Michigan Avenue School |  |
1200 Michigan Avenue | 1905 | In use | In use as the Michigan Avenue Apartments |
| Shepard School | 873 Walcutt Avenue | 1906 | In use | Closed 1977; now used as offices | |
| Eastwood Avenue Elementary School |  |
1355 Eastwood Avenue | 1907 | Demolished | Closed in 1974. David Riebel design. |
| West High School / Starling Middle School |  |
120 S. Central Avenue | 1908 | Vacant | Under renovation into apartments |
| Indianola Junior High School / Graham Elementary and Middle School | 140 E. 16th Avenue | 1909 | In use | Part of the Graham Family of Schools | |
| Reeb Avenue Elementary School / the Reeb Avenue Center |  |
280 Reeb Avenue | 1909 | In use | Multi-use building operated by a nonprofit |
| Champion Elementary School |  |
1270 Hawthorne Avenue | 1909 | Demolished | Formerly in the center of Poindexter Village, demolished c. 2008 |
| West Broad Street School / West Broad Elementary School | 2744 W. Broad Street | 1910 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| Heyl Elementary School |  |
760 Reinhard Avenue | 1910 | Demolished | Replaced with affordable housing |
| Lane Avenue School / Laneview School | 2366 Kenny Road | 1910 | Demolished | Used as OSU farm storage later in its history | |
| The Stoddart Block |  |
260 S. 4th Street | 1911 | In use | Renovated for micro-apartments |
| Dana Avenue School | 300 Dana Avenue | 1912 | In use | Part of Columbus Collegiate Academy | |
| Hotel Columbus |  |
235 E Long Street | 1912 | Demolished | Site of an apartment building today |
| Holy Family School |  |
57 S. Grubb Street | 1913 | Vacant | |
| Crestview School / Indianola Informal K8 School | 251 E. Weber Road | 1915 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| Roosevelt Junior High School / Studer Avenue School |  |
1046 Studer Avenue | 1916 | Demolished | |
| Budd Dairy Company | 1086 N. 4th Street | 1917 | In use | Active as a food hall | |
| The Seneca Hotel |  |
367 E. Broad Street | 1917 | In use | Co-designed by Frank Packard. Active as apartments. |
| Fulton Street Elementary School | 450 E. Fulton Street | 1921 | Demolished | Closed in 1974 | |
| Burroughs Elementary School / John Burroughs School / Sullivant Avenue School | 551 S. Richardson Avenue | 1921 | In use | In use by Columbus City Schools | |
| Linden Elementary School | Non-free image | 2626 Westerville Road | 1921 | Demolished | Replaced by Linden S.T.E.M. Academy in 2004 |
| Pilgrim Elementary School |  |
440 Taylor Avenue | 1922 | Vacant | Closed 2008 and sold PACT in 2015 |
Outside Columbus
Works in other areas included:
- Public school (Worthington, Ohio, 1896)
- Town Hall (Forest, Ontario, 1883-4)
- Dr. James Hutton mansion (Forest, Ontario, 1887)
- St. Mary's School (Lancaster, Ohio, 1910)
- First Church of Christ Scientist (Lancaster, Ohio, 1921)
- Public school (Crooksville, Ohio, 1923)