The Oshkosh Area School District (OASD) is building the new Vel Phillips Middle School. The districts’ most recent plan calls for tearing down the existing Merrill Elementary & Middle School.

The Wisconsin Historical Society staff evaluated the building and sent a letter stating their belief that the building may be eligible both because of the significance of the Architecture and because of the role the building played in the education of the youth of Oshkosh. In addition, accounts of the life of James H. Merrill, the school’s namesake, point to extreme bravery as a youth in the civil war and continuing a life of public service, which led to the city council unanimously voting to approve naming the school after the beloved public leader.

Save Historic Merrill School is a community-initiated local group trying to save the beautiful Art Deco Merrill School, constructed in 1901 and 1932, for future adaptive reuse.

Please support Save Historic Merrill School and sign this petition to save and repurpose the Historic Merrill School building for future adaptive reuse. It is sustainable. It is the right thing to do.