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: NameImageAddressDate completedStatusNotesBeck Street School387 E. Beck Street1884In useUsed by the South Columbus Preparatory AcademyAvondale Elementary School141 Hawkes Avenue1892In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsMedary Avenue Elementary School2500 Medary Avenue1892VacantBridgeway Academy vacated in 2021Felton School920 Leonard Avenue1893DemolishedNearly identical to the extant Southwood Elementary SchoolThe Ohio Street School / Ohio Avenue Elementary School505 S. Ohio Avenue1893In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsThe Great Southern Hotel & Theatre310 S. High Street1894In useCredited to Dauben, Krumm, and RiebelHubbard Avenue School / Hubbard Mastery School104 W. Hubbard Avenue1894In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsSouthwood Elementary School1500 S. Fourth Street1894In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsHighland Avenue Elementary School40 S. Highland Avenue1895In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsThe Schlee-Kemmler Building328 S. High Street1895In useCredited to Dauben, Krumm, and RiebelChicago Avenue School40 Chicago Avenue1897In useOperated by Franklinton Prep High SchoolNinth Avenue Elementary School221 W. 9th Avenue1897DemolishedSt. John the Baptist Church168 E. Lincoln Street 1898Neighboring matching Gothic Revival convent demolished and reconstructed in 1991.North Side High School addition100 W. Fourth Avenue1899Demolished (original building)In use (additions)C. 1899 addition by Riebel, in use by Columbus City Schools.East High School / Franklin Junior High School1390 Franklin Avenue1899DemolishedVisually similar to the extant Charles S. Barrett BuildingSouth High School / the Charles S. Barrett Building345 E. Deshler Avenue1900In useUsed as an apartment buildingLivingston Elementary School825 E. Livingston Avenue; 744 Heyl Avenue1901DemolishedReplaced with a new structureMansion Day School / William A. Miller Residence72 Woodland Avenue1904In useBellows Avenue Elementary School / Bellows School725 Bellows Avenue1905VacantUnder renovation, at risk of demolitionFourth Avenue School / Michigan Avenue School1200 Michigan Avenue1905In useIn use as the Michigan Avenue ApartmentsHoly Rosary Elementary School1667 E. Main St.1906Demolished in 1973St. John the Evangelist School930 South Ohio Avenue1906In useIn use as the St. John Community CenterShepard School873 Walcutt Avenue1906In useClosed 1977; now used as officesEastwood Avenue Elementary School1355 Eastwood Avenue1907DemolishedClosed in 1974. David Riebel design.https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22Eastwood%20Avenue%20school%22&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-16328AD3778B07D6%402417295-163283E735A41551%4032-163283E735A41551%40 https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3A1467499E363272B3%21Columbus%2BDispatch&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22East%20main%20street%22%20school&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1905%20-%201909&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-16327D69497039F8%402417822-163203951268C9D1%401-163203951268C9D1%40 West High School / Starling Middle School120 S. Central Avenue1908VacantUnder renovation into apartmentsIndianola Junior High School / Graham Elementary and Middle School140 E. 16th Avenue1909In usePart of the Graham Family of SchoolsReeb Avenue Elementary School / the Reeb Avenue Center280 Reeb Avenue1909In useMulti-use building operated by a nonprofitChampion Elementary School1270 Hawthorne Avenue1909DemolishedFormerly in the center of Poindexter Village, demolished c. 2008https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ACOLUMBUS%21Columbus%2520Dispatch%2520Historical%2520and%2520Current/decade%3A2000%212000%2B-%2B2009&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=champion%20school&docref=news/10DADDEA39DD6A60 https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ACOLUMBUS%21Columbus%2520Dispatch%2520Historical%2520and%2520Current/decade%3A2000%212000%2B-%2B2009&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=champion%20school&docref=news/11E53E9C984EB7A0 https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=favorite%3ACOLUMBUS%21Columbus%2520Dispatch%2520Historical%2520and%2520Current/decade%3A2000%212000%2B-%2B2009&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=champion%20school&docref=news/10DC8585889BE738 West Broad Street School / West Broad Elementary School2744 W. Broad Street1910In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsHeyl Elementary School760 Reinhard Avenue1910DemolishedReplaced with affordable housingLane Avenue School / Laneview School2366 Kenny Road1910DemolishedUsed as OSU farm storage later in its historyThe Stoddart Block260 S. 4th Street1911In useRenovated for micro-apartmentsDana Avenue School300 Dana Avenue1912In usePart of Columbus Collegiate AcademyHotel Columbus235 E Long Street1912DemolishedSite of an apartment building todayHoly Family School57 S. Grubb Street1913VacantCrestview School / Indianola Informal K8 School251 E. Weber Road1915In useIn use by Columbus City SchoolsRoosevelt Junior High School / Studer Avenue School1046 Studer Avenue1916DemolishedBudd Dairy Company1086 N. 4th Street1917In useActive as a food hallThe Seneca Hotel367 E. Broad Street1917In useCo-designed by Frank Packard. Active as apartments.Fulton Street Elementary School450 E. Fulton Street1921DemolishedClosed in 1974https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=fulton%20school%20architect&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1920%20-%201923&docref=image%2Fv2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-16403567757808CA%402422839-16402EA978FFEC27%4018&origin=image%2Fv2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-16403567757808CA%402422839-16402EA978FFEC27%4018-16402EA978FFEC27%40 Burroughs Elementary School / John Burroughs School / Sullivant Avenue School551 S. Richardson Avenue1921In useIn use by Columbus City Schoolshttps://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=&sort=_rank_%3AD&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=fulton%20school%20architect&fld-nav-0=YMD_date&val-nav-0=1920%20-%201923&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-163AFA1213D14953%402422663-163AF107E9B2A4C1%404-163AF107E9B2A4C1%40 Linden Elementary SchoolNon-free image2626 Westerville Road1921DemolishedReplaced by Linden S.T.E.M. Academy in 2004https://infoweb-newsbank-com.webproxy3.columbuslibrary.org/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&t=pubname%3A1467499E363272B3%21Columbus%2BDispatch/decade%3A1920%211920%2B-%2B1929&sort=_rank_%3AD&page=1&fld-base-0=alltext&maxresults=20&val-base-0=%22linden%22%20school%20complete&fld-nav-1=YMD_date&val-nav-1=1921%20-%201922&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-1639FCC0B08530B4%402422744-1639CFB3EA858324%4010-1639CFB3EA858324%40 Pilgrim Elementary School440 Taylor Avenue1922VacantClosed 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)
See also Architecture of Columbus, Ohio
References
External links