Program

Hometown Heritage®

Subject

Building

Location

156 Main St, Wadsworth, OH 44281, USA

Lat/Long

41.02433, -81.729369

Grant Recipient

Wadsworth Square Foundation

In 1907, a new public school was constructed in city of Wadsworth, Ohio. Wadsworth Central School, a three-story brick building, served as the town’s high school for several decades, educating generations of students until the high school moved to a new facility on Broad Street in 1960. Following that transition, the building continued its educational mission as an intermediate school, a role it maintained until 2025.

A significant chapter in the building’s history unfolded in 1922 when Wadsworth Central School was expanded to include a new gymnasium, auditorium, and several additional rooms. Dedicated in October of that year, the auditorium became a prominent gathering place for both the school and the wider community. Known as Central Auditorium, the facility had a reported seating capacity of 1,135 and quickly established itself as a center for public life in Wadsworth.

For decades, Central Auditorium hosted countless school activities, including vocal and instrumental concerts, musicals, plays, and ceremonies. Beyond its educational role, the venue served the broader community by providing space for local entertainment, public events, meetings, and family programming. Its stage welcomed generations of performers and audiences, making it an important cultural landmark in the city.

Eventually, the venue became known as the O. J. Work Auditorium. However, its most recent transformation came in 2025, when the Wadsworth Square Foundation renamed the historic space Celestia Theater. The new name honors Laura Celestia Spelman Rockefeller (1839-1915), a Wadsworth native and the wife of John D. Rockefeller. Known for championing abolition, public education, and the arts, Laura Rockefeller contributed significantly to these causes through her philanthropy, helping establish schools, social service agencies, and cultural institutions.

The renaming coincided with a broader effort to preserve and revitalize the historic property. As the former school transitions into the Wadsworth Square Commons Complex, plans include a bistro, Airbnb suites, offices, an event center, and Celestia Theater. To ensure the auditorium’s future, the Foundation invested $1.5 million in its restoration and preservation. Today, the theater is open to the public and continues its long tradition as a gathering place, hosting national touring acts, local performances, dance productions, theater presentations, festivals, and community events.