Dave Chappelle Opens Restored Historic Schoolhouse as New Home for WYSO Public Radio

Published: Apr 10, 2026 - 1:28 p.m.

By Cleveland13 Staff

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YELLOW SPRINGS, OHIO — Comedian Dave Chappelle stood on the front lawn of the newly restored Union Schoolhouse on Thursday, marking the end of a multiyear effort to keep a pillar of local media from leaving the village he calls home. The 19th-century building is now the permanent headquarters for WYSO Public Radio, a move that preserves a piece of Ohio history while providing a high-tech future for the 68-year-old station. The ceremony drew more than 200 people, including village officials and residents who worried the NPR affiliate might move its operations to Dayton. Chappelle told The Associated Press that losing the station would have been a crushing blow to the community, describing the broadcaster as the lifeblood of Yellow Springs. While many local media outlets are shrinking or closing their doors, WYSO is expanding into a space that bridges the town's past with its modern needs. The Union Schoolhouse has occupied the corner of Dayton and North College streets since 1872. It is a landmark that once served as one of the earliest integrated schools in the region before later being used for municipal offices and a police station. After the building sat vacant for several years, Chappelle's real estate company, Iron Table Holdings, purchased the property in 2020. Chappelle invested $15 million into the redevelopment, transforming the brick structure into a multiuse facility. The radio station occupies the lower floors, featuring performance spaces and gathering areas that allow for more direct public engagement. Chappelle's own offices are located on the top floor. The renovation was not just a solo effort, as the community raised an additional $3 million to ensure the station was equipped with state-of-the-art broadcasting technology. Local resident Mark Willis, who attended the ribbon-cutting, said he has been listening to the station since high school. He noted that it is rare to see a local outlet growing instead of shrinking, especially one that is not subject to the censorship of a corporate sponsor. According to station leadership, that editorial independence remains fully intact. General Manager Luke Dennis said Chappelle has not made a single suggestion regarding programming, noting the station's move was about providing a place of strength for local journalism. Yellow Springs Mayor Steve McQueen, an Antioch College alumnus, issued a formal proclamation declaring April 9, 2026, as WYSO Day. He told the crowd that the station no longer has to worry about the space it occupies, which allows it to focus on training community members to become producers and storytellers. The investment arrives as public radio stations in smaller markets face intense financial pressure and audience fragmentation. Chappelle, who lives on a 39-acre farm nearby, has increasingly used his resources to stabilize the village economy. From his downtown comedy club to hosting performances in local cornfields during the pandemic, his presence has become a central part of the town's infrastructure. He told those gathered that investing in his own community felt dutiful and proud. He said having access to the people who inform you keeps everyone honest, especially when those radio personalities are neighbors you see around town. The station now broadcasts 24 hours a day from its new headquarters on the historic schoolhouse grounds. -------------------- At Cleveland 13 News, we strive to provide accurate, up-to-date, and reliable reporting. If you spot an error, omission, or have information that may need updating, please email us at tips@cleveland13news.com. As a community-driven news network, we appreciate the help of our readers in ensuring the integrity of our reporting.