Old Hattiesburg High School
|
Old Hattiesburg High School | |
 Old Hattiesburg High School in 2004 | |
  Old Hattiesburg High School location in Mississippi | |
| Location | 846 North Main Street, Hattiesburg, Mississippi |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°19′46″N 89°17′44″W / 31.3294°N 89.2956°WCoordinates: 31°19′46″N 89°17′44″W / 31.3294°N 89.2956°W |
| Built | 1911, 1921 |
| Architectural style | Jacobethan |
| NRHP Reference # | 87000817 [1] |
| USMS # | 035-HAT-1689.3-NR-ML |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1987[2] |
| Designated USMS | December 12, 1986[3] |
Old Hattiesburg High School, located at 846 North Main Street, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was utilized as a public school building from around 1911 to 1959.[2] The building was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 1986 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. In 2007, the structure was heavily damaged by arson.
Description
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The school building was constructed in two phases. In 1911, a 2.5-story, rear structure was built with tan brick, a flat roof, and no ornamentation.[2] The front, 4.5-story, red brick, main building was constructed in 1921 by Hattiesburg architect Robert E. Lee. The interior featured dark-stained woodwork and pressed metal ceilings. In addition to classrooms, the building contained grand stairways and corridors, an interior courtyard, and an auditorium.[4]
History
Following closure of the building as a public school in 1959, it served as offices for the Hattiesburg Public School District and later, as an antiques mall, until 2001.[5] The Historic Hattiesburg Downtown Association acquired the property in 2002, with the expectation of restoring the building.[4] In 2003, the Mississippi Heritage Trust listed the Old Hattiesburg High School as one of the ten most endangered landmarks in Mississippi.[5]
In 2005, the structure was heavily damaged during Hurricane Katrina. More severe damage occurred in 2007, when an arsonist set a fire on the first floor of the 1921 addition.[6] The fire spread to the fourth floor, and the roof collapsed. In 2008, a suspect in the arson was convicted and sentenced to 7 years in prison.[7]
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In spite of the 2007 fire, long-term restoration plans continued, including stabilization of the front facade and fencing of the property against further vandalism.[8][9] By early 2010, reconstruction of the front facade was completed, but restoration efforts ceased because of harsh economic times brought on by the Great Recession.[6][8]
References
- ↑ National Register of Historic Places, Forrest County, Mississippi Retrieved 2012-09-16
- 1 2 3 Old Hattiesburg High School National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form Retrieved 2012-09-16
- ↑ "Mississippi Landmarks" (PDF). Mississippi Department of Archives and History. May 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2014.
- 1 2 Historic Downtown Hattiesburg Retrieved 2012-09-17
- 1 2 Old Hattiesburg High School Retrieved 2012-09-17
- 1 2 Old Hattiesburg High School building Retrieved 2012-09-17
- ↑ Old Hattiesburg High School arsonist sentenced Retrieved 2012-09-17
- 1 2 Old Hattiesburg High School project still in limbo Retrieved 2012-09-17
- ↑ Old High School stabilization making progress Retrieved 2012-09-17
External links
- Historic Hattiesburg High burns Retrieved 2012-09-17
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