Marker - Millington Central High School
Posted by: 
cgeek
N 35° 20.777 W 089° 53.687
16S E 236926 N 3915292
Historical marker
Waymark Code: WM3K4J
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 04/14/2008
Views: 51
Millington Central High School
Soon after Millington was founded in the 1870's, a reading school was established in a wood-frame structure on this site by the Shelby County Board of Education. In the 1890's the school was organized into grades and by 1911 two students received twelfth-grade diplomas. Through the State of Tennessee Education Act of 1913, the school became Millington Central High School, or "MCHS". A 1907 brick structure was razed in 1916 and a brick and terracotta "Beaux Arts" style edifice was erected. In 1918 MCHS became the first high school in Memphis or Shelby County to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. As transportation developed, MCHS was named the consolidated school for the area and continues to serve grades 9 through 12. Always supportive of school needs, the community, led by the Rotary Club, in 1947 funded the first lighted high school football field in West Tennessee. William L. Osteen, affectionately known as "Mr. Bill," served as principal from 1940 until 1971 and as president of the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association from 1959 until 1971. Widely known and deeply respected for his firm but fair discipline and high standards of sportsmanship, he guided the school through wars, expansion, and racial integration with a commitment to excellence and integrity.
From the school's website:
Some other firsts for MCHS were ...
- The first brick school was built in 1907.
- It was the first school in Shelby County to have a gymnasium. The gymnasium was built in 1922 with funds raised by the citizens of Millington.
- It was the first school in this area to have a transportation system and hot lunches.
- The first 16mm projector in Shelby County Schools was used at Millington Central High School.
- In 1947, MCHS had the first lighted football game in the county.
- MCHS was admitted to membership in the Southern Association of colleges and secondary schools. It was the first school in Memphis or Shelby County to be accredited and the ninth school in the state of Tennessee to achieve this distinction.
- MCHS was the first high school in Shelby to have a computer with internet access in every classroom.
The New Millington Central High School building provides modern, code-compliant facilities which will include: sixty teaching stations, special classrooms for newspaper and yearbook, art, choral music, a computer lab, the main office and guidance. Most of the Wilkinsville Road frontage will remain a pastoral setting.
Marker Name: Millington Central High School
Marker Location: Roadside
Type of Marker: Building
Marker Number: None
Group(s) Responsible for placing Marker:
Shelby County Historical Commission and Millington High School Class of 1953
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