FIRST -- Public high school building in Austin, Austin TX
N 30° 16.212 W 097° 44.275
14R E 621398 N 3349400
The John T. Allen high school building at 9th and Trinity built in Austin was the 1st public high school building built in Austin
Waymark Code: WMTJWD
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 12/01/2016
Views: 0
The state historic marker for the John T. Allen high school building stands on the campus of the First Baptist Church of Austin, which built its church building here after the Allan HS building burned in 1956.
The state historic marker reads as follows:
"AUSTIN HIGH SCHOOL
JOHN T. ALLAN CAMPUS
An ornate, red brick building at this site served as the first structure in town built for the public high school, founded in 1881. Construction of the facility was hastened when the classrooms in the former temporary State Capitol at 11th and Congress were destroyed by fire. Completed in 1900 from the plans of Bert McDonald and James Reily, “Old Red” featured a domed rotunda. As the school grew, additions were made to the original structure.
Under the supervision of principal James E. Pearce, 1895-1918, and Superintendent A. N. McCallum, 1903-1942, Austin high school developed a quality academic program. Innovations included the John T. Allan Manual Training Center and one of the earliest Domestic Arts (Home Economics) departments in the nation.
The buildings here could no longer accommodate the growing Austin high school by 1925 and plans were made to utilize the larger Junior High campus at the corner of 12th and Rio Grande. The switch was made during the Thanksgiving holidays of that year and “Old Red” became John T Allan Junior High School. Classes were held at the site until 1956, when the complex was destroyed by fire. (1981)"
FIRST - Classification Variable: Item or Event
Date of FIRST: 01/01/1890
More Information - Web URL: [Web Link]
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