Eureka School (Hattiesburg, Mississippi)
Eureka School | |
---|---|
Front facade in 2015 | |
Location |
412 East 6th Street Hattiesburg, Mississippi[1] |
Coordinates | 31°20′05″N 89°17′28″W / 31.3347°N 89.2911°WCoordinates: 31°20′05″N 89°17′28″W / 31.3347°N 89.2911°W |
Built | 1921 |
Governing body | Hattiesburg Convention Commission[2] |
Designated | July 14, 2005 |
Reference no. | 035-HAT-0309.2-ML[3] |
Location of Eureka School in Mississippi |
Eureka School, located at 412 East 6th Street in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, was constructed in 1921 as a public school for African Americans.[4] The building was designated a Mississippi Landmark in 2005.
History
Construction of Eureka School was completed in September 1921, as a two-story brick building of about 27,000 sq ft (2,500 m2).[1] Funding was provided by a $75,000 bond issue.[4]
Eureka School was the only public school for African Americans in Hattiesburg from 1921 to 1949, serving grades 1 through 12.[4] Enrollment increased from 800 students in 1940 to 1,400 by 1947, requiring more school facilities. By 1949, a new high school for African Americans was built, but Eureka School continued to serve as an elementary school through desegregation, until 1987.[5]
After the public school closed in 1987, the building was used as an adult literacy center and storage facility for the Hattiesburg Public School District.[5]
Restoration
In 2008, a groundbreaking ceremony was held to begin restoration of Eureka School for use as an African American Heritage and Cultural Museum.[6] Funding for restoration was provided by grants through the Mississippi Department of Archives and History.[7][8][9]
On February 10, 2013, an EF-4 tornado passed through Hattiesburg.[10][11] During the storm, the roof of Eureka School was severely damaged.[1] By the end of August 2013, roof repairs had been completed.[12]
Restoration of the building's interior continued through 2014.[9]
References
- 1 2 3 >"MDAH Historic Resources (Fact Sheet—Eureka School)". Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- ↑ Hattiesburg Convention Commission Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- ↑ "MDAH Historic Resources (Architectural—Eureka School)". Mississippi Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- 1 2 3 Eureka School Restoration and Renewal Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- 1 2 Telling the Story of African-Americans in Hattiesburg, Mississippi: A Case Study of Socially Sustainable Tourism? Southeastern Geographer 2013 53(4):428–454 Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- ↑ Eureka School Future Restoration Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- ↑ MDAH 2007 Community Heritage Preservation Grant Winners Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- ↑ MDAH announces grants awarded to civil rights sites (2011) Retrieved 2015-01-14.
- 1 2 MDAH awards $2M in grants. Hattiesburg American (December 7, 2014) Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- ↑ Pine Belt Tornado Event Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- ↑ Tornado hits Hattiesburg, Miss.—USA Today (February 11, 2013) Retrieved 2015-01-12.
- ↑ Eureka School damage almost repaired. Hattiesburg American (August 5, 2013) Retrieved 2015-01-12.
External links
- Historic Hattiesburg school recovers from February tornado Retrieved 2015-01-12.