Wechsler School

Infobox_nrhp2 | name =Wechsler School


caption = Unrestored section of Wechsler School
location= Meridian, Mississippi
lat_degrees = 32
lat_minutes = 22
lat_seconds = 17
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 88
long_minutes = 42
long_seconds = 33
long_direction = W
locmapin = Mississippi
map_caption = Location of Wechsler School in Mississippi
area =
built = 1894
architect= Multiple
architecture= Italianate
added = July 15, 1991
governing_body = Local
refnum=91000880cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]

Wechsler School is a historic school in Meridian, Mississippi erected in 1894. The school was the first brick public school building in Mississippi built for African-American children in primary through eighth grades with public funds.cite book | last=Curtis | first=Nancy C. | year=1996 |publisher=ALA Editions |isbn=0838906435 |title=Black Heritage Sites: An African American Odyssey and Finder's Guide | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Rk7NPRm_nB0C | accessdate=2008-07-17] The school was named in honor of rabbi Abraham Wechsler, who led white citizens to approve voting for a bond issue to raise money for construction of the school.

History

Since its construction, the school has annexed two buildings - one in 1914 and one in 1951. After being taken out of service as a school in 1978, the building was used by a theater organization from 1980 to 1986. The building then lay vacant for four years before members of the community formed the Wechsler Community Art Center in 1990.

The Wechsler School was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 15, 1991. In 1994 the School Board deeded the building to the Wechsler Community Art Center Association. The Association has started raising money to develop plans for renovation and reuse. In 2000, it received funds from the state under a new program of grants for African American heritage sites. The first phase provided funding for stabilization and reuse. The Association has a multi-year plan to renovate the building for an art center and extended community use. [http://www.meridianms.org/artwechsler.htm Meridian, MS - Wechsler Project] , Meridian Council of the Arts]

Former Principals

Though the building wasn't built until 1894, the construction bond passed in 1888 and thus the first principal was named. The former principals of the school include:
* E.H. Triplett (1888 - 1896)
* O.C. Garrett (1896 - 1902)
* William Hopkins (1902 - 1916)
* R.S. Groosley (1916 - 1918)
* Thomas J. Harris (1918 - 1937)
* Lydia Carr (1937 - 1945)
* Jennie Ruth Crump (1945 - ????)

External Links

* [http://www.meridianms.org/artwechsler.htm Meridian, MS - Wechsler Project]

References