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Abandoned Schools of Mississippi
Elizabeth
The Elizabeth Female Academy, founded in 1818 in the town of Washington, was the first female educational institution in Mississippi.
Lamar Elementary
Lamar Elementary School, which opened in 1908 as a humble two-room building known as Kingston School, has a rich history and legacy.
Fernwood Elementary
Once a thriving hub of learning and education, Fernwood Elementary School now lays in a state of decay.
One Room Schoolhouse
I am still learning the history of this place. I hope to have some info soon.
CTS
After years of documented abuse and consequent lawsuits, Columbia Training School is finally closing its doors to troubled girls. Of the 37 girls who remained at the school, 11 were sent to the Oakley Training School June 11, after state officials had paroled the other 26 into community-based programs. The Columbia Training School in Marion County will officially close June 30.
Prentiss Institute
Prentiss Institute, one of the oldest educational institutions for African Americans in the State of Mississippi, was established in Jefferson Davis County in 1907. The founders, Jonas Edward “J.E.” Johnson (1873‐1953) and his wife, Bertha LaBranche Johnson (1882‐1971), both natives of Pike County, Mississippi, borrowed funds to purchase the 40‐acre site upon which this institution originated. The initial location was on the property’s entrance road which led east from the Mississippi River town of Natchez into Alabama. Constructed as an early homestead, and perhaps serving as a tavern and an inn for travelers, the property still included a log cabin and the remnants of slave quarters at the time of purchase.
School Pictures
Update: The school was destroyed by fire. This is one of the reasons I want to document these places before they're destroyed or rot out of existence.
The Auditorium
This old school is one of the most preserved to date. There isn't any graffiti, hardly any vandalism & could be saved for something useful. There isn't much out there on its history, but from what I could find, the school administration was at the center of controversy.
Old Salem
Built in 1914, this structure is Noxubee County's most significant extant early twentieth century public school building. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. Funny the front door is still locked while many windows are missing & the backdoors were wide open. The floors above were sagging. Especially the one on the west side. It is why didn't venture upstairs. Looking through the windows upstairs by drone, it's completely empty anyway.
West
We were here first four years ago. At the time we had no idea the storied past this school had. There are two portions of the school across the street from each other, but we did not notice the original school on the first trip. Just recently we explored & documented it. A guy mowing the grass gave us permission. The newer portion of the school & gym are now private property so we did not go over there. We had explored it four years ago anyway.
Vintage
We made a return trip to Reform to check the status of the school, church & house. The school is nearly the same shape as when we first visited back in 2018, with the exception of the left rear corner. The roof has a hole in it & the water is rotting out the corner of the school. The church was locked up, so we didn't get to go inside this time. The house, well, it was completely gone!
Okolona
Okolona College, also known as Okolona Industrial School, and Okolona Normal & Industrial School, was a college for African Americans in Okolona, Mississippi, Chickasaw County, Mississippi.
Blackboards
This South Mississippi school once was home to four different communities. Eventually they were all consolidated into the neighboring larger city. All of the school rooms were empty except for the blackboards. The ceiling inside was completely missing. Revealing the underside of the outer roof. The best kept room in the building was the auditorium. Most of the chairs were in pretty good shape. Except for the back row. It was collapsing. There were lots of holes in the floor & you could feel it give way in some spots
Petal
There isn't any info I could find while here. Nor is there any info online I could find. This school is located in Petal/Hattiesburg, Mississippi area.
State Line School
State Line School
Delta
This school was nearly invisible due to the over growth. I imagine in the spring & summer, it is completely invisible. I only found it thanks to Google satellite view. The auditorium is the center piece of the school with two corridors of class rooms jutting off in an angle on both sides. It makes for a big W. On the floor of the auditorium are the seats & seat backs of the chairs. No sign of the hardware that held them. There isn't any information out there about the school, so I don't have anything to share on that. I did read Booker T. Washington visited the town praising the town's success. https://youtu.be/eEn3FpKsF10
School for the Blind
This is a former School for the Blind in Mississippi. When checking it out on Google Maps there were still cars in the parking lot & it looked as if there wouldn't be anything to explore. Like it was still operational. When I pulled up, it looked like a war zone! Debris was everywhere. The inside & out had been vandalized & I came to find a sleeping bag inside one of the buildings making it a bit unnerving the rest of the explore. https://youtu.be/vuqPK5VUiPs
Utica
Utica was originally an area known as Cane Ridge. In 1837, it was given the name Utica at the suggestion of the then postmaster, Ozias Osborn, who came from Utica, New York. The town was incorporated in 1880.
Sunnyside
Sunnyside is an unincorporated community located in Leflore County, Mississippi. Sunnyside is approximately 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Minter City and approximately 8 miles (13 km) northwest of Schlater just off U.S. Highway 49E.
It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area.
It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area.
Bob Woods
Gunnison is a town in Bolivar County, Mississippi, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 295.
Crowder
Crowder is a town in Panola and Quitman counties in the state of Mississippi. The population was 712 at the 2010 census.
Industrial College
Rust College is a private historically black college in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Founded in 1866, it is the second-oldest private college in the state. Affiliated with the United Methodist Church, it is one of ten historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) founded before 1868 that are still operating.
Benton
Benton was settled in 1828 by William P. Gadberry. The first county court was held in his log home.
Abandoned School
Abandoned School
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