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Abandoned Schools of Mississippi
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.
Fayette
Fayette, Mississippi, not only holds a significant place in the cultural and historical tapestry of the Southern United States but also harbors a particularly intriguing relic of the past: a crumbling two-story school building.
Oakland
The forgotten hallways of the abandoned school in Oakland, Mississippi, stood as silent as they had when we last wandered through them in 2017.
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.
Trophies
A Mississippi school once segregated now sits in ruins. Divided by a street on one side sits what appears to be the older of the buildings.
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