HISTORIC CAMPUS REFLECTS CITY'S PAST

The attractive 1939 "C" building, whose historic auditorium is being restored, as added significantly to the JHS campus.

One Jackson's best-loved and most valuable attributes is its historic downtown public school campus. The campus dates back to the days of the Jackson Military Academy, which closed its doors and sold its building to the public school for $4,600 in 1909.

The campus therefore already had strong roots when the school's Board of Directors sought bids in Feb., 1920, to build a new, modern high school building. Since that time an attractive campus has sprung up and continues to function into the new millennium. The vast majority of Jackson natives still living, has been touched by the stately, yet cozy campus.

Linus Penzel was the only contractor to bid on the new high school -- although the Board had contracted a large number of contractors. The Board also negotiated salvage rights on the old building, selling Penzel brick from the walls.

The Board awarded the contract to Penzel for $45,858, not including the auditorium/gymnasium within the building. Vera G. Taylor was awarded the plumbing/heating bid, for $10,127. After the auditorium/gymnasium was figured in, the project jumped above the $66,000 mark.

A "mass meeting" was called in early March, to get voter input for floating such a large bond issue. About 70 citizens showed up and were strongly in favor of the new building.

Construction was slower than usual -- apparently at least partially caused by post-war shortages. The Aug. 20, 1920 Southeast Missourian weekly edition reported that Penzel attended the Aug. 17 Board meeting to answer questions.

"Judging form appearances of the building in its present stages, the new high school will be roomy, commodious and modern," the paper wrote. "The basement footings have been completed and the brick walls are slowly creeping up over the windows and doors of the first story."

Jackson was a smaller town in this era, but was growing steadily. Actually the decade 1910-1920 was the slowest decade of growth for Jackson -- possibly because of World War I and the influenza epidemic that came in its heels. The population had increased by 420 from 1900 to 1910 (1,685 to 2,105), but gained only nine souls during the 1910s -- a 4.3 percent increase. It got back on track in the 1920s, up 14.2 percent by 1930 and another 20.2 percent by 1940 (when it hit 3,113).

White school children, meanwhile, were virtually static during the period. They increased from 631 in May, 1914, to 665 in May, 1922 -- a 5.1 percent rise. Interestedly, black children of school age took a 29.2 percent tailspin during the same period. Black school-age children fell from 106 in 1914 to 75 eight years later. The marked difference in these figures certainly warrants further research.

Meanwhile, when schools opened Sept. 6, 1920, a new Missouri law was in effect. Every child ages 8-14 had to be in school. Other items of debate as the fall began included women's suffrage, Prohibition, the League of Nations and Warren G. Harding or James M. Cox for President. (Vice Presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke at a Democratic rally in Cape Girardeau in October.) Babe Ruth was also obliterating his 1919 Major League home run record of 29; he finished with 59.

"It is not probably that we will be able to get into the new building before the end of the term," predicted a "School Notes" author in the Aug. 26, 1920 Cashbook. The column -- apparently student-written -- was right.

The students' voice turned whiny Nov. 18.

"We are sorely disappointed in not being able to use the new high school building this year," it wrote. "However we will have one of the best high school buildings in this part of the state when it is finished."

It was hoped until the very end of the basketball season that at least one game could be played in the new gym. It did not appear that this happened, even though a game against Illmo was postponed until March 8 for that purpose.

Penzel did get the new structure ready in time for spring commencements, though. According to the May 26, 1921 Cashbook, the first official event in the new building was the May 14 rural commencement exercises. The 177 rural eighth grade graduates accepted their diplomas from Cape Normal School (now Southeast Missouri State) professor Robert S. Douglass, already author of the highly-esteemed Douglass' History of Southeast Missouri.

The first "all-Jackson" commencement came a few days later, when the in-town eighth graders graduated. Finally, the official dedication came May 23, with the high school commencement. Sam A. Baker, Missouri Superintendent of Schools (for whom a state park is now named) gave the keynote speech to 26 graduating seniors.

In less than eight years, more space was needed. A formal dedication was held Jan. 10, 1929, for the new high school annex, built into the hillside, onto the back of the 1921 ("A" Building) wing. Presumably, six bays were added to the original two bays (see comparison photos) at that time.

The Depression and its related work projects helped give the campus two other jewels. The football stadium was dedicated Sept. 23, 1938, prior to a 6-0 loss to Chaffee in a night game. Seating capacity was 2,000 in the impressive new facility. The Central Elementary ("C" Building), meanwhile, was opened the next year, and has served six solid decades. In the intervening years the "old gym" was added, as well as the agriculture/music building and the later math/science building and multi-purpose building.

While the school campus and it immediate surroundings have changed over the years, and while a new addition has been connected to the original building, the feeling of stepping into the community's past is still very strong. The subsequent additions were done in a most respectful and unobtrusive manner.

Facing the 1921 building from the East, it stands almost alone (the connecting corridor to the South barely noticeable). The same grassy yard runs between the building and Missouri and Madison Streets, sloping steeply behind it (where the 1929 addition was skillfully built into the hill).

Another grassy lawn separates it from the stately 1939 "C" Building. The building also crosses a "T" or sorts, at the end of Russell Street, visible hundreds of yards away.

The "old gym" is across the street, with the football stadium just to its north. The area behind (to the North of) the 1921-1929 building also contributes strongly to the feeling of early 20th century small town campus life, as students cut across the same grassy lawns their grandparents did, going to and from classes.

The "A" Building embodies distinctive characteristics of pre-World War II 20th century secondary school buildings -- a building type rapidly disappearing from the Missouri landscape. It represents one of the more ornate and and artistic of the type and is probably the outstanding example of this type within a 50 mile radius. It also embodies the fine German brick construction techniques and fine craftsmanship prevalent in Southeast Missouri during its period of significance.

It is a vastly important structure in the city, epitomizing both the growing importance that education and the local public schools played as the community grew steadily during the first half of the century.

Likewise, the attractive "C" Building and its partially-restored auditorium is a work of art that reflects the values and strengths of the community.

This campus, which the R-2 District committed to maintaining in recent years, is a reflection of Jackson as a whole. In one small way, the campus IS Jackson.