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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. Recently, a local push has been underway to convert the facility into a
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The high school (grades 9-12) moved to T.J. Harris High School in 1937, after which
Wechsler served as an elementary and junior high school until 1971. Another addition was added to the campus in 1951 on the east side of the lot. The utilitarian style addition included four classrooms, an auditorium,
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had been offering high school diplomas to black students before 1921, Wechsler School was the first public school in east central
Mississippi to do so, and it remained the only one until 1937, when Meridian's black high school program was transferred to then new T.J. Harris High School. In the 1920s,
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Also in 1914, a bond issue for almost $ 75,000 was approved for improvements and additions to all the city's schools. From this bond, the school built a brick annex south of the original building to accommodate a rise in the number of students in
Meridian's public school system. The annex is also two
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for both black and white children, but was closed down after the 1983 school year. After being taken out of service as a school, the building was used by a theater organization from until 1986. The building then lay vacant for four years before members of the community formed the
Wechsler Community
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stage, cafeteria, teachers' rooms, and showers. A staircase connects the 1894 building with the second floor of the addition, and a covered staircase leads to the entrance. Also in 1951, the basement of the 1914 annex was converted into classrooms, and the boiler room was moved to the new addition.
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In 1922 the school added classes for adults, and in the
Meridian-State Normal for Teachers moved to the school, allowing under-educated teachers to renew their teaching licenses. In 1929, fifty teachers graduated from the Normal at Wechsler. The highest number of student graduates from Wechsler was
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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. The association hosted dances and parties catered to teens as fundraisers in the late-1990s and early 21st century. In
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The school originally housed first through eighth grades but was expanded to twelve grades by 1921. In the 1915-16 school year, ninth and tenth grades were added; in 1919-1920, the eleventh grade was added; and in 1921-22 the twelfth grade was added with six students graduating that spring. Though
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lined each facade of the building, and the main entrance, adorned by a segmented-arched canopy, was located on the north face of the building. The building was originally heated by coal fireplaces, necessitating a small structure (now demolished) on the southwest side of the main building to store
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In 1894 when
Wechsler was built, 30% of the children in the city were African American. Because of this growing number, $ 15,000 was used to purchase the grounds on which the building now stands. After the bond was approved in February 1894, the school was named after
297:. From 1870-1885, trustees appointed by the City Council served on the Board of School Directors, which had authority to operate the schools. The first public school for African Americans in the city was held in facilities rented from St. Paul Methodist Church. The
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Though the building was not completed until 1894, the construction bond passed in 1888, and the first principal was selected to manage the planning for the school. The former principals of the school include:
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amended the city charter in
January 1888 to allow the city to maintain its own municipal school district, and in March of the same year $ 30,000 in bonds was approved for the city to build new public schools.
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children. It originally served primary through eighth grades but was later expanded to include high school as well. The school was named in honor of
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built in 1872, Wechsler School became the first brick public school built for
African Americans in Mississippi with public funding.
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building. The first floor contained six rooms while the second floor consisted of two rooms and an auditorium. Six
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the coal. When the building was updated to have steam heating in 1914, the coal house was no longer needed.
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stories, the second of which is connected to the second floor of the 1894 building via a
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University and college buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Mississippi
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National Register of Historic Places in Lauderdale County, Mississippi
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List of jails and prisons on the National Register of Historic Places
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Black Heritage Sites: An African American Odyssey and Finder's Guide
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494:. Mississippi Department of Archives and History. May 2008
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Early public education in Meridian was based on the 1870
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National Park Service Registration Form Wechsler School
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building in Mississippi built with public funds for
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History of the National Register of Historic Places
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1007:List of U.S. National Historic Landmarks by state
385:Art Center in 1990. The school was listed on the
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774:Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience
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253:erected in 1894. The school was the first
88:Location of Wechsler School in Mississippi
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1460:Schools in Lauderdale County, Mississippi
947:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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368:eighty-seven in the 1935-36 school year.
35:U.S. National Register of Historic Places
380:From 1971–1983 the school was used as a
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595:"Cause of Seminary Fire "Undetermined""
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517:"National Register Information System"
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321:The original building was a two-story
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752:Dentzel Carousel and Shelter Building
742:First Presbyterian Church of Meridian
61:Unrestored section of Wechsler School
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1455:Education segregation in Mississippi
563:National Register of Historic Places
522:National Register of Historic Places
387:National Register of Historic Places
351:several private schools such as the
274:National Register of Historic Places
116:Wechsler School (the United States)
1362:National Historic Preservation Act
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559:"NRHP Nomination:Wechsler School"
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675:Meridian, MS – Wechsler Project
661:, Meridian Council of the Arts
659:Meridian, MS – Wechsler Project
1315:Federated States of Micronesia
961:Architectural style categories
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432:Jennie Ruth Crump (1945–????)
347:was located in the basement.
119:Show map of the United States
908:is in proximity to Meridian.
426:Thomas J. Harris (1918–1937)
310:Judah Wechsler, formerly of
16:United States historic place
557:Fonda Rush (May 29, 1991).
420:William Hopkins (1902–1916)
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1367:Historic Preservation Fund
1346:American Legation, Morocco
906:Naval Air Station Meridian
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1308:Lists by associated state
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869:Meridian Regional Airport
623:Curtis, Nancy C. (1996).
423:R.S. Groosley (1916–1918)
414:E.H. Triplett (1888–1896)
353:Meridian Baptist Seminary
276:in 1991 and designated a
200:NRHP reference
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1289:Northern Mariana Islands
903:This list is incomplete.
737:Congregation Beth Israel
565:. National Park Service.
417:O.C. Garrett (1896–1902)
312:Congregation Beth Israel
295:Mississippi Constitution
270:Congregation Beth Israel
249:is a historic school in
192:Architectural style
489:"Mississippi Landmarks"
299:Mississippi legislature
91:Show map of Mississippi
1284:Minor Outlying Islands
1267:Lists by insular areas
981:Keeper of the Register
769:Meridian Museum of Art
605:.com. October 24, 2007
429:Lydia Carr (1937–1945)
289:Original 1894 building
1445:Mississippi Landmarks
986:National Park Service
966:Contributing property
723:Meridian, Mississippi
599:Meridian, Mississippi
527:National Park Service
334:Annexation and growth
251:Meridian, Mississippi
160:32.37139°N 88.70917°W
133:Meridian, Mississippi
1341:District of Columbia
453:adding missing items
391:Mississippi Landmark
316:Natchez, Mississippi
278:Mississippi Landmark
237:Designated USMS
44:Mississippi Landmark
372:Decline of Wechsler
165:32.37139; -88.70917
156: /
815:Meridian City Hall
789:Threefoot Building
759:Historic districts
451:; you can help by
268:Judah Wechsler of
219:075-MER-0186-NR-ML
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971:Historic district
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892:The Meridian Star
529:. April 15, 2008.
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848:Lamar School
836:Meridian PSD
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779:Riley Center
640:. Retrieved
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496:. Retrieved
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382:kindergarten
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1334:Other areas
1294:Puerto Rico
1128:Mississippi
1043:Connecticut
853:Meridian CC
841:Meridian HS
345:boiler room
163: /
139:Coordinates
1424:Categories
1243:Washington
1163:New Mexico
1158:New Jersey
1033:California
808:Government
642:2008-07-17
609:2009-07-17
472:References
449:incomplete
323:Italianate
213:USMS
195:Italianate
151:88°42′33″W
148:32°22′17″N
1253:Wisconsin
1218:Tennessee
1123:Minnesota
1098:Louisiana
829:Education
730:Landmarks
393:in 1993.
327:pilasters
280:in 1993.
184:Architect
1409:Category
1238:Virginia
1188:Oklahoma
1168:New York
1143:Nebraska
1133:Missouri
1118:Michigan
1108:Maryland
1093:Kentucky
1073:Illinois
1048:Delaware
1038:Colorado
1028:Arkansas
876:(Amtrak)
362:linoleum
207:91000880
187:Multiple
129:Location
1355:Related
1258:Wyoming
1233:Vermont
1138:Montana
1078:Indiana
1058:Georgia
1053:Florida
1023:Arizona
1013:Alabama
603:WTOK-TV
498:May 14,
341:skywalk
284:History
1193:Oregon
1148:Nevada
1088:Kansas
1063:Hawaii
1018:Alaska
954:Topics
820:Mayors
764:Hotels
633:
358:stucco
1325:Palau
1223:Texas
1103:Maine
1068:Idaho
884:Media
492:(PDF)
308:Rabbi
266:Rabbi
255:brick
176:Built
1279:Guam
1228:Utah
1183:Ohio
1083:Iowa
631:ISBN
500:2009
179:1894
455:.
215:No.
202:No.
1426::
651:^
601::
597:.
571:^
561:.
535:^
525:.
519:.
508:^
480:^
401:.
1009::
939:e
932:t
925:v
715:e
708:t
701:v
645:.
612:.
502:.
462:)
458:(
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