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Messick High School was built by [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby County]] to consolidate three elementary schools.<ref name=1969history/><ref name=1948annual>[http://messickhigh.org/history.html Messick History], Messick High Schools Classes of 1951 and 1952 website. History "compiled from 1948 annual"; retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> It was a full 12 grade school until 1912 when the high school grades 9-12 were moved to the new and nearby West Tennessee Normal School (Now U of M) to train teachers. After that Messick School included only elementary grades, but a high school building was added in the 1920s and all 12 school grades were enrolled as of 1924.<ref name=heritage>Susan M. Mascolino, [http://www.memphisheritage.org/mhihost/HistNeigh-Messick-Buntyn.html Cultural Resources Survey of Messick-Buntyn and Orange Mound East Memphis, TN], Conducted by Memphis Heritage, Inc. for the Memphis Landmarks Commission, July 2003</ref> At the time of its construction, the school was in a rural area of Shelby County called Buntyn, Tennessee, where [[truck farm]]ing was a major economic activity.<ref name=1969history/>
Messick High School was built by [[Shelby County, Tennessee|Shelby County]] to consolidate three elementary schools.<ref name=1969history/><ref name=1948annual>[http://messickhigh.org/history.html Messick History], Messick High Schools Classes of 1951 and 1952 website. History "compiled from 1948 annual"; retrieved January 6, 2011.</ref> It was a full 12 grade school until 1912 when the high school grades 9-12 were moved to the new and nearby West Tennessee Normal School (Now U of M) to train teachers. After that Messick School included only elementary grades, but a high school building was added in the 1920s and all 12 school grades were enrolled as of 1924.<ref name=heritage>Susan M. Mascolino, [http://www.memphisheritage.org/mhihost/HistNeigh-Messick-Buntyn.html Cultural Resources Survey of Messick-Buntyn and Orange Mound East Memphis, TN], Conducted by Memphis Heritage, Inc. for the Memphis Landmarks Commission, July 2003</ref> At the time of its construction, the school was in a rural area of Shelby County called Buntyn, Tennessee, where [[truck farm]]ing was a major economic activity.<ref name=1969history/>


The school was named for Elizabeth Messick (1876-1951), a [[University of Chicago]] graduate who was [[school superintendent|superintendent]] of [[Shelby County Schools (Tennessee)|Shelby County Schools]] from 1904 to 1908<ref name=flyer/><ref name=1948annual/> and who had been criticized for spending $30,000 to build the new high school.<ref name=1969history/> Messick later married ''[[Memphis Commercial Appeal]]'' journalist Elmer E. Houck and used the name Elizabeth Messick Houck.<ref name=flyer/><ref name=1948annual/><ref name=1969history/>
The school was named for Elizabeth Messick (1876-1951), a [[University of Chicago]] graduate who was [[school superintendent|superintendent]] of [[Shelby County Schools (Tennessee)|Shelby County Schools]] from 1904 to 1908<ref name=flyer/><ref name=1948annual/> and who had been criticized for spending $30,000 to build the new high school.<ref name=1969history/> Messick later married ''[[Memphis Commercial Appeal]]'' journalist Elmer E. Houck and used the name Elizabeth Messick Houck.<ref name=flyer/><ref name=1969history/><ref name=1948annual/>


In its rural location, some early students lived too far from the school to walk there, so they were transported to school in [[horse]]- or [[mule]]-drawn [[wagon]]s.<ref name=1969history/> Initially, lunches were provided by students' mothers who brought hot meals to the school at mid-day. With time, Messick became the first school in [[West Tennessee]] to have a school [[cafeteria]].<ref name=1969history/>
In its rural location, some early students lived too far from the school to walk there, so they were transported to school in [[horse]]- or [[mule]]-drawn [[wagon]]s.<ref name=1969history/> Initially, lunches were provided by students' mothers who brought hot meals to the school at mid-day. With time, Messick became the first school in [[West Tennessee]] to have a school [[cafeteria]].<ref name=1969history/>
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[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1908]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1908]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 1981]]
[[Category:Educational institutions disestablished in 1981]]
[[Category:High schools in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Tennessee]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Tennessee]]

Revision as of 03:43, 24 July 2012

Messick High School was a public high school in Memphis, Tennessee, established in 1908 and operated from 1909 to 1981.[1] The main building was demolished in 1982, but Memphis City Schools uses some other former Messick facilities to house the Messick Adult Education Center.[1][2][3]

Messick High School was built by Shelby County to consolidate three elementary schools.[2][4] It was a full 12 grade school until 1912 when the high school grades 9-12 were moved to the new and nearby West Tennessee Normal School (Now U of M) to train teachers. After that Messick School included only elementary grades, but a high school building was added in the 1920s and all 12 school grades were enrolled as of 1924.[5] At the time of its construction, the school was in a rural area of Shelby County called Buntyn, Tennessee, where truck farming was a major economic activity.[2]

The school was named for Elizabeth Messick (1876-1951), a University of Chicago graduate who was superintendent of Shelby County Schools from 1904 to 1908[1][4] and who had been criticized for spending $30,000 to build the new high school.[2] Messick later married Memphis Commercial Appeal journalist Elmer E. Houck and used the name Elizabeth Messick Houck.[1][2][4]

In its rural location, some early students lived too far from the school to walk there, so they were transported to school in horse- or mule-drawn wagons.[2] Initially, lunches were provided by students' mothers who brought hot meals to the school at mid-day. With time, Messick became the first school in West Tennessee to have a school cafeteria.[2]

Residential subdivisions grew up in the surrounding area in the 1920s.[5] In 1930 Messick became part of the Memphis City Schools system.[4] Much additional residential development occurred in the area in the late 1940s, after World War II ended. By the 1970s, however, the neighborhood was losing population and Messick's enrollment declined. The city school board voted to close the school.[5] The graduating class of 1981 was Messick's last, and the school's main building was demolished in 1982.[2][5]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c d Vance Lauderdale, Elizabeth Messick and Messick High School, Memphis Flyer, October 20, 2009
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h History of Messick, Messick Class of '69 Reunion Committee website, accessed January 6, 2011
  3. ^ Messick Adult Education Center, Memphis City Schools website, accessed January 6, 2011
  4. ^ a b c d Messick History, Messick High Schools Classes of 1951 and 1952 website. History "compiled from 1948 annual"; retrieved January 6, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Susan M. Mascolino, Cultural Resources Survey of Messick-Buntyn and Orange Mound East Memphis, TN, Conducted by Memphis Heritage, Inc. for the Memphis Landmarks Commission, July 2003

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