Lockhart in Covington County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
W.S. Harlan School
December 7, 2017
1. W.S. Harlan School Marker (front)
Inscription.
W.S. Harlan School. . , William Stewart Harlan was the manager of Jackson Lumber Company in Lockhart, established in the early twentieth century as a mill town during the booming demand for longleaf yellow pine. Marketed as Dixie Rift Flooring and Dixie Poles and Piling, the superior lumber produced at the Lockhart mill was used in the construction of New York’s Grand Central Station and other buildings of stature in Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. Jackson Lumber Company also produced creosoted wood blocks that were used for paving streets in cities like Atlanta and Pensacola. At its height, the company employed 1,000 people. Dwindling resources and wartime enlistments resulted in the mill’s closure in 1940.
(Continued on other side). Reverse:
(Continued on other side). Schooling began here in 1903, in a three-room structure serving seventy-five of the mill town’s children. The main grammar school building at this site was built in 1924. It was named in honor of W. S. Harlan, who had ensured its construction before his death a year earlier. The junior high building was added in 1939, part of the New Deal-era Federal Works Project. Both buildings were constructed with materials produced by Jackson Lumber Company and continue to serve students of the Lockhart area. The grammar school building is the oldest schoolhouse in Covington County still functioning as an active school.
William Stewart Harlan was the manager of Jackson Lumber Company in Lockhart, established in the early twentieth century as a mill town during the booming demand for longleaf yellow pine. Marketed as Dixie Rift Flooring and Dixie Poles and Piling, the
superior lumber produced at the Lockhart mill was used in the construction of New York’s Grand Central Station and other buildings of stature in Virginia, Maryland, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. Jackson Lumber Company also produced creosoted wood blocks that were used for paving streets in cities like Atlanta and Pensacola. At its height, the company employed 1,000 people. Dwindling resources and wartime enlistments resulted in the mill’s closure in 1940.
(Continued on other side)
Reverse:
(Continued on other side)
Schooling began here in 1903, in a three-room structure serving seventy-five of the mill town’s children. The main grammar school building at this site was built in 1924. It was named in honor of W. S. Harlan, who had ensured its construction before his death a year earlier. The junior high building was added in 1939, part of the New Deal-era Federal Works Project. Both buildings were constructed with materials produced by Jackson Lumber Company and continue to serve students of the Lockhart
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area. The grammar school building is the oldest schoolhouse in Covington County still functioning as an active school.
Erected 2017 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Historical Association series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.
Location. 31° 0.9′ N, 86° 21.344′ W. Marker is in Lockhart, Alabama, in Covington County. Marker is at the intersection of Mohegan Street and Seminole Street, on the right when traveling south on Mohegan Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1641 Mohegan Street, Lockhart AL 36455, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Downtown Square and Veterans Memorial Park (approx. 1.7 miles away); Lake Jackson (approx. 1.9 miles away).
December 7, 2017
2. W.S. Harlan School Marker (back)
December 11, 2017
3. W.S. Harlan School Marker
December 11, 2017
4. W.S. Harlan School Marker/1924 Grammar School Building
Credits. This page was last revised on December 13, 2017. It was originally submitted on December 9, 2017. This page has been viewed 765 times since then and 56 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 9, 2017. 3, 4. submitted on December 12, 2017. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.