Alcoa in Blount County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Charles M. Hall School
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 2022
1. Charles M. Hall School Marker
Inscription.
Charles M. Hall School. . Alcoa schools for black citizens played a vital role in the growth and development of Alcoa. From 1916 to 1926, classes were held in one-room buildings and on the top floor of the Commercial Building. The first building on this site was completed for African American youth and officially named Charles M. Hall School in 1926, which consisted of eight grades. A high school was added later, and the first seniors graduated in 1939. Honors and awards were earned by the school's many outstanding scholars, musicians, and athletes, and the campus was known as one of the most beautiful in the area. With the complete integration of the City of Alcoa schools in 1970, the history of Charles M. Hall as an all-black school came to an end, but its rich heritage and tradition of service to the community continues., The principals of Charles M. Hall School: , John T. Arter . Thomas P. Marsh . Samuel Gosby . J. K. Hilyard . Reginald Clarke . Alfred Gore . Emmitt West . John Wade . Joseph A. Matthews . James D. White, Captions , Top row, left to right: , . Students grades two and above were taught in this building in 1918. , . Students and teachers stand alongside the Community Hall in 1919. , . The school faculty in 1919. L-R, front, Clara Turner, John T. Arter, Celia Griffin; second row, Ralph M. Arter, Mable Cloud, E. Z. Jackson, and Dollie Warren. , Middle row: , . Charles M. Hall School at the time of its construction in 1926. Inset: The Charles M. Hall annex and gymnasium were dedicated in 1951. , . The new Charles M. Hall lunchroom in 1952. , Bottom row: , . Wade Houston, an outstanding basketball player at Hall High School, became one of the first African American players at the University of Louisville, and the first black head basketball coach in the Southeastern Conference. , . The Hall High School chorus finished fourth in the nation at the 1952 Chicagoland Music Festival at Soldier Field in Chicago. , . The Hall High School shop industrial arts classroom in 1951.
Alcoa schools for black citizens played a vital role in the growth and development of Alcoa. From 1916 to 1926, classes were held in one-room buildings and on the top floor of the Commercial Building. The first building on this site was completed for African American youth and officially named Charles M. Hall School in 1926, which consisted of eight grades. A high school was added later, and the first seniors graduated in 1939. Honors and awards were earned by the school's many outstanding scholars, musicians, and athletes, and the campus was known as one of the most beautiful in the area. With the complete integration of the City of Alcoa schools in 1970, the history of Charles M. Hall as an all-black school came to an end, but its rich heritage and tradition of service to the community continues.
The principals of Charles M. Hall School:
John T. Arter Thomas P. Marsh Samuel Gosby J. K. Hilyard Reginald Clarke Alfred Gore Emmitt West John Wade Joseph A. Matthews James D. White
Captions Top row, left to right:
Students grades two and above were taught in this building in 1918.
Students and teachers stand alongside the Community Hall in 1919.
The school faculty in 1919. L-R, front, Clara Turner, John T. Arter, Celia Griffin; second row, Ralph M. Arter,
Click or scan to see this page online
Mable Cloud, E. Z. Jackson, and Dollie Warren. Middle row:
Charles M. Hall School at the time of its construction in 1926. Inset: The Charles M. Hall annex and gymnasium were dedicated in 1951.
The new Charles M. Hall lunchroom in 1952. Bottom row:
Wade Houston, an outstanding basketball player at Hall High School, became one of the first African American players at the University of Louisville, and the first black head basketball coach in the Southeastern Conference.
The Hall High School chorus finished fourth in the nation at the 1952 Chicagoland Music Festival at Soldier Field in Chicago.
The Hall High School shop industrial arts classroom in 1951.
Erected by City of Alcoa Arconic Foundation.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee, City of Alcoa series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1916.
Location. 35° 46.793′ N, 83° 58.826′ W. Marker is in Alcoa, Tennessee, in Blount County. It is on East Howe Street 0.1 miles north of North Hall Road (Tennessee Route 35), on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 140 E Howe St, Alcoa TN 37701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee, in the Great Smoky Mountains, and in Greater Knoxville. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in Appalachia, and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation, the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, the State of Franklin, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 10, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on April 12, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,503 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 12, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
