New Albany in Union County, Mississippi — The American South (East South Central)

B.F. Ford School

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 14, 2022

1. B.F. Ford School Marker

Inscription. In 1912, the New Albany School Board established the Union County Training School at this site. After the original building burned, a new school was constructed in 1948. Designed by architect Robert McKnight, this Streamline Art Moderne-style building was the main high school for African Americans in New Albany until the end of segregation in the late 1960s. The school was named for Benjamin F. Ford, who was principal from 1921 until his death in 1950 and oversaw construction of the new school.

Erected 2021 by Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Mississippi State Historical Marker Program series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.

Location. 34° 29.137′ N, 89° 0.351′ W. Marker is in New Albany, Mississippi, in Union County. It is at the intersection of Oak Street and Reeves Street, on the right when traveling south on Oak Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 501 Oak St, New Albany MS 38652, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the North Mississippi Hills. It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Elder Roma Wilson & Rev. Leon Pinson (approx. ¼ mile away); Union County, Mississippi (approx. half a mile away); William Faulkner (approx. 0.6 miles away); Mosley and Johnson (approx. 0.7 miles away); New Albany, Mississippi (approx. 0.7 miles away); Ishtehotopah (approx. 2.4 miles away); Glenfield Baptist Church (approx. 2.7 miles away); Stratford Company (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in New Albany.

Also see . . . Descendants of B. F. Ford unveil state historical marker at school named for him. (Submitted on June 14, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

B.F. Ford School and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Hilton, June 14, 2022

2. B.F. Ford School and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 14, 2022. It was originally submitted on June 14, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 1,781 times since then and 71 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 14, 2022, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.