Hickory in Catawba County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Claremont High School Site

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

1. Claremont High School Site Marker

Inscription. This site was deeded by Henry W. Robinson, an early settler, on July 27, 1880, to the trustees of Claremont Female College, chartered that year. The college educated young women in the classics until its closing in 1915. On January 26,1924, the college deeded this site to the city of Hickory to use as a part of its free public school system. The deed required that the property would revert to the trustees of Corinth Reformed Church of Hickory (now, Corinth United Church of Christ) upon failure of the City of Hickory to use the site as specified. The college building was demolished to allow construction of the present Claremont High School building which served the community from 1925 to 1972. This building lay vacant until 1982 when, through the cooperative action of Corinth Church and the Hickory city board of education, Corinth leased this site to the Arts Center of Catawba Valley for ninety-nine years. This assured continuing use of the premises for public purposes. The building, designated as a local historic property by the city of Hickory Historic Properties Commission in 1968 is a pivotal building in the Claremont

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National Register Historic District. Completely renovated, it was opened as the Arts Center of Catawba Valley in 1986.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Education • Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers • Women. A significant historical date for this entry is July 27, 1880.

Location. 35° 44.162′ N, 81° 20.045′ W. Marker is in Hickory, North Carolina, in Catawba County. It can be reached from the intersection of 3rd Avenue Northeast and 3rd Street NE, on the right when traveling west. The marker is to the right of the main entrance of the Arts and Science Center. Parking is available in the front close to the marker. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 243 3rd Ave NE, Hickory NC 28601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Carolina’s Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

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

Claremont High School Site Marker to the right of the entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

2. Claremont High School Site Marker to the right of the entrance

Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Shuford L. Whitener House (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dr. Ralston W. Carver House (about 300 feet away); Menzies-Goodman House (about 300 feet away); First United Methodist Church 1952 (about 400 feet away); Claremont College (about 500 feet away); David M. McComb House (about 500 feet away); H. Ellis McComb House (about 500 feet away); Murphy-McFarland House (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hickory.

Regarding Claremont High School Site. The former Claremont High School now hosts several performing arts groups, the Hickory Museum of Arts and the Drendel Auditorium. The building is the anchor building of the SALT Block, which also contains the Catawba Science Center and the Patrick Beaver Memorial Library.

Also see . . . Claremont High School District National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form (pdf). A full description of architectural

Claremont High School Building plaque (above information marker) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

3. Claremont High School Building plaque (above information marker)

Claremont High School
Erected A.D. 1924
S.L. Whitener - Mayor
Council
F.A. Abernethy • C.C. Bost • P.C. Setzer • Geo. S. Watson • R.W. Carver - Supt. of Schools
C. Gadsden Sayre - Architect
Jewell-Riddle Co. Inc. Builders

and historical importance of Claremont High School and the surrounding district.

Designed by c. Gadsen Sayre of Raleigh, North Carol ina and opened for use in 1925, Claremont High School is one of Hickory's most significant buildings. It is a three story brick structure built on an elongated H-plan. The principal, south elevation exhibits what is basically a Neo-Classical Revival design yet with much more enriched terra cotta ornamentation than is generally associated with the style... Claremont High School was opened in October 9, 1925, the third public· school in the city's school system. Built on the site of the Claremont Female College (1880-1916) it continued the educational and cultural activities long associated with the neighborhood.

(Submitted on September 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Claremont High School Site main entrance, the center entrance of the three facing 3rd Ave NE image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

4. Claremont High School Site main entrance, the center entrance of the three facing 3rd Ave NE

Marker is on the right wall near the door

Full view of Claremont High School, now the anchor building of the SALT Block image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

5. Full view of Claremont High School, now the anchor building of the SALT Block

On the right is the former Gymnasium, now the Hickory Museum of Arts. On the far left was the high school auditorium, now the arts center's Drendel Auditorium. The marker is at the center entrance to the arts and science center.

Claremont School 1925 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, September 9, 2024

6. Claremont School 1925

City of Hickory historic marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 12, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 504 times since then and 108 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 9, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.