Jefferson in Jackson County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Martin Institute Mural
Photographed by Mark Parker, July 12, 2023
1. Martin Institute Marker
Inscription.
Martin Institute Mural. . On Nov. 20, 1818 the Georgia Assembly approved an Act calling for the formation of a coed school for Jefferson. It was called Jackson County Academy and was also called Jefferson Academy. In Dec. 1859, the charter was amended to change the name to the Martin Institute. This was done by the private endowment made by William Duncan Martin. The Martin Institute was the first privately endowed educational institute in the United States. In 1885, a fire destroyed the building. The trustees of the Martin Institute secured nine acres of land and built a brick building with a slate roof. The new Martin Institute was completed and occupied in 1886. The building had 5 classrooms on the first floor and the second floor contained rooms for music, chapel, vestibule, and new stage. Later additional rooms, columned front, dormitory, athletic and home economics buildings all were added to the campus. On the 13th of Jan. 1942, the school was destroyed again by fire; set by a student hoping to avoid going to school. The school was not rebuilt.
On Nov. 20, 1818 the Georgia Assembly approved an Act calling for the formation of a coed school for Jefferson. It was called Jackson County Academy and was also called Jefferson Academy. In Dec. 1859, the charter was amended to change the name to the Martin Institute. This was done by the private endowment made by William Duncan Martin. The Martin Institute was the first privately endowed educational institute in the United States. In 1885, a fire destroyed the building. The trustees of the Martin Institute secured nine acres of land and built a brick building with a slate roof. The new Martin Institute was completed and occupied in 1886. The building had 5 classrooms on the first floor and the second floor contained rooms for music, chapel, vestibule, and new stage. Later additional rooms, columned front, dormitory, athletic and home economics buildings all were added to the campus. On the 13th of Jan. 1942, the school was destroyed again by fire; set by a student hoping to avoid going to school. The school was not rebuilt.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical date for this entry is November 20, 1818.
Location. 34° 7.043′ N, 83° 34.454′ W. Marker is in Jefferson, Georgia, in Jackson County. It is on Randolph Street north of Lee Street (Georgia Route 15/
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82), on the left when traveling north. The mural is on the south facing wall of the building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 21 Randolph St, Jefferson GA 30549, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Piedmont. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, 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 original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
2. Martin Institute Mural. Text is off photo to the right
Credits. This page was last revised on July 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 3, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 443 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 3, 2024, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
