Milan in Gibson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Gibson County Training School

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 7, 2013

1. Gibson County Training School Marker

Inscription. The historic Training school for Negroes was constructed in 1926 with $2,500 required donations from the Milan Negro citizens, $16,000 of public school funds, and $1,500 from the Julius Rosenwald Fund. Tuskegee Institute Principal Booker T. Washington and Philanthropist Julius Rosenwald had partnered to help build public schools for southern Negro students. The building was a six teacher Rosenwald Fund plan with four large classrooms, office, industrial training room, and auditorium with bathrooms for grades 1-10. The 11th grade was added in 1928 and 12th grade in 1929. Gibson County Training School's first graduating class in May 1930 had Negro students from Milan and surrounding towns. Additions to the original building included; North wing in 1942, 1953, and by 1961; South wing 1942 and 1958; gymnasium 1951; 1955; building trades room 1960; band room 1964; and southeast wing in 1967 including a 15 acre parcel. Gibson County Training School was renamed Polk - Clark High School in 1961 and the last high school graduation was in May 1970. From August 1970 - February 1996, Polk - Clark School housed all Milan K - 2 elementary

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students. The GCTS / Polk - Clark High School Alumni Association, Inc. (chartered in October 1995) represents all former educators, students, graduates, and their heirs. On August 2, 1996, the Milan City Board Deeded the building and land to the GCTS / PCHS Alumni Association, Inc. The Association charted The Milan Polk - Clark Enrichment Center on April 1, 1998. On March 12, 2012, Gibson County Training School was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by The National Park Service of the U. S. Department of Interior.

Erected 2013 by Gibson County Training School / Polk - Clark High School Alumni Association "Trailblazers".

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Education. In addition, it is included in the Rosenwald Schools series list. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1996.

Location. 35° 54.893′ N, 88° 46.109′ W. Marker is in Milan, Tennessee, in Gibson County. It is at the intersection of Harris Street and Jackson Street, on the left when traveling north on Harris Street. From Northbound on Harris street, turn left onto Jackson street, the school

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 7, 2013

2. Gibson County Training School Marker

drive, drive toward doors on right, marker can be seen on the right about 50 yards. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Milan TN 38358, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep 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 Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Gibson County Training School / Polk - Clark School (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); U.S. Post Office (approx. 0.7 miles away); Civil War Memorial - Milan, Tennessee (approx. one mile away); Milan Veterans War Memorial (approx. 2 miles away); Gordon Browning Boyhood Home (approx. 2.6 miles away); Carroll County / Gibson County (approx. 5.1 miles away); Gibson County (approx. 5.1 miles away); Gordon Browning

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 7, 2013

3. Gibson County Training School Marker

(approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Milan.

Gibson County Training School / PCHS image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ken Smith, September 7, 2013

4. Gibson County Training School / PCHS

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2013, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,374 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 7, 2013, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.