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.
Gibson County Training School. . 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 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.
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 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
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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. Marker 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 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.
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 698 times since then and 14 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.
