Troy in Pike County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Academy Street High School
Side 1
On May 9, 1921, S.B. Innis, C.L. Jenkins, James Henderson, Pres Thomas and C.B. Brooks, the “colored school committee,” entered into a school mortgage for the construction of a building for “colored school purposes” on East Academy Street. The debt of $3,028.89 was "satisfied in full" on July 18, 1922, whereupon the City of Troy assumed ownership.
Beginning with two grades, one teacher, and a term of seventy-two days in a two-room dwelling, by 1927, the school had become a junior high school with six teachers and six classrooms. Administrators of this period included Mr. John Wiley, Mr. Floyd, Mr. C.L. Jenkins, Mrs. F.M. Innis, and Mr. S.T. Wilson, the first principal.
Mr. A.J. Fields became principal in 1926. His twenty-two years of leadership saw the addition of an auditorium, new programs of Diversified Occupation and Home Economics, and elevation of the school to senior high-school status.
Mr. C.C. Griffin was principal from 1948 to 1966. During his administration, the school was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, courses of study were expanded to include vocational agriculture and typing, and an emphasis was placed on band and choir performances. The physical plant saw the addition of an agriculture building and a modern gymnasium.
The school was last under the administration of Mr. John E. Nolen, from 1966 to 1971, during which time two of the school's three yearbooks were published. The last graduating class was in 1970 with the transition from Academy Street to Charles Henderson High School in January 1971.
Erected 2014 by the Alabama Historical Association.
Location. 31° 48.552′ N, 85° 57.78′ W. Marker is in Troy, Alabama, in Pike County. Marker is at the intersection of East Academy Street and Farrior Street, on the left when traveling east on East Academy Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 730 E Academy St, Troy AL 36081, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Historic Troy Post Office (approx. 0.4 miles away); Pike County WWI Memorial (approx. half a mile away); First United Methodist Church (approx. half a mile away); Confederate Memorial (approx. half a mile away); Three Notch Road (approx. half a mile away); Chancellor's Residence (approx. 0.6 miles away); Janice Hawkins Park (approx. 0.6 miles away); Violata Pax Dove (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Troy.
Also see . . . Troy Messenger newspaper article about school. (Submitted on September 1, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)
Categories. • African Americans • Education •
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 1, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 313 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 1, 2014, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.