Austin High School-- John T. Allan Campus
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
An ornate, red brick building at this site served as the first structure in town built for the public high school, founded in 1881. Construction of the facility was hastened when the classrooms in the former temporary State Capitol at 11th and Congress were destroyed by fire. Completed in 1900 from the plans of Bert McDonald and James Reily, “Old Red” featured a domed rotunda. As the school grew, additions were made to the original structure. Under the supervision of principal James E. Pearce, 1895-1918, an superintendent A. N. McCallum 1903-1942, Austin high school developed a quality academic program. Innovations included the John T. Allan manual training center and one of the earliest domestic arts (home economics) departments in the nation. The buildings here could no longer accommodate the growing Austin high school by 1925 and plans were made to utilize the larger junior high campus at the corner of 12th and Rio Grande. The switch was made during the Thanksgiving holidays of that year and “Old Red” became John T Allen Junior high school. Classes were held at the site until 1956, when the complex was destroyed by fire. (1981)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Austin's public high school, founded in 1881, gained its first purpose-built home here after fire destroyed its temporary quarters in the old State Capitol. Completed in 1900 with a domed rotunda, the ornate red-brick "Old Red" building housed pioneering programs, including the John T. Allan manual training center and one of the nation's earliest home economics departments. It served as a high school until 1925 and later a junior high before fire claimed it in 1956.
Why it matters
The campus traces the rise of the American public high school and its expansion beyond bookwork into vocational and domestic-arts education at the turn of the century.
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Related people
- · James E. Pearce
- · A. N. McCallum
Themes & tags
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