Charleston High School (West Virginia)

Last updated
Charleston High School
Charleston High School.png
Charleston High School, Washington Street entrance. From yearbook Charlestonian, 1933, West Virginia State Archives
Location
Charleston High School (West Virginia)
1201 Washington Street East
Charleston, West Virginia 25301

Information
Former namesKanawha County High School
Type Public
Established1904
Closed1989
School districtKanawha County School District
Grades10-12
Color(s) Old Gold and Blue   
Mascot Mountain Lion

Charleston High School is a former high school that was located on the east end of Charleston, West Virginia. The school was consolidated with Stonewall Jackson High School on the west side of Charleston in 1989 to form Capital High School. Located on multiple parts throughout Charleston during its existence, the final site was on a parcel bordered by Washington Street East, Brooks Street and Lee Street, adjacent from CAMC General Hospital.

Contents

History

1818–1915

There were three Mercer Schools. Mercer Academy was built in 1818 on Quarrier and Hale Streets. The second Mercer School, constructed in 1888, was on the site of where the last Charleston High building was built. This building was used as a high school from 1888 to 1890, and then as a grade school from 1890 to 1903. The date of demolition is unknown. The Third Mercer school was built on Quarrier Street in 1903.

From 1876 to 1890, Union School was the first location which housed Kanawha County High School. With one principal, two teachers, and about 25 students, the first graduating class consisted of two women. Union School again temporarily housed Kanawha County High School in 1903. Kanawha County High School became Charleston High School a year later.

Charleston High School was moved from its first location at Union School to the third Mercer School. This was the first building constructed for the purpose of housing Charleston High School, on Quarrier Street, in 1904. In 1890, the high school was moved to the Mercer School building on Washington Street East and this building then housed Central Junior High School, Mercer Grade School, and the Board of Education. In 1970 it became a parking lot.

1916–1989

Lee Street's entry to Charleston High School, preserved on the grounds of Capital High School Charleston High Door Arches.jpg
Lee Street's entry to Charleston High School, preserved on the grounds of Capital High School

The building for Charleston High School was opened in 1904 [1] and was located on Quarrier Street just off Broad Street. This later became Mercer Elementary. The second Charleston High building was on the corner of Quarrier Street and Morris Street in downtown Charleston. It later became Thomas Jefferson Junior High School when the new building for Charleston High School was built on its final locale. The new building was on the site of the old Mercer School.

The new building was built in 1926, due to over-crowding in previous buildings. It was called "the big school." However, it also became over-crowded during the late 1930s, so Stonewall Jackson High School was built in 1940 to accommodate the students on the west side of Charleston.

As baby boom years continued, the need arose for another high school. In 1965, George Washington High School was built to accommodate the students in South Hills and Loudendale. During the 80s, the student populations at CHS and SJHS dropped. In 1989, Capital High School opened, combining the students of these two former rival schools, ending a 49-year rivalry.

Charleston High School was torn down in mid-1989 to make way for an outpatient surgery center for Charleston Area Medical Center. Stonewall Jackson High School was converted to a junior high school, which later became a middle school as it remains today.

Memorial

The present site of former Charleston High School CAMC outpatient building.jpg
The present site of former Charleston High School

During the demolition of the school building, the entry door arches that were located on the Lee Street side were preserved and moved to the campus of the new Capital High School. The last city-wide graduating class, before Stonewall Jackson High opened to ease crowding, erected the memorial.

Awards

During Charleston High's time, the school participated in the Gazette-Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival (then known as the Daily Mail). The school won the festival grand championship once in 1979 and has had seven majorettes named Miss Kanawha Majorette.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charleston, West Virginia</span> Capital city of West Virginia, U.S.

Charleston is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of West Virginia and the seat of Kanawha County. Located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers, the city had a population of 48,864 at the 2020 census and an estimated population of 48,018 in 2021. The Charleston metropolitan area had 210,605 residents in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Mason County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,453. Its county seat and largest city is Point Pleasant. The county was founded in 1804 and named for George Mason, delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Before the Civil War, the county was in the State of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kanawha County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Kanawha County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital and most populous city. Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">East Bank, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

East Bank is a town in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, situated along the Kanawha River. The population was 820 at the 2020 census. East Bank was incorporated in 1889 by special charter enacted by the West Virginia Legislature. It is so named on account of the town's location on the east side of the Kanawha River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elkview, West Virginia</span> Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States

Elkview is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,222 at the 2010 census. It is named after the Elk River, which flows into the Kanawha River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sissonville, West Virginia</span> Census-designated place in West Virginia, United States

Sissonville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States, along the Pocatalico River. The population was 4,028 at the 2010 census. Sissonville is located within 14 miles of Charleston, the state capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Charleston, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

South Charleston is a city in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is located to the west of the state capital of Charleston. The population was 13,639 at the 2020 census. It was established in 1906, but not incorporated until 1917. The Criel Mound built circa 0 B.C. by the Adena culture is adjacent to the city's downtown business district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nitro, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Nitro is a city in Kanawha and Putnam counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It takes its name from a World War I era nitrocellulose plant. The population was 6,618 according to the 2020 census. It is part of the Charleston metropolitan area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Washington High School (Charleston, West Virginia)</span> Free public school in Charleston, West Virginia

George Washington High School is a public high school in Charleston, West Virginia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia State Capitol</span> State capitol building of the U.S. state of West Virginia

The West Virginia State Capitol is the seat of government for the U.S. state of West Virginia, and houses the West Virginia Legislature and the office of the Governor of West Virginia. Located in Charleston, West Virginia, the building was dedicated in 1932. Along with the West Virginia Executive Mansion it is part of the West Virginia Capitol Complex, a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Riverside High School is the largest high school in Kanawha County, and is located in Belle, West Virginia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field</span>

The University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field is an 18,500-capacity stadium located in downtown Charleston, West Virginia, near the West Virginia State Capitol complex. It features a FieldTurf playing field for football and facilities for track and field competitions. The turf field is no longer suitable for soccer and lacrosse due to alterations to the track facilities.

South Charleston High School is a public high school in West Virginia serving grades 9 through 12. It is located south of the Kanawha River, west of the city of Charleston, in the city of South Charleston's Spring Hill neighborhood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. John's Episcopal Church (Charleston, West Virginia)</span> Historic church in West Virginia, United States

St. John's Episcopal Church is an historic Episcopal church located at 1105 Quarrier Street in Charleston, West Virginia, in the United States. On November 2, 1989, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was also listed as a contributing property in the Downtown Charleston Historic District in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital High School (Charleston, West Virginia)</span> Public secondary school in Charleston, West Virginia, United States

Capital High School is a public high school located in Charleston, West Virginia, United States created from a consolidation of Charleston High School and Stonewall Jackson High School in 1989.

The Gazette-Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival is an annual festival dedicated to the public high school marching bands and majorette corps in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It is the longest running music festival in West Virginia and is held at the University of Charleston Stadium at Laidley Field in Charleston at the end of September each year, typically the last Tuesday. The first event was held in 1947 and was attended by nearly 25,000 people. The event was originally sponsored by the Charleston Daily Mail newspaper, but is now sponsored by the Charleston Gazette-Mail after the Daily Mail merged with the Charleston Gazette in 2015. The event was not held in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2023 festival was the event's 77th anniversary and the Festival Grand Champion was Sissonville High School.

Stonewall Jackson High School is a former high school in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It opened in 1940 and closed in 1989. It was located on the West Side of Charleston, West Virginia. In 1989, Stonewall Jackson High School and Charleston High School consolidated to become Capital High School. The building is now a middle school.

Saint Albans High School is a public high school in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1909, it is located in the city of St. Albans. It is one of the eight public high schools in Kanawha County Schools. SAHS opened a newly renovated facility for the 2004 school year.

Kanawha County Schools is the operating school district within Kanawha County, West Virginia. It is governed by the Kanawha County Board of Education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland, Connecticut</span> Town in Connecticut, United States

Portland is a town in Middlesex County, Connecticut, United States. The town is part of the Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region. The population was 9,384 at the 2020 census. The town center is listed as a census-designated place (CDP). It is situated across the Connecticut River from Middletown.

References

  1. Kanawha County Images, page 308

38°20′49.8″N81°37′40.6″W / 38.347167°N 81.627944°W / 38.347167; -81.627944