Atkins High School (North Carolina)
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Atkins High School (former)
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| Location | 1215 N. Cameron Ave., Winston-Salem, North Carolina |
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| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Area | 15.1 acres (6.1 ha) |
| Built | 1931 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP Reference # | 99001618[1] |
| Added to NRHP | December 30, 1999 |
Atkins High School located at Winston-Salem, Forsyth County, North Carolina, was dedicated on April 2, 1931, as a facility for “Negro children”. The building, equipment and grounds were valued at that time at $400,000. This was paid primarily by the city, with a grant of $50,000 from the Rosenwald Fund.[2]
History
Julius Rosenwald was a president of Sears Roebuck who was noted for supporting black schools throughout the south. The first principal was John Carter, who had previously been a professor at Winston-Salem Teacher’s College. He continued as principal until 1959. The school curriculum included both an academic track for those students intending to go on to college, and a vocational track for those intending to start work immediately.
Dr. Simon Green Atkins came to Winston-Salem from Raleigh, North Carolina, where he graduated from St. Augustine Normal and Collegiate Institute (now St. Augustine's College). In 1890, he accepted the position of principal of Depot Street School in Winston-Salem. Dr. Atkins was the organizer, secretary, and agent of the board that started Slater Industrial Academy in 1892, now Winston–Salem State University. Dr. Atkins served as principal of Slater on a part-time basis for the first two years of its existence, while he continued his work as principal of Depot Street School. As Slater Industrial Academy grew, the demands upon Dr. Atkins' leadership and direction increased. In 1895, he resigned his position at Depot Street School to devote himself entirely to Slater Academy.[2]
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.[1]
The Atkins name was transferred to a new building housing the Simon G. Atkins Academic & Technology High School in September 2006.
Notable alumni
- William Bell (1957) - Mayor of Durham, North Carolina.[3]
- Carl Eller - Minnesota Vikings.
- Happy Hairston - Los Angeles Lakers.
- Togo D. West, Jr. (1959) - Secretary of the Army, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
- Nadine Winter - Member of the District of Columbia Council
- Larry W. Womble - Member of the North Carolina State House of Representatives.
- Lawrence Joel - United States Army Medal Of Honor Recipient.
- Herman Gilliam - Atlanta Hawks,Seattle SuperSonics and Portland Trail Blazers.
- Willie William Porter - Cincinnati Royals.
- Talmadge L. Hill - Buffalo Bills.
- William Edmond McKoy - Denver Broncos.
References
External links
- African-American history of North Carolina
- School buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina
- Neoclassical architecture in North Carolina
- School buildings completed in 1931
- High schools in Winston-Salem, North Carolina
- Rosenwald schools in North Carolina
- Defunct schools in North Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places in Forsyth County, North Carolina
