Okolona College

Okolona College
Location US 245 N, 1.1 mi N of jct. with MS 41 and MS 32, Okolona, Mississippi
Coordinates 34°1′4″N 88°45′27″W / 34.01778°N 88.75750°W / 34.01778; -88.75750Coordinates: 34°1′4″N 88°45′27″W / 34.01778°N 88.75750°W / 34.01778; -88.75750
Area 30 acres (12 ha)
Built 1929 (1929)
Architectural style Modern Movement
NRHP Reference # 02000853[1]
Added to NRHP August 9, 2002

Okolona College, also known as Okolona Industrial School, and Okolona Normal & Industrial School, was a college for African Americans in Okolona, Mississippi, Chickasaw County, Mississippi. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 9, 2002. The school is located on Mississippi Highway 245 1.1 miles north of the junction with Mississippi Highway 32 and Mississippi Highway 41. It is part of The Okolona College Historic District.[2]

The school was founded in 1902 by Wallace A. Battle and closed its doors in 1965.[3] Four campus buildings survive: Abbott Hall, McDougall Hall, the Vocational Agriculture Building and the T. D. Bratton Memorial Dormitory. A gazebo and the ruins of a dormitory also survive. Brick piers marks the three campus entrances and a neon sign marked the north entrance.[2]

Abbott Hall was built c. 1929-1930 and is a one-story brick and stucco building with seven bays and a side-gabled roof. It contained four classrooms, the school president's office a reception room, and registrar's office.

McDougatt Hall dates to c. 1931 and is a two-story painted brick building. The building's first floor contained a chapel and the chaplain's office as well as space for the business manager and dean. The second floor was used for the nurse's office and health department, science department, economics department and a guest room.[2]

Bratton Memorial Dormitory, also known as Bratton Hall, was built c. 1950s is a brick building with two wings. It was a women's dormitory and housed the school's laundry facilities and cafeteria.

The Vocational Agriculture Building was built c. 1950 and is a one-story brick building with gabled portico over brick columns. It was built on the site of the Robert Patton Library and Old Okolona Hall which burned sometime after 1945.[2]

The dormitory building was constructed c. 1950 and is a one-story brick structure.[2]

Legacy

Okolona alumni include columnist William Raspberry.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2010-07-09). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Nomination form National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service
  3. ↑ Okolona, Mississippi: A Case Study Speculating on the Possibilities

Further reading

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