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Central School Collection |
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1888 - present 2.27 linear feet Collection Number 235
Prepared by Kathie Bordelon CITATION: The Central School Collection No. 235, Box number,
Folder number,
Archives and Special Collections Department Historical Sketch Located at 809 Kirby Street in Lake Charles, Central School’s cornerstone was laid with Masonic ceremonies on October 18, 1912. It replaced the original Central and High School, a wooden frame structure built in 1889. Central School was built during the administration of Superintendent E. S. Jenkins, who served in that capacity from 1907-1914. The teaching faculty at that time included: Helen Wentz, May Wemp, Rosamond Smith, Ruth Williams, Ethel Sharp, Leila Scarlett, Annie Mae Moore, Babette Block, Eleanor Cook, May Breazeale, Easther Gaunt, G. H. Gilbeau, and Florence Wickizer. The building was operated as a school until 1976, when it housed School Board administrative offices. In 1986, the building was leased to the Calcasieu Arts and Humanities Council. However, it was closed by the fire marshal during Mayor Jim Sudduth’s administration. Lake Charles voters passed a quarter-cent sales tax to fund a $1.85 million renovation of the structure into a cultural and arts center. The Calcasieu Preservation Society led the drive to pass the tax. (Taken from the Lake Charles American Press, October 11, 1998, article by Mike Jones.) Built in 1912 by noted New Orleans architects Favrot and Livaudais, Central School is now a cornerstone in the Historic Charpentier District of Downtown Lake Charles. Central School underwent extensive renovations in the early 1990s to become Central School Arts and Humanities Center. Home to visual artists, theatre groups, musicians, galleries, museums, and non-profit organizations, as well as the Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana, Central School is a place for learning, growing, and exploring – a cultural anchor in the heart of Lake Charles. In 1992, this beloved landmark was closed by order of the Fire Marshall. It did not take long for the community to rally to the rescue of one of its most valued historic buildings. The citizens of Lake Charles voted to collect a special sales tax to raise monies needed for Central’s restoration. In 1993, over $2 million was raised for the project, with renovations completed by the Fall of 1997. On October 1 of that year, Central School Arts and Humanities Center officially opened its doors to the public. (Taken from Old Central School 1912: The Centerpiece of Lake Charles’ Charpentier District, a brochure produced by the Arts and Humanities Council, supported by a grant from the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism’s Office of Cultural Development, Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation.) Scope and Content Note The collection contains various items relating to Central School, primarily in the 1940s-1950s. Included are student newspapers, photographs of students and faculty, some miscellaneous certificates, programs, report cards, and correspondence. The collection also includes information on the history and restoration of the building. Container List
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