Perhaps in celebration of the fourth centennial of the discovery of America, the public-spirited people of Gainesville, represented by a board of education elected by the people, by resolution established for the young people of Gainesville a two-grade high school in 1892.

This board elected as Superintendent, Professor R. E. Park, who now holds the Chair of English at the University of Georgia. Under the able management of Professor Park and the teachers associated with him, the school flourished and soon ranked among the best high schools of the State. It is gratifying to know that Gainesville was among the first towns in the State to establish a high school.

The first graduating class was the class of 1894. It was composed of thirteen members, six young ladies and seven young men.

In 1912 an eleventh grade was added, this completing the four-year course required by the best high-school systems throughout the State.

Twenty-eight years after the founding of the High School, the citizens of Gainesville decided to erect a building having all the modern conveniences. Bonds were issued; and the building. started in 1920, was finished in 1921.

In 1922 our high school was placed on the Southern and the Northern lists of accredited high schools. This recognition entitles our graduates to enter any college in the United States without examination.

We now have twelve teachers, nearly three hundred pupils, a science department, and a domestic science department.

--MARY DUNLAP MITCHELL
1923 Radiator Yearbook
 

Mary Dunlap Mitchell was in the Junior(B) class at the time she wrote the above article for the 1923 Radiator Yearbook. Her reference to "a building having all the modern conveniences" refers to the building pictured above and on our home page. This building served as Gainesville High School from 1921 until 1957 when it was replaced by a new structure on Century Place.
It survived the Tornado of 36 even though most everything around it was destroyed. The gymnasium, which was under construction at that time, did suffer damage.
From 1957 till 1966-67, the building served as a Junior High School, then this architectural classic was demolished to make way for a parking lot. The gymnasium (GYM of 36) still remains as an office complex.

(Information Courtesy of Gabriel McClure and Doris Waggoner)