Mechanic Arts High School Explained

Mechanic Arts High School
City:Saint Paul
State:Minnesota
Country:United States
Established:1911
Closed:1976
District:Saint Paul Public Schools
Classrooms:34

Mechanic Arts High School was a high school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, which operated from 1911 to 1976. The school was part of the Saint Paul Public Schools district. Located near the Rondo neighborhood, it was a prominent school for Saint Paul's black students.[1]

History

Started as the Manual Training Program at St. Paul High School in 1886, the program moved to the former Madison Elementary School building as Mechanical Arts High School. Created in response to a need for graduating students to directly enter the workforce of a rapidly industrializing United States, the school was recognized as the "first high school in the Upper Midwest to combine manual training with traditional academic curricula" for its first twenty years of operation (1896–1916).[2]

Land was purchased in 1907 for the new Mechanic Arts High School building, and construction was completed in 1911. The former locations' land was sold and the building demolished in 1914 as part of the construction of the Minnesota Historical Society Building (renamed the Minnesota Judicial Center in 1992). In 1929, land was purchased for a new gym addition that was completed in 1930.Due to a declining student population and the integration of schools, the last graduating class was in 1976 with the remaining students being consolidated between Washington Tech High School and Central High School. The building was next used to house the Open School as well as various learning centers developed to further integrate the student populous. These programs continued until the building was demolished in 1980.[3]

The M Club, the schools' athletic lettermen alumni association, still meets annually, and has awarded scholarships to local-area students for the past 70 years.[4] [2]

Notable alumni

Notable teachers

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Foundation . CultureBrokers . Paul." . Inc 2008 "Points of Entry: The African American Heritage Guide to Saint . Education and Athletic Achievement . 2023-08-22 . Saint Paul Historical . en . 2023-08-22 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230822165451/https://saintpaulhistorical.com/items/show/263 . live .
  2. Web site: 'The Best School in the City' 1896-1916: Mechanic Arts High School - Its First Twenty Years. John W.. Larson. Ramsey County Historical Society.
  3. Book: Sigvertsen, Jene T. . From Past to Present: An Inventory of Saint Paul Public School Facilities . Saint Paul Public Schools . 114–115 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061001234904/http://www.spps.org/sites/dd77441e-b117-423c-90a1-6fcbdcc68b6f/uploads/SPPSF.pdf . 2006-10-01.
  4. Web site: Mechanic Arts alumni fight to keep St. Paul high school's memory alive: 'It was a special place'. James. Walsh. Star Tribune. 2023-12-11. 2023-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211011951/https://www.startribune.com/mechanic-arts-alumni-fight-to-keep-st-paul-high-schools-memory-alive-it-was-a-special-place/600273727/. live.
  5. Web site: The Ray Jerome Baker Collection Finding Aid. MS 34. Kaua'i Historical Society Archives. March 1999. 2023-12-11. 2015-12-26. https://web.archive.org/web/20151226030648/http://kauaihistoricalsociety.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/manuscript_34.pdf. live.
  6. Web site: LaBissoniere, Horace C. (legislator profile). Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
  7. News: Walsh . James . Mechanic Arts alumni fight to keep St. Paul high school's memory alive: 'It was a special place' . 11 December 2023 . Star Tribune . May 10, 2023 . 11 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231211011949/https://www.startribune.com/mechanic-arts-alumni-fight-to-keep-st-paul-high-schools-memory-alive-it-was-a-special-place/600273727/ . live .
  8. https://www.aaa.si.edu/download_pdf_transcript/ajax?record_id=edanmdm-AAADCD_oh_212260 "Oral history interview with Ernst Halberstadt, 1979 Feb. 16"
  9. Web site: Arthur Thomas Gibbons, Sr. - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.lrl.mn.gov. 2023-12-11. 2023-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211203015/https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=12989. live.
  10. Web site: Aviator Omlie soared to success . 2009-02-14 . 2009-02-07 . Longden . Tom . Des Moines Register . https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20090423051117/http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/99999999/FAMOUSIOWANS/807270357/-1/famousiowans . 2009-04-23 . dead . Alt URL
  11. Web site: Ervin Harold Schulz - Legislator Record - Minnesota Legislators Past & Present. www.lrl.mn.gov. 2023-12-11. 2023-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20231211203014/https://www.lrl.mn.gov/legdb/fulldetail?ID=14690. live.
  12. http://www.bilkent.edu.tr/~shaw/profile.html Profile of Prof. Shaw
  13. Book: Young, Robert O. . America's Builders . Pepperdine College Press . 1952 . 1st . 1 . 1121 West Seventy.Ninth Street, Los Angeles 44, California . 2023-12-11 . 2023-10-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231003040926/https://books.google.com/books?id=Y8JRAQAAIAAJ . live .
  14. Book: Allaback, Sarah. The First American Women Architects. University of Illinois Press. 2008. 978-0-252-03321-6. Urbana and Chicago. 64–65.

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