Thomasville Graded School

Central Recreation Center sits where Main Street School used to be. But did you know Thomasville Graded School sat on the property before Main Street School?

Erected in 1902, the city borrowed $10,000 to construct the first public school building in Thomasville. The town population had grown from 751 people in 1900 to 2500 people in 1903 due to the building of chair factories. The first Monday in January of 1903 saw a large crowd gather as the school was commissioned and education exercises commenced. The school consisted of eight classrooms, a large auditorium, two small offices, and, out back, a playground. Water was supplied from a pump on the west side of the building. Two frame houses could be found on either side of the building which housed the restrooms for the school.

Only four classrooms were used in 1903 with the other half of the school sitting empty. By 1915, all rooms were full, the auditorium was being used as classroom space, and a large addition was being built on the back of the building. The new addition doubled the size of the classroom space and provided an even larger auditorium. But all of this was outgrown by 1921, in just 6 short years. It was then a new school was planned with controversy arising.

On Good Friday of April 1922, the building was engulfed in flames and completely destroyed by fire. I try to picture what that scene looked like 99 years ago as I write this.

Thomasville Graded School is now lost to time with most of Thomasville not knowing it ever existed. Many of our parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents may have attended this school. If you're from Thomasville, take a drive by 205 E. Main Street sometime and imagine the magnificent building that used to sit there. Although a school is no longer on the property, a building sits there that still invests in our youth and community thanks to Thomasville Parks & Recreation.

Written By: Austin Hill

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