I was over at the Jackson Cemetery looking for grave markers for Find A Grave, a website that runs requests for photos of stones for people doing genealogical work and the like. When I got to the west end, I noticed that Jackson High School was a lot bigger than it was when I worked at The Jackson Pioneer.
Science / Mathematics Building
I was encouraged to see a building devoted to science and mathematics. A newly-built high school in town that shall be nameless seems to have plenty of facilities for athletics, including a new football field, but the emphasis didn’t appear to be on academics.
Old building looks well-maintained
I know I must have been in the building lots of times when working for The Pioneer, but I can’t picture what the inside looks like.
Jackson’s stadium a federal stimulus program
Jackson High School’s football stadium was one of the WPA’s projects designed to put people back to work during the Depression. It was built in 1938. It’s amazing how many Cape County buildings were built under those stimulus projects. They might have been make-work jobs, but they’ve provided a lot of value to the community over the last three-quarters of a century. Jackson’s swimming pool, also built in 1938, was another WPA program.
Acres of parking lots
Here’s a view of the school from the west showing acres of parking. Contrast that with the aerial photos of the school I took in the 1960s.
Jackson High School Photo Gallery
Click on any photo to make it larger, then click on the left or right side to move through the gallery.
I remember every square inch of that building. I was there from 7th grade through senior year. Back then the junior high students were thrown in with the senior high. I learned a lot from upper classmen.
Still one of the best stadiums in the state to go for a football game – even as the visiting team, it is quite an experience. I’m pretty sure they use to have a track around the field which they no longer do. Anyone have the correct info on that?
I ran on that track in the 60s for the CHS Track team. I remember black cinders and ruts.
Thanks for the great photos–I spent much of my youth at the gym (coach’s offices), stadium & original HS building. I agree with Stephanie…great environment on Friday evenings. Yes, there was a black cinder track around the field and the stadium served as the site for Jackson Track meets up until the current track was installed behind the Jr. High School (probably around 1980).
I loved that old school (1948-52)and was Class President in my senior year. I competed for grades with a cute little brunette from Gordonville, Shirley Sander, and beat her out for valedictorian by a few tenths of a grade point. She decided not to compete further and we were married in 1955. Now we are retired in College Station, Texas, with children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren — all of whom have heard countless stories about the good old days in Jackson High School!
You know they are getting ready to tear down the old, original high school building. Crying shame.
I didn’t know that. I’ll have to get there before the bulldozers do.