Vinson B. Smith Sites

Moss Point, Mississippi's Charlotte Hyatt Elementary School was constructed during the Great Depression with the assistance of federal funds. The "one-story building with brick and white mortar, cast stone, seven classrooms, an auditorium, a clinic room, an office and a boiler room" (Watson, nd) began construction after approval of Public Works Administration (PWA) funds. Moss Point issued $40,000 in school bonds and PWA provided the remainder of funds.

The 1937-38 ART Moderne administration building for Hurley School was Public Works Administration project 1247. The town received a loan for $16,500 and a grant for $13, 167, approved 8/12/1937. The contract was awarded 11/23/1937, construction started 12/15/1937 and completed 8/29/1938. the architect was Vinson B. Smith, Jr.

Public Works Administration W1205 funded construction of a two-story brick Neo-Classical dormitory for what was then known as Harrison-Stone-Jackson Junior College. A loan of $64,000 and a grant of $52,364 toward the total estimated cost of $116,364 was approved 8/26/1936. Construction began 3/16/1937 and was completed 3/24/1938 at a total cost of $117,473. Architect was Vinson B. Smith, Jr. and the builder/contractor was Newton & Schmoll. It contains 62 rooms and was the only major structure built on the campus during the Great Depression. Historic renovations were made in 1974, and renovations and remodeling for a board room addition was...

One of two new schools built with Public Works Administration (PWA) funds, the two schools combined were constructed for about $205,500, with PWA providing 45% of the funds (New Schools to be Opened Tonight, 1937). The school contained an auditorium to seat 498. It was demolished circa 1999.

The Industrial Consolidated School building was PWA project 3003 approved Dec. 28, 1933. Construction started May 22, 1934 and was completed Aug. 3, 1934. PWA supplied a loan of $10,000 and grant of $4, 182. The county voted school bonds to pay for the building, designed by architect Vinson B. Smith, Jr. Horace Stansel was the federal engineer for Mississippi projects. Contractor Pat Fowler delayed occupation of the building until the PWA portion of the funds were delivered.

One of two schools constructed with 45% funding from Public Works Administration, the West Ward school had 16 rooms and a capacity in each for 40-45 students. A library/conference room was upstairs. The two buildings constructed at the same time by the same architects and builders cost a total of about $205,500. The building was demolished in 1994.