Meridian Sites

The auditorium for Chalk School was constructed in 1936 by the Works Progress Administration. Architect Penn Jeffries Krouse designed the addition to the school. It has most recently operated as the Calvary Christian School.

In 1936, the WPA added a rear auditorium and cafeteria to the East End Italianate/Craftsman school originally constructed in 1888.

The station was begun in the 1931 as a fruit and vegetable research station. From 1933-1935, the site was expanded and new buildings constructed. The buildings were built by Public Works Administration from 1933 to 1935 with an allotment of $96,350. Funds were provided by Public Works under the National Industrial Recovery Act. The purpose of the allotment was fruit and vegetable disease research and auxiliary buildings devoted to sugar cane research. The Administration Office and Laboratory were built in 1933. After a new two-story brick and stucco administration building and laboratory was constructed 1935, the first administration office was...

The Frank Berry Courts were constructed 1939 through the United States Housing Authority. The complex included 95 buildings, 113 dwelling units, of which 77 were 1-family attached units, 36 were 2-family attached units. Most were 5-room units, but some were 4 room and 6 rooms. The buildings were completely rehabilitated and modernized in 2011 through the Department of Housing and Urban Development funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The two-story red-brick former gymnasium was constructed by the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works (later the PWA) in 1936-1937. It retains its original massing and pedimented parapet. It was renovated in 1964 to become a first floor library and second floor science laboratories/classroom space.

Harris High School for African Americans was completed in 1938 with PWA funding that also constructed the Meridian High School, gymnasium, and vocational buildings. Harris High School was smaller and less elaborate than Meridian High School, and contained no additional buildings. The site is now occupied by T.J. Harris Upper Elementary School, and while some 1950s buildings remain, all of the PWA buildings have been demolished.

The auditorium annex to the Highland School, originally constructed in 1907, was completed by the WPA in 1936. It was destroyed in 1986.

Highway Village was built as white public housing. Construction began in December 1939 and was completed January 1941 using United States Housing Authority funding. The triplex units are still extant.

Architects P. J. Krouse and L. L. Brasfield substantially redesigned the historic Lauderdale County courthouse, a 1905 Beaux Arts building originally designed by Krouse, and "transformed into an Art Deco structure" (Ford, 2004). The traditional features, including a dome, cupola, and classic portico were removed and additions of a 3-story setback tower with curved walls enhanced both space and architectural design. The Public Works Administration provided a grant of $127,147 and the county issued a $140,000 bond to fund the project as Mississippi W 1182. It was completed December 4, 1939.

Magnolia Homesteads was one of five Division of Subsistence Homesteads begun in Mississippi in 1934. It was an industrial community of 25 units located in Meridian, intended to combine part-time wage work with part-time farming or gardening. By the time the Division of Subsistence Homesteads was abolished in 1935, none of the projects had been completed, and were absorbed into the Resettlement Administration (Roth). The cost was $2,942 per unit (National New Deal Preservation Association). Farm Security Administration photographs taken in 1935 and 1936 show completed units for the Meridian homestead community.

The "Stripped Classic, Art Moderne" (Mississippi Department of Archives and History) 2 story brick with limestone trim building was completed for a construction cost of $591,489 and project cost of $688,195 (Short & Stanley-Brown, 1939, p. 216). The project also included a separate gym, which was converted into a library in 1964, and Ray Stadium, the adjoining sports field. The school is still a functioning high school. From contributor Susan Allen: Ray Stadium features "two steel-reinforced concrete stadium bleachers facing each other are set in a man-made slope. The bleachers are supported at the rear by concrete columns attached with segmental...

Mountain View Village was begun as a white housing complex, one of four low rent housing projects. Contracts were awarded in January 1940.

Two steel-reinforced concrete stadium bleachers facing each other are set in a man-made slope. The bleachers are supported at the rear by concrete columns attached with segmental arches.

The Art Moderne vocational school was constructed as part of the Meridian High School Complex. Construction was completed by the National Youth Administration, and the engineers were Gardner and Howe.

With WPA support, architects Krouse & Bradfield designed additions of classrooms, auditorium, and lunchroom for the 1888 South Side School.

Meridian voters approved a $200,000 bond issue for improving the water works in 1939. It was projected to begin July that year and provide employment for 300 men for a year. Improvements were proposed to include “new five-million-gallon reservoir on the hills south of Meridian, Gravity flow through a new 24-inch main to the downtown section. Several new 16-inch mains to major outlying districts of the city. At least one addition to the pumping station to increase capacity. Adequate pressure to decrease fire hazards” (1939, p. 9). Although they had expected to receive a federal grant of $100,000 toward the cost,...