1922 Mt. Jackson High School Diploma awarded to Maye G. Lytton
The school from which Maye G. Lytton graduated in 1922 had one of the shortest life spans of any such building in Shenandoah County. It had been constructed in 1920 to replace an aging structure located on the north end of town near what is now the RMH Mt. Jackson Health Center. Dr. J.I Triplett donated $25,000 and the land. However the new building would be destroyed by fire on February 14th, 1925. Along with the structure, insured for $40,000, the school’s library and many items belonging to the students were destroyed.
Mt. Jackson’s citizens were determined this disaster would not interrupt the educational process. Within a few weeks school was once again in session after classroom space had been found in various local buildings. Civic groups funded the purchase of new equipment, books, and desks.
On March 6th the school board ordered the construction of a new $44,000 building at the same site. Dr. Triplett provided over $3000 to the building fund. In honor of his donation to both building campaigns, the school board renamed the high school in his honor. This makes diplomas bearing the name “Mount Jackson High School” some of the rarest in the county.
An addition was made in 1939 to house the grade school and a gym. Triplett High School and Vocational School would operate until 1959 when Stonewall Jackson High School opened in Quicksburg. Grades K-7 were then housed at the school until new elementary schools were opened in 1977 and middle schools in 1991. After which the school was vacated. In 1994 the county donated the building to the Mt. Jackson Fire Department which demolished the older portion to build new quarters.
Stop by the Truban Archives to learn more about this item and the county’s schools.
Mt. Jackson High School Diploma, 1922. Digital Collection. Truban Archives, Shenandoah County Library, Edinburg, Virginia.