The Southeast Alabama Agricultural School / First Free Secondary School

The Southeast Alabama Agricultural School / First Free Secondary School (HM1D1Y)

Location: Abbeville, AL 36310 Henry County
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Country: United States of America
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N 31° 34.037', W 85° 15.12'

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Inscription
Side 1
The Southeast Alabama Agricultural School

This school and experiment station was created by Alabama Legislative Act No. 579, February 28, 1889. This was the first school in Alabama to offer free secondary education. SAAS was also the state's and Auburn's first junior college. Probate Judge John B. Ward is known as the "father of the college". He lobbied for a two story brick building which finally was completed in 1898. The first 1889 classes were held at The Abbeville Academy until the main building was completed. Later, similar wooden structure schools were established in each congressional district.

Side 2
First Free Secondary School

SAAS opened September 16, 1889 at The Abbeville Academy. Abbeville was referred to as "the educational center of the southeastern United States" by the Abbeville Times. Renowned Lawrenceville Academy headmaster Joseph A. Espy was the first president of the "agriculture college". Local homes boarded the students from five counties and three states. The school had 227 students during the 1890 commencement, with graduating exercises lasting four days at the new brick courthouse on the square. Several name changes have occurred since its founding. In 1943, Abbeville Secondary Agriculture School became Abbeville High School.
Details
HM NumberHM1D1Y
Tags
Year Placed1990
Placed ByThe Historic Chattahoochee Commission and the Henry County Historical Society
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Saturday, October 4th, 2014 at 4:30pm PDT -07:00
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Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16R E 665890 N 3493798
Decimal Degrees31.56728333, -85.25200000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 31° 34.037', W 85° 15.12'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds31° 34' 2.22" N, 85° 15' 7.20" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)334
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 300 N Trawick St, Abbeville AL 36310, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

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