Abandoned school in Tennessee before fire

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The Leroy Pope Elementary School (now known as Grant School or Grant/Pope School) is a good local example of a Classical Revival-influenced building designed by B. C. Alsup and as an example of a school the reflected the tremendous population growth in Memphis between 1912 and 1930.

As Peggy Jemison explains in Greenlaw Rediscovered, the school building was built in 1912 at 190 Chelsea Avenue and named Leroy Pope School. White children attended it, and African American children attended Grant School at the corner of Auction Avenue and North Seventh Street. Hurt Village, a public housing project for whites, was built in 1953 on property adjacent to Grant School. Therefore, African American children were attending school next to the white housing project and white children were attending school several blocks away. In 1952 the Memphis School Board recommended that Pope and Grant Schools be swapped in order to "serve much better the boys and girls in this area of the city," (Jemison quotes Memphis Board of Education minutes of June 2, 1959). The schools swapped students, faculty, equipment, books and furniture. The names of the buildings were swapped so the school organizations, not the buildings, retained their names. In September 1960 Pope School in Chelsea had been renamed Grant and African American children were in attendance, and the school adjacent to Hurt Village had been changed from Grant to Pope and was attended by white children.

Building Description

The Leroy Pope School was constructed in 1912 with subsequent additions in 1921 (classrooms), 1930 (auditorium), and 1961 (classrooms). The 1961 addition is set away from the older structure and reflects some of its design details.

The three-story brick building is a Classical Revival-influenced building with a rusticated first story, a string course above the first story, and a flat roof with a prominent modillioned entablature below the tall parapet and flat roof. The windows are primarily two over two with cast stone sills. Some of the windows are grouped and are surmounted by a two-light transom. The 1921 addition reflects the design and materials of the original building and thus complements it. Like the original building, the 1921 addition is three stories tall with a cast stone foundation, rusticated first story, cast stone string course above the first story, two-over-two double-hung wood sash windows with cast stone sills, a prominent modillioned entablature, tall parapet and flat roof.

The 1930 auditorium addition (or "cafetorium") is behind the main buildings and is not visible from the street because of the main building and because of the steep grade of the lot. This addition is simple in design. It is a one-story five-bay brick veneer construction with raised parapet; the windows are obscured.

The 1961 classroom addition at the eastern end of the property is distinguished from the 1921 wing by a recessed three-story projection that serves aS a connector. The 1961 addition is two stories tall and is set back some twenty feet from the line of the front facades of the 1912 and 1921 sections. This addition continues the use of the cast stone foundation and string course at the same height as the 1912 and 1921 sections. This addition has horizontal sections of hopper-style windows.

The interior of Grant School is utilitarian. The walls in the 1912, 1921, and 1930 sections are smooth painted plaster with a chair rail. The floors are composition tile and the ceiling is plaster covered by circa 1960 flush-mounted acoustical tile. Steam radiators have been retained but the original light fixtures have been replaced with circa 1960 drop-mounted aluminum-frame fixtures with fluorescent tubes.

On the first floor, centered in the hall at the west end of the 1912 section, is a cast iron staircase with three-part newel posts, capital, fluted shaft and base. The banister is comprised of a repetitive molded four-part rectangle capped by a rail. At landings between stories, the staircase splits.

The first floor of the 1912 section has restrooms on the north side of the hall, on either side of the boiler room. The second and third floors both have classrooms on the north side of the hall. The entry doors to the classrooms are a single light over two panels. The transoms (operable) are three vertical lights. The interiors of the classrooms have an end wall with blackboard and built-in cabinets with paneled doors.

On the second and third floors between the split staircases are elevated windowed alcoves. The building plan indicates that these were used as classrooms.

The interior of the 1921 addition reflects the design and interior finishes of the original building. This addition contains three classrooms on each of the three floors.

The 1930 addition houses the "cafetorium". When this addition was made, the classroom on the north side of the first floor of the 1921 section was converted to a kitchen facility. At the north end of the cafetorium is a raised bow-front stage flanked by paneled pilasters.

The interior of the 1961 addition is similar to the early additions yet reflects the use of modern materials. The walls are concrete block, the ceiling is acoustical tile and the floor is composition tile. Both sides of the hall on the two floors are lined with classrooms. The classroom entries have slab doors with a small light. Fixed clerestory windows are found along the upper wall of the halls.

Front (south) elevation. Main entrance is at steps at left. Steps at right lead to entrance at auditorium (1992)

Front (south) elevation, looking northwest. Shows relationship of the 1961 addition (at right) to the older buildings (1992)

West side elevation. One-story auditorium at left (1992)

Rear elevation, looking southeast. This is rear of 1912 building, with west side of the one-story auditorium at left, windows obscured (1992)

Rear elevation, looking southwest. This is rear of 1921 addition (three stories, in center), east side of auditorium at right, part of rear of 1961 addition at left (1992)

Auditorium and stage (1992)

Stair leading from first to second floor (1992)

Stair at west end of 1912 structure (1992)

Second floor hallway (1992)

Typical classroom doorways (1992)

Classroom detail, built in cabinets, old radiators, "Saloon doors" at left lead into cloakroom (all features typical) (1992)

Typical windowed alcove on second and third floors (1992)

Hallway in 1961 addition (1992)