Mechanic Arts High School

For the former Mechanic Arts High School in Boston, Massachusetts, see John D. O'Bryant School of Mathematics & Science. For the former Mechanics Arts High School in Buffalo, New York, see Hutchinson Central Technical High School.

School in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States

Mechanic Arts High School

Mechanic Arts High School in approximately 1928

Location

Saint Paul

Minnesota

United States

Information
Established| 1911
Closed| 1976
School district| Saint Paul Public Schools
Classrooms| 34

Mechanic Art's High School was a high school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, which operated from 1911 to 1976. The school was part of the Saint Paul Public Schools district. Located near the Rondo neighborhood, it was a prominent school for Saint Paul's black students. [1]

## History[edit]

Started as the Manual Training Program at St. Paul High School in 1886, the program moved to the former Madison Elementary School building as Mechanical Arts High School. Land was purchased in 1907 for the new Mechanic Arts High School building, and construction was completed in 1911. The former locations land was sold and the building demolished in 1914 as part of the construction of the Minnesota Historical Society Building (renamed the Minnesota Judicial Center in 1992). In 1929, land was purchased for a new gym addition that was completed in 1930.

The Minnesota Judicial Center, built on the first location of Mechanic Arts

Due to a declining student population and the integration of schools, the last graduating class was in 1976 with the remaining students being consolidated between Washington Tech High School and Central High School. The building was used to house the Open School as well as the learning centers, which was developed to integrate the student populous. These programs continued until the building was demolished in 1980.[2]

## Notable alumni[edit]

* Ray Jerome Baker, photographer and filmmaker[3]
* Horace LaBissoniere, American football player and Minnesota politician[4]
* Harry Blackmun, United States Supreme Court Justice[5]
* Milton Halberstadt, photographer[6]
* Arthur T. Gibbons, Minnesota legislator[7]
* Phoebe Omlie,early female aviator[8]
* Ervin Harold Schulz, Minnesota legislator[9]
* Mabel Seeley, mystery writer
* Stanford J. Shaw, historian[10]
* Joe Shiely Sr, construction contractor[11]
* William Bushnell Stout, automotive and aviation engineer
* Roy Wilkins, civil rights activist[5]
* Fredrick Arthur Willius, cardiologist

## Notable teachers[edit]

* Mary Colter, architect and designer[12]

## References[edit]

1. ^ Foundation, CultureBrokers; Paul.", Inc 2008 "Points of Entry: The African American Heritage Guide to Saint. "Education and Athletic Achievement". Saint Paul Historical. Retrieved 2023-08-22.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
2. ^ Sigvertsen, Jene T. From Past to Present: An Inventory of Saint Paul Public School Facilities (PDF). Saint Paul Public Schools. pp. 114–115. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2006-10-01.
3. ^ "The Ray Jerome Baker Collection Finding Aid" (PDF). MS 34. Kaua'i Historical Society Archives. March 1999.
4. ^ "LaBissoniere, Horace C. (legislator profile)". Minnesota Legislative Reference Library.
5. ^ a b Walsh, James (May 10, 2023). "Mechanic Arts alumni fight to keep St. Paul high school's memory alive: 'It was a special place'". Star Tribune. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
6. ^ "Oral history interview with Ernst Halberstadt, 1979 Feb. 16",Smithsonian Institution, Reference Department, Archives of American Art, Washington. D.C.
7. ^ Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Arthuur Thomas Gibbons Sr.
8. ^ Longden, Tom (2009-02-07). "Aviator Omlie soared to success". Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2009-02-14. Alt URL
9. ^ Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-Ervin Harold Schulz
10. ^ Profile of Prof. Shaw Archived 17 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine. Bilkent University. Accessed 9 June 2011.
11. ^ Young, Robert O. (1952). America's Builders. Vol. 1 (1st ed.). 1121 West Seventy.Ninth Street, Los Angeles 44, California: Pepperdine College Press.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
12. ^ Allaback, Sarah (2008). The First American Women Architects. Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press. pp. 64–65. ISBN 978-0-252-03321-6.