Southern High School (Baltimore)

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Southern Senior High School in South Baltimore, Maryland, was built in 1910 and received an addition in 1926. It was located on the "Southeast corner of Warren Avenue and William Street." The building was constructed of brick and was constructed on a 2.45 acre site. The building contained one auditorium, three gymnasiums, one cafeteria (capacity 500), one library, six shops, six home education rooms, one laboratory, and a total of forty-four classrooms.

In 1955, "Mayor D Alesandro broke ground" on the expansion to "accommodate 600 new" students in conjunction with the 1800 that were already attending the school. This renovation cost just over $2 million dollars. "The new facilities, which [were] expected to be completed by fall [1955] include : 8 regular classrooms, 1 double classroom, 5 new art rooms, 8 commercial classrooms for typing and business machines, 3 music rooms, 3 shops--machine, print and auto mechanic." This allowed the school to thrive while the city continued to grow.

By 1976, when the school had outgrown its capacity, Baltimore City Public School System officials deemed it necessary to erect a new Southern Senior High School. The building was expected to take about two years and it would be capable of holding 2,400 students. The state provided $11.7 million for the project although it was estimated to cost around $17 million. The new facility was located "in the 1100 block Covington St." and was opened to the students in 1978.

The old building was destroyed in September 1981 to begin construction on "condominium and apartment complex." The new building still remains but the school changed names and academic focus in 2002 becoming Digital Harbor High School.

[edit] References

Peter Buehl,"Firm of 'advocates' cuts school cost," Sun, Dec 12, 1976

News American,"Southern students, merchants to reschedule summit," News American, November 27, 1978

Sun,"Old Southern is on road to becoming Battery Place," Sun, September 13, 1981

Sun,"$2-Million School Dream Nears Reality," Sun, July 6, 1956

City of Baltimore Department of Education Bureau of research, School Plant Directory, by John L. Stenquist. City of Baltimore Department of Education Bureau of research, September 1, 1952