AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUILDING REVIVAL
O. W. Dillon Memorial High School
Tangipahoa Parish
The origins of this school trace back to 1911, when its predecessor, Tangipahoa Parish Training School, opened its doors, which was the first vocational school for Black students in the nation. The old dormitory building on the school's campus was built in the 1920s, and housed dozens -- at one point, as many as a hundred -- girls and female teachers. It remained a dormitory until 1951, when the building was converted into classroom space. Tangipahoa Parish Training School was open until 1955, and for much of that time, it was under the leadership of Oliver Wendell Dillon. He was responsible for raising money to construct new buildings, and purchased additional acreage to expand Tangipahoa Parish Training School’s offerings. In 1955, the extant mid-century brick building opened on the site, named O. W. Dillon Memorial High School in honor of the professor. 14 years later in 1969 with integration, O. W. Dillon High School became Kentwood Elementary School. In 2013, the elementary school moved to a brand new building on the I-55 Service Road, and left the former O. W. Dillon Memorial High School campus vacant. The current owner, entrepreneur Collis Temple, Sr., is an alumnus of the high school who went on to play professional basketball with the NBA. He plans to preserve and revitalize the school campus.
O. W. Dillon Memorial High School
OPENED: 1955
CLOSED: 1969
OTHER NAMES OF SCHOOL: Tangipahoa Parish Training School, O. W. Dillon Colored Training School, O. W. Dillon High School for Negroes, Kentwood Elementary School
OTHER USES/CURRENT USE: Vacant
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 80,000 sf
PROPERTY OWNER: Collis Temple
