AFRICAN AMERICAN SCHOOL BUILDING REVIVAL
St Matthew High School
Nachitoches Parish
Located in rural Louisiana off of the Cane River and about three miles from the Melrose Plantation, St. Matthew High School found its start as a “church school” in 1916 in St. Matthew (Baptist) Church. Construction began on the school building in 1939 as a three-room wood structure, and as enrollment increased over the years a “modern brick school” was built and completed in 1951. This school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and according to this document, the architects were Peyton & Bosworth of Shreveport, Louisiana. For some time St. Matthew High School was the only school for people of color in this rural location. The next-nearest high school was Central High School, about 25 miles away. Up until 1989, the school operated and served the community of Melrose and was considered a very fine school
by the community members. The property and school is now owned by the St. Matthew School Community Association, Inc., after it was donated by the Natchitoches Parish School Board in 2003.
St Matthew High School
OPENED: 1952
CLOSED: 1989
OTHER NAMES OF SCHOOL: N/A
OTHER USES/CURRENT USE: Vacant
SQUARE FOOTAGE: 15,700 sf
PROPERTY OWNER: St. Matthew School Community Association, Inc.
