Birmingham High School

Birmingham's Central High School, also known as Birmingham High School, originated in the first high-school level classes given at the Free School which was established in 1873 by John T. Terry and James Powell. In 1883 other lower schools were constructed, allowing the Free School to focus on high school classes.

The first dedicated building for a Birmingham High School was built in 1906 on the site of Terry's home on 7th Avenue North. It was renamed Central High School following the Greater Birmingham annexation of 1910.

The school burned to the ground in 1918. Students attended classes at the Paul Hayne School and the Medical College of Alabama until a new high school could be completed. In 1923 Central High School was replaced by Phillips High School, named for John H. Phillips, superintendent of Birmingham schools from 1883 to 1921.

Principals

• -1921: Charles Brown
• 1921-1923: C. J. Going

External links

• Central High School at Postcard Birmingham
• Central High School football history, combined with Phillips history from ahsfhs.org website

References

• White, Marjorie Longenecker (1977) Downtown Birmingham: Architectural and Historical Walking Tour Guide. Birmingham: Birmingham Historical Society.