Barker Elementary School: Difference between revisions

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The central portion of Barker School was built in [[1903]], with two wings added in [[1910]].  
The central portion of Barker School was built in [[1903]], with two wings added in [[1910]].  


The school was destroyed by a fire which started in the boiler room during the early morning of [[March 14]], [[1941]]. At the time of the fire, 527 students were enrolled in the school. They were transferred to [[17th Avenue Elementary School|Seventeenth Avenue]], [[Norwood Elementary School|Norwood]], [[Martin Elementary School|Martin]] and [[Powell Elementary School|Powell Schools]].
The school was destroyed by a fire which started in the boiler room during the early morning of [[March 14]], [[1941]]. The fire was discovered by [[Ralph Blue]], a ''[[Birmingham Age-Herald]]'' paper carrier who noticed flames at 5:10 AM while working his route. Companies from [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 1|Fire Station No. 1]], [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 4|No. 4]], [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 5|No. 5]], [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 9|No. 9]], [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 11|No. 11]], [[Birmingham Fire Station No. 22|No. 22]] responded to the alarm, which Chief [[Alf Brown]] described as 'one of the meanest fires we've had in a long time." The flames, fueled by pine-framed walls was conducted from the boiler room to the roof through heat transfer ducts. The firefighters' efforts were hampered by the steep hilltop site.


The insurance settlement paid for a new 8-room addition to the [[Seventeenth Avenue School]].
At the time of the fire, 527 students were enrolled in the school. They were transferred to [[17th Avenue Elementary School|Seventeenth Avenue]], [[Norwood Elementary School|Norwood]], [[Martin Elementary School|Martin]] and [[Powell Elementary School|Powell Schools]].
 
The insurance settlement paid for a new 8-room addition to the [[Seventeenth Avenue School]]. The damaged building was demolished and the cleared site became [[Barker Park]].


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==Principals==
==Principals==
* [[Theo Wright]], -[[1941]]
* [[Theo Wright]], [[1926]]-[[1941]]


==References==
==References==
* "[http://bplonline.cdmhost.com/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll2/id/843 Early Morning Blaze Destroys Old Barker School]" (March 14, 1941) {{BN}} - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
* "[http://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll2/id/775 Barker Classes To Continue]" (March 15, 1941) ''Birmingham Age-Herald'' - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
* "[http://cdm16044.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p4017coll2/id/775 Barker Classes To Continue]" (March 15, 1941) ''Birmingham Age-Herald'' - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections



Revision as of 19:04, 19 April 2014

Birmingham Post photo of the school in flames. courtesy BPL Archives

Barker Elementary School was a Birmingham school located on the corner of 13th Avenue and 23rd Street North.

The central portion of Barker School was built in 1903, with two wings added in 1910.

The school was destroyed by a fire which started in the boiler room during the early morning of March 14, 1941. The fire was discovered by Ralph Blue, a Birmingham Age-Herald paper carrier who noticed flames at 5:10 AM while working his route. Companies from Fire Station No. 1, No. 4, No. 5, No. 9, No. 11, No. 22 responded to the alarm, which Chief Alf Brown described as 'one of the meanest fires we've had in a long time." The flames, fueled by pine-framed walls was conducted from the boiler room to the roof through heat transfer ducts. The firefighters' efforts were hampered by the steep hilltop site.

At the time of the fire, 527 students were enrolled in the school. They were transferred to Seventeenth Avenue, Norwood, Martin and Powell Schools.

The insurance settlement paid for a new 8-room addition to the Seventeenth Avenue School. The damaged building was demolished and the cleared site became Barker Park.

Principals

References

External links