National Register of Historic Places

Bolton High School

Alexandria, Rapides County, Louisiana
Listed
January 9, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84001349

About this property

Bolton Academy Academic & Performing Arts Magnet School (formerly Bolton High School) is a public magnet school in Alexandria, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, United States. The school's neoclassical building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a part of the Rapides Parish School Board. Bolton High School was originally segregated, and African American students attended Peabody Industrial School. Scott M. Brame became the school's principal in 1909. Kewaunee Manufacturing of Kewaunee, Wisconsin advertised it was supplying furniture and equipment for the new school building in 1915. A photo of the school is featured in the advertisement. The Bolton High School building at 2101 Vance Ave. was constructed in 1926. It is Classical Revival in style and was designed by New Orleans architects Favrot & Livaudais. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. According to its National Register nomination, the building "can be seen as the most urbane and sophisticated early-twentieth century building" in Rapides Parish. The building is described as a "three story neo-classical masonry structure with limestone facing". Expansive front and rear sections of the building are separated by an open area but are connected by two corridors. The expansive rear section of the building included a large auditorium. A cafeteria was added in 1967. The front entrance lobby has an ornate design, but much of the interior was "relatively plain", emphasizing functionality over ornamentation. In 1946, archery was added as an athletic program for girls at the school. On November 7, 1957, a tornado three blocks away from the school caused a power failure during a performance of Madame Butterfly. The performance was canceled. Nobody was injured. In 2019, a Career and Tech Center were added and a conservatory planned. In August 2023, the Rapides Parish School Board voted to transition Bolton High School into a magnet school. Beginning with the 2024–25 academic year, Bolton High School became Bolton Academy Academic & Performing Arts Magnet School. During the first year, the school accepted students in grades 6 to 12, but the new magnet school is expected to accommodate students from pre-kindergarten through grade 12. Bolton High competes in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (LHSAA). Elliott Chaze (1915–1990), journalist and novelist Luther F. Cole (1925–2013), state politician and judge Catherine D. Kimball (b. 1945), Chief Justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court Gillis William Long (1923–1985), U.S. representative Harold B. McSween (1926–2002), U.S. representative

Location

2101 Vance Ave.
Alexandria, Rapides County, Louisiana
31.29357, -92.45567

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Rugg Elementary School
Industrial
0.4 mi
Gemiluth Chassodim Synagogue
Industrial
0.4 mi
McGill, Dr. Robert E.
Industrial
0.5 mi
Byram, J.E., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Alexandria Garden District
Modern
0.5 mi

Nearby Battles

Red River Campaign — Alexandria Rapids
1864Civil War
1.4 mi
Action at Alexandria (Dam/Retreat)
1864Civil War
1.4 mi
Red River Expedition – Falls at Alexandria (Dam)
1864Civil War
1.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Bolton High School listed on the National Register?

Bolton High School was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 9, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Bolton High School?

Bolton High School is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Bolton High School?

The period of significance for Bolton High School is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Bolton High School?

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