11/03/2026
PICTURING SOUTHPORT’S PAST
Chronology: Information taken from Southport Brunswick County, North Carolina Volumes III and IV, published by Southport Historical Society
PROPOSAL FOR BIDS FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING IN SOUTHPORT:
1922 - (January 18) - Proposals for bids were advertised for the er****on of a new high school building in Southport. The plans and specifications were prepared by W. J. Wilkins & Company, Architects, of Wilmington.
1922 - Mrs. Annie Arnold had a handbook issued for Southport High School, published before the new brick building was occupied. One of the photos included, was one of the high school student body.
Those pictured included the Freshman Class:
Mamie Lee Aldridge, Rebecca Alexander, Howard Caison, Pierce Cranmer, Marshal Cooker, Maxie Cooker, Francis Davis, Mary Dosher, Lafayette Dosher, Minnie Ford, John B. Finch, Vinton Galloway, Helen Guthrie, Minnie Guthrie, Gladys Gore, Helen McKeithan, Vergie Livingston, Jessie Larsen, Robert Medlin, Vonnie Meshaw, Thomas Meshaw, Barney Meshaw, Jack Oliver, Solomon Outlaw, Carlton Price, Mabel Ramseur, Waters Thompson, Howard Sellers, Mildred Vredenburg, and Ennis Weeks.
The Sophomore Class included:
James Aldridge, Edna Carr, Linnie Cumbee, Edwin Dosher, Warren Dosher, Lewis Field, Delmas Fulcher, Imogene Garrett, Franklin Greer, Carrie Harker, Mildred Hickman, Margaret Lund, Annie Mae McKeithan, Eva Mae Ramseur, Annie Russ, Ella Lee Russ, Chancey Stanland, Virginia Thompson, Isabelle Vredenberg, Lucy Watts, Addie Mae Woodside.
The Junior Class included:
Grace Dosher, Ellen Dosher, Margaret Dosher, Lucille Ellis, F.D.M. Fulcher, Gertrude Gause, Laura Harker, Leone Hancock, R. L. Jones, William Kopp, Hubert Livingston, Glenn Northrop, Naomi Robinson, Ida Mae Robinson, Lois Southerland, Irene Weeks and Horace Woodside.
The Senior Class included:
Margaret Alexander, Olivia C. Cox, Mary Garrett, Ruth H. Murray, Wm. K. McDowell, Thos. W. St. George, Norma E. Willis.
FIRST GRADUATING CLASS OF SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL:
1923 - (May 20-25) - Participants in the program for the commencement exercises of the Southport High School which would take four days were Mabel Ramseur, Rebecca Alexander, Delphia Fulcher, Eunice Finch, Ennis Weeks, Waters Thompson, Grace Dosher, Lois Southerland, Lucille Ellis, R. L. Jones, Ellen Dosher, Margaret Dosher, Gertrude Gause, Eunice Holden, Warren Dosher, John B. Finch, Edna Carr, Carrie Harker and Nina Wade. Out-of-town speakers included Dr. W. A. Harper, president of Elon College, N.C.; Dr. J. Henry Highsmith, of Raleigh. Diplomas were presented by Supt. Hugh P. Smith.
SOUTHPORT HIGH SCHOOL DESTROYED BY FIRE:
1969 - (January) - The Southport High School was destroyed by fire. This began a continuing story of confusion, congestion and inadequate housing conditions. This was not resolved until South Brunswick High School opened its doors. Bonds were passed to construct three consolidated high schools in Brunswick County. The move came almost in the wake of the devastating fire which swept the Southport High School facility.
December, 1977 - The site of old Southport High School has been rezoned, in order to make it legal for the U.S. Postal Service to build a new office in Southport. The action was taken by the Southport Board of Aldermen.
April, 1978 - The U.S. Postal Service purchased the site of the old Southport High School building as the location for a new office in Southport.
October, 1979 - Many changes were taking place in downtown Southport. At the corner of Nash and Davis streets, the last remnants of the old Southport High School building were being hauled away. Nearby machinery was beginning the grading work to prepare the site for the new Southport Post Office.
Text Compiled by: Mary Ellen Watts Poole
Exhibit Curated by Mary Ellen Watts Poole & Paul Vann Hall
Print: Ricky Evans, Artist, Donated: in Memory of Annelle Royal, by Dr. Angela Wadsworth
