Douglas High School - segregated county school on Price Road, at Chiles Avenue. The school opened in 1929 and named for Fredrick Douglas. The school had five teachers, with 200 pupils in grades 1 to 12. The building contained eight classrooms. In 1935, a home economics building was added. Between 1936 and 1948, the school housed grades 1 to 10. In 1948, a new building was erected on the front of the lot and the old building relocated to the rear of the lot. The old building housed grades 1 to 6, while the new building housed grades 7 to 12. The old school was later destroyed by fire. The new building contained a library, gymnasium, cafeteria, band, home economics and agriculture rooms. At this time, the county system began closing all segregated schools and consolidated classes at the Douglas School. In 1948 and 1950, the Dunbar Bearcats won the Kentucky Basketball Championship for segregated schools. In addition, during 1939, 1942 and 1946 the Bearcats were runner-ups for the title.[i]
Douglas High School, 2010, now an assisted living center <Ambrose>
In 1952 and 1958, two four classroom additions were erected. During 1963, grades 10 to 12 were transferred to Lafayette and Bryan Station High School, while the 9th grade was transferred to Leestown Junior High School. Grades 7 and 8 were discontinued in 1966-67. The school was closed during 1972, with the full desegregation of the county schools.[ii]
[i] A Brief Account of Fayette County’s Elementary Schools, 1969-70 and Fayette County School’s website.
[ii] Lexington Herald-Leader, November 5, 1972, page 5, columns 3-5.
