Picadome School (No. 20) - a county school built on Harrodsburg Road (near Clays Mill) two miles west of Lexington. The original school building opened in 1877, on a half-acre tract. The name "Picadome" was created by using the first two letters of four names (PI from Pickett - State Superintendent of Schools, CA from Cassidy - Fayette County Superintendent, and DO from Douglass and ME from Meyers - two school district trustees). In 1898, a new brick schoolhouse was built on the site at the cost of $2,500. In 1910, this school became known as Little Picadome, when the consolidated high school was built. This building was raised in 1968.[i]
Picadome School, a county school, circa 1901 <1901>
In 1910, a new high school was built on Harrodsburg Road (about 300 yards from Little Picadome), as part of the consolidation of county schools. The cost was $5,000. In 1913, an addition was built to meet overcrowding at the cost of $7,000. In 1914, Picadome added Montessori Classes, under Belle McCubbing. In 1939, the school was converted to an elementary school (when Lafayette opened).[ii]
New Picadome School, 1916 <Faulconer>
The school was relocated in the late 1976 to a new facility on Harrodsburg Road. The original site is now the Southside Technical Center, a vocational school open to students from Fayette, Scott, Woodford and Jessamine Counties.[iii]
Dedication of Picadome School, 1916 <Faulconer>
Montessori Classes at Picadome, 1916 <Faulconer>
Picadome High School, crica 1930s <Faulconer>
Picadome High School, crica 1930s <Faulconer>
[i] Lexington Herald, November 7, 1967, page 1, column 5.
[ii] Lexington Leader, September 25, 1898, page 3, column 1, November 4, 1910, page 3, column 2, November 23, 1910, page 5, column 6, August 2, 1913, page 1, column 4, May 13, 1913, page 11, column 4 and May 17, 1914, section 1, page 3, columns 3-4.
[iii] A Brief Account of Fayette County’s Elementary Schools, 1969-70 and Fayette County School’s website.
