Austin
Travis County, Texas
30 16.214' N 97 44.287' W
901 Trinity Street

Text: An ornate, red brick building at this site served as the first structure in town built for the public high school, founded in 1881. Construction of the facility was hastened when classrooms in the former temporary State Capitol at 11th and Congress were destroyed by fire. Completed in 1900 from the plans of Burt McDonald and James Reily, "Old Red" featured a domed rotunda, as the school grew additions were made to the original structure. Under the supervision of principal James E. Pearce. 1895-1918 and superintendent A.N. McCallum, 1903-42, Austin High School developed a quality academic program. Renovations included the John T. Allan manual training center and one of the earliest domestic arts (home economics) departments in the nation. The buildings here could no longer accommodate the growing Austin High School by 1925 and plans were made to utilize the larger junior high campus at the corner of 12th and Rio Grande. The switch was made during the Thanksgivings Holidays of that year and "old red" became the John T. Allan Junior High School. Classes were held at this site until 1956, when the complex was destroyed by fire.