| The Bobo Senior High School Building is located in a residential neighborhood near the Sunflower River. The three story brick and masonry school was built in 1929-1930, designed by architect P.J. Krouse, remains a strong example of Gothic Revival architecture as applied to a school building. The land where the school sits was formerly the Bobo family plantation. The family donated the land to the city with the provision the property be used for education. Even after the school was built, the Bobo family home sat on the property. Although that structure has been demolished, the Bobo family cemetery remains on the school grounds. As originally built, the school had an auditorium, gymnasium, and cafeteria. In 1946, N.W. Overstreet oversaw conversion of much of the auditorium into classroom space. However, the stage with a decorative plaster proscenium and decorative plaster cornices remain. Later alterations include replacement of 6/6 double hung windows with three panel aluminum windows. However, the aluminum windows are located in the original window openings which would allow restoration of more sympathetic windows. The interior spaces retain a high degree of integrity with little change to the physical layout of the structure. Interior doors and transoms, wall finishes and floor finishes are found throughout the building. The Bobo Senior High School served the Clarksdale community from 1930 to 1999, first as a white school and integrated fully integrated after 1970. The first non-white student, Chinese, enrolled in 1941 at a time when many segregated schools required Asian students to attend black schools. This building was was designated a Mississippi Landmark on 12 July 2007. It was individually listed on the National Register on 19 March 2008. |