History, Stories & Archives

Record#

Building Name

Dickinson ISD Technology Department site of

Dickinson First High School – McAdams Junior High

Address

2805 Oak Park, Dickinson, Texas

Date

1938

Property Owner

Dickinson Independent School District

Event

This facility, currently home to the Dickinson Alternative Learning Programs, was originally constructed in 1938 to serve as Dickinson Independent School District’s first high school building.  It was part of the original construction in 1939 of various buildings on the site.  Known as the “H Building”, the structure contained classrooms and offices and was home to the district’s first high school for students in grades 7 – 11.  The building has remained the same for much of the past 75 years and retains many of the original features. In later years, additional buildings were constructed at the site and the whole facility turned into McAdams Junior High to serve students in grades 7 – 8.

Date

2009

Property Owner

Dickinson Independent School District

Event

The Dickinson Independent School District built a new McAdams Junior High facility in 2009 on Hughes Road to accommodate the new generation of students and technology.  Some of the vacant McAdams buildings were demolished to make room for new facilities for the Food and Nutrition Services and the Transportation Department.  The original building that housed the high school gymnasium was  left standing and serves as a community gym today.  The building that was the first high school was renovated….

Date

2011

Property Owner

Dickinson Independent School District

Event

The School District wanted to preserve the history of the first high school building.  Instead of demolishing this building, it was renovated in 2011 to house the district’s alternative learning programs (Dickinson Continuation Center and the Dickinson
Alternative Learning Center).  Careful attention was given during the renovation process to preserve as much of the original construction and details as possible, both inside and outside the building.  The original “H Building” is now home to two of the district’s alternative learning programs.  The Dickinson Continuation Center is a non-traditional educational environment which allows high school students who have experienced difficulty achieving success in a more traditional high school setting an opportunity to still earn a high school diploma.  The Dickinson Alternative Learning Center provides temporary schooling for students who have been separated from the regular campus for disciplinary reasons.