St. Stephen (White) High School

Front: St. Stephen High School was the first public white H.S. for the town of St. Stephen. The current building was built 1928-29 and designed by Florence-based architect Leon McDuff Hicks. Bricks for the project were made locally at the brickyard owned by Walker R. Funk. Construction was part of a state-wide movement to consolidate rural schools into larger, regional schools with bus service available to students. Reverse: In 1930, the school complex was completed with the addition of an agriculture building and an athletic field house. In 1959 the field house was converted into the first public library for the area. St. Stephen H.S. remained segregated throughout its time as a H.S. (1928-56). It then was an elementary school for white students, 1957-70. In 2013 it was converted for use as a public library.