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JTHS HISTORY THROUGH THE AGES
We want to tell the brief story about the establishment
of and building up of the great John Tyler High School that spanned over 80 years of
educating its student body. Every growth in the city of Tyler was conjoined by a similar
growth in its educational system, especially the retired landmark, John Tyler High School.
The records for the history of the original JTHS are sketchy at best, but we present this history based on available records at the Tyler Public Library.
Much of what is shown here comes from the dozens of Alcaldes that have been preserved in original form, the earliest being 1907, and some came from
private historical documents of those who were living in the area at the time. For those who have the interest and the time, these records are available
at the library at 201 S College Ave in Tyler, 3rd flr, historical documents section.
The first public school system in Tyler was established in 1882 and was followed by the founding of Texas College in 1894 and Tyler Junior College in 1926.
It is assumed that Tyler High School, as was known at the time, was officially established sometime around 1885-1890. We hope the following images testify to the history
and strength of purpose of a school that was a blueprint for all those seeking a truly higher education.
Click image for enlarged view. Click on enlarged picture to return to current page.
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FIRST HIGH SCHOOL
Originally built as Hubbard College, this structure became the main building of East Texas University, a private
military school in Tyler. It was purchased in the mid 1880's by TISD after it failed and Tyler High School subsequently made the building
its own. This picture was taken around 1908.
The school retained the name, Tyler High School, from the 1880's until 1958 when the school was renamed John Tyler High School after former
U.S. President John Tyler. It was changed back to the original name in 2020 to Tyler High School. The photo on the left
is dated for 1912, which is roughly the same time that the new Tyler High School was being built.
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REMODELED HIGH SCHOOL
The picture on the left is a newer image of Tyler High after a steeple was either freshly erected or rebuilt to provide
a robust architectural identity to its already growing educational culture. It operated under this name from
1885 to 1912 when solicitations for a newer and more functional campus were needed. The city was seeking a structure that
would lay the foundation for JTHS for many generations to come. The future Lion Nation was at hand.
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NEW HIGH SCHOOL PROPOSAL
The proposed new school drawing (left)
is dated for about the 1906 time frame. Growing pains are evident in the TISD during this period.
This quest for a new school with a new identity led to recommendations for the size and desired
architecture that would fulfill those needs. The colored sketch shows the building being proposed, and it strongly
resembles the administration building of JTHS that we were schooled in. That building, completed at last in 1912,
formed the foundation of the JTHS campus we came to know and love. It was at its height in architectural/educational
form when we attended until its sale in the late 1960's. Modernism was on the rise in the Tyler Independent School
System.
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FIRST DECADE
The picture on the left represents the same school 10 years later in the 1920's as it establishes itself as
a first class institution of learning. We have presented the Administration building in all
of these images as a symbol of architectural and academic prestige that represented the
educational capital of each and every graduate. Fortunately the main campus, minus the Administration Building, which was the face
of this great institution, still remains today to remind us of a short but significant period when we were learning important life skills.
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THE LEGACY
This picture was taken during a snow storm around early 1960's. JTHS was always a fortress during stormy weather of
any variety but it could not survive the need for more modern buildings, which was fulfilled with the opening of a
newer, more modern High School located on 323 Loop in far west Tyler. The JTHS campus was abandoned in summer of 1965
but later purchased by D.K. Caldwell and it became the Caldwell Elementary Arts Academy. Sadly, the Admin Building, the
iconic face of the school, was demolished in 1974. The John Tyler High School was truly a proud educational institution
that, for each student graduate, offered exceptional benefits that extended far beyond traditional classroom instruction.
The professional administration and faculty staff offered a rich and expert educational training that would last a lifetime.
We thank them so much for their passionate leadership.
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