A Brief History Lesson

As the school year begins, the Grayson Historical Society and the provided a history of the Grayson School.

Grayson’s first school, Trippe Academy (or Trip Academy as some records indicate), was built in the spring of 1882 very near where Grayson Elementary is today. The academy was named for the name of the town at that time. Prior to that, the only education provided for the children of the Grayson area was in a log cabin known as the Evergreen School with a “stick and mud chimney” which stood near the south edge of the cemetery at Chestnut Grove Baptist Church.

In the early 1900’s, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows joined with others to erect a two-story frame structure on the same lot where Grayson School now stands. While today, schools are built based upon demographics and with administrative legalities and paperwork, the lot was given by Moses McConnell, “for so long as the land is used for school purposes.”

Records show that in 1913, “a Bond Issue by citizens of Grayson provided funds for a two-story brick veneered building, later extended and expanded when our school became a Consolidated School, Grayson High School.” The bell for the school was a 1913 gift to Grayson High by 9th District Congressman Thomas M. Bell.

The city experienced some tough economic times when the railroad quit running through Grayson, the school was slated to close for lack for funds. John Elery Jacobs, a member of the local Board of Trustees and grandson of Moses McConnell, generously paid all funds for operating Grayson High for one year. It is said that “he had a great love of the school.” He was repaid once the funds were available.

In 1956, Grayson High was consolidated into South Gwinnett High School. The original 1913 two-story brick building in Grayson was demolished in 1957. A remnant of the historic Grayson School building remains with the presence of The Rock Building, constructed during the mid-1940’s.

Renovated in recent years to accommodate 10 classrooms, the Rock Building sits on the property deeded by McConnell. Grayson Mayor Jim Hinkle recently researched the deed and found that the deed still stands, but the buildings surrounding the rock building are on property owned by the Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Twenty-five Grayson citizens bought the high school bell when the building was demolished in 1957 and it was placed on the front lawn of what is now Grayson Elementary.

In order to alleviate some of the overcrowding at South Gwinnett High School, Gwinnett County Public Schools brought a “new” Grayson High to the area. The building for the present day Grayson High School was started in 1998; the school opened its doors in the fall of 2000 with the motto “First Comes Learning.”

Alumni from the original Grayson High meet frequently with county leaders and educators to determine school colors and chose the Ram as Grayson’s mascot and are still active in Grayson’s legacy of academic excellence.