Fundraiser planned for Phelix School
Tri-State Area Historical Society planning restoration effort
By RALPH HARDIN
ralphhardin@gmail.com
Folks who head north down Highway 77 heading out of Marion will no doubt have seen the old Phelix School building on the left-hand side.
The school was once the “Black” public school before the Marion School District integrated in 1970. After that, the school was part of the MSD system, hosting kindergarten classes as well as grades four through six for many years in the 1970s and 1980s before being phased out as new campuses were built.
Since then, the school building has been repurposed over the years but has now fallen into a state of disrepair. To address that, the Tri-State Area Historical Society will sponsor a 100th anniversary fundraiser dinner event on Friday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel in West Memphis.
“Our purpose and goal is to
See PHELIX, page A2
The windows to the old J.S. Phelix School in Sunset were boarded up in 2022 after years of being vacant. Hopes are that the historic school building can be restored to its former glory.
File photo PHELIX
From page A1
raise awareness and support the restoration of James Sebastian Phelix High School, a.k.a. the Marion Colored High School,” said Willie Gammon, one of the event’s organizers.
“As a National Register Property (since 1995) and a Historic 1924 Rosenwald School, located in Sunset, Arkansas,” said Gammon, “the Tri-State Area Historical Committee hopes that you will extend your generosity to our organization’s community social action event.”
As part of the planning, there will be a meeting this week.
“We are meeting at the West Memphis Library on Thursday at 11:45 a.m. for committee meeting,” said Gammon. “Please come by for more details, information such as photo of school at present time, and fundraising contributions. We’d love have your input and follow up for former alumni and community assistance in these tasks.”
For further information please contact Judy Seals Togobo at 870-225-3109.
