Thomasville History Series - Education and the Arts
This geocache is located at East Side School, now known as the Thomasville Center for the Arts. The area may be busy during some special events and football games, but otherwise stealth shouldn't be a problem. Parking is available in the parking lot near the cache.
The Mission Revival style building opened as East Side School in 1915. While education had been thriving in Thomasville for more than 150 years, East Side was Thomasville’s first school built with public funding. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977, but fell into deep disrepair after the school closed in 1975. More than 3 million dollars in private funds were raised to save the East Side School.
General Lloyd J. Austin III graduated from Thomasville High in 1971. He was recently nominated by President-Elect Joe Biden to serve as United States Secretary of Defense. Before he was the Commanding General in charge of the United State’s entire operation in Iraq and before he was the Vice Chief of Staff of the US Army, he was captain of the 1971 Bulldog Basketball team.
General Austin's Nomination Announcement
Academy Award winner Joanne Woodward, who grew up nearby, graced the stage of East Side School as a child.
In 1985, the building reopened as the Thomasville Cultural Center. It is home to the nationally revered Wildlife Arts Festival.
On the same property, beyond the football stadium, the MacIntyre Park High School opened in 1925. More commonly called Thomasville High School, the Georgian Revival red-brick building is now home to the Thomasville Scholars Academy.
The original high school field was located in this parking lot until 1925. The football field between the two schools opened soon after the conclusion of the second World War. It was home to notable players such as Atlanta Falcons great William Andrews, three time Super Bowl Champion Guy McIntyre, and Georgia Tech legend Shawn Jones. Thomasville High is the 74th winningest high school football program in the United States and 6th in Georgia. The Bulldogs were National Champions in 1974.
The Eastside School soon after its construction in 1915
Former Eastside Student Joanne Woodward, an Academy Award winner
A historic view of MacIntyre Park High School, later known as Thomasville High, now known as the Thomasville Scholars Academy
THS alum William Andrews with the Atlanta Falcons
THIS GEOCACHE IS JUST ONE OF SIXTEEN IN THE THOMASVILLE HISTORY GEOCACHING SERIES. THIS ENTERTAINING AND INFORMATIVE SERIES LEADS GEOCACHERS ON AN EXCITING TOUR OF THOMASVILLE, GEORGIA. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE SERIES OR TO SEE THE ROUTE, CLICK HERE!