Coleman Middle School opened in September 1966. The nearly $2 million dollar building was built as four circular buildings connected by a commons area.
According to “History of Wichita Public Schools buildings,” one building houses two gymnasiums, and another has the auditorium in the center with nine classrooms around this circular area.
An article in the Wichita Eagle on June 19, 1966, stated that “the first floor classrooms have windows, but there are no windows in the second and third floor rooms. All rooms are “climate controlled.”
William Coffin Coleman, for whom the school was named, was the visionary behind the Coleman Company. His life started with humble beginnings in Chatham, New York on May 21, 1870. Despite early setbacks, including the loss of his father at age 11, Coleman’s resilience and entrepreneurial flair shone through. He went from teaching to selling typewriters. At some point he saw a gasoline lamp in Brockton, Alabama, which changed everything.
Courtesy: kshs.org
In 1901, Coleman tied the knot with Fanny Sheldon of Ottawa, marking the beginning of a life marked by both personal and professional milestones.
After seeing the gas lamp, Coleman established the Hydro-Carbon Light Company in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, His rental model (which included free repairs) propelled his lamps to popularity. He relocated to Wichita, Kansas, in 1902. His Coleman Arc Lamps, not only brightened streets but also made history by lighting Fairmount College’s inaugural night football game.
Courtesy: ksbhf.org
His company was known to be ahead of its time offering progressive employee benefits, reduced work hours, holiday pay, and profit sharing. The Coleman company weathered through the Great Depression and provided help to American GIs serving in World War II.
Courtesy: thervatlas.com
Beyond business, Coleman’s impact was felt throughout Wichita. He served on the city council and as Wichita’s mayor from 1923 to 1924. During a Rotoary Club tribute, Dr. FB Thorn, said Coleman, transcended mere entrepreneurship. From his pivotal role in civic leadership to his enduring contributions to organizations like the Northern Baptist Convention and the YMCA, “Coleman embodied the spirit of service and innovation.”
Courtesy: The Wichita Eagle
Coleman died in Wichita on November 2, 1957, from a heart attack at 87. He is buried in the Old Mission Mausoleum along with Fanny, who passed away on March, 22 1965 at the age of 92.
I could not find a lot of info on the school itself. In March 2022, the Board of Education voted to make it an environmental magnet school.
The school’s students grow fruits and vegetables in a gated area at the school. I was taking pictures and a chicken came up to me, clearly wanting some attention. I started talking to it, and several other chickens joined the group. I eventually moved around the corner, and they all came running to see what I was doing. There were also a couple of ducks, but they didn’t seem as friendly as the chickens.
To read more about Wichita’s schools, check out Be true to your school.