John Marshall School, located in Wichita, KS, has a rich history that spans over eight decades. Its story begins with the school’s completion in 1939 and its dedication on January 9, 1940. The school was named in honor of John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
by Henry Inman, 1833
Marshall was born in 1755 in Germantown, Virginia, was a prominent American statesman and lawyer. He is most renowned for his role as the fourth chief justice of the United States, serving from 1801 until his death in 1835. Marshall’s legacy is marked by his extraordinary tenure as the longest-serving chief justice in U.S. Supreme Court history and his profound influence on the judicial system. Before his time on the court, he held positions in all three branches of the federal government, including serving as U.S. secretary of state under President John Adams. Marshall played a pivotal role in shaping the principles of judicial review and the separation of powers during his leadership on the Supreme Court.
by Alonzo Chappel, 1862
Under Marshall’s guidance, the Supreme Court transformed from a relatively inconspicuous institution to a significant force in the federal government. During his 34-year tenure, the Court issued over 1,000 decisions, with many authored by Marshall himself. Notably, his opinions reinforced the supremacy of the federal government over the states and established critical constitutional principles, such as the power to strike down laws that conflicted with the Constitution. John Marshall’s profound impact on American jurisprudence solidified his status as one of the last remaining Founding Fathers, and his death in 1835 marked the end of an era in American politics and law.
In 1939, The Wichita Eagle celebrated the completion of John Marshall School with the headline, “Beautiful Structure Follows North High Styling; Is Outstanding.” The school boasted 15 classrooms, an auditorium, and a gymnasium for both girls and boys. One of its remarkable features was the beautiful panels on the tower that depicted various industries of Kansas, showcasing a tribute to the state’s heritage.
Courtesy: The Wichita Eagle
According to “A History of Wichita Public School Buildings,” The initial facilities of John Marshall School included nine classrooms, an auditorium, shop, gymnasium, art room, cafeteria, music room and two home economics rooms. A small library was situated on the first floor, staffed by a part-time librarian from the City Library.
Interestingly, during the construction of the school, a heartwarming incident occurred. On May 4, 1939, an article in The Wichita Eagle noted that construction had to pause when a robin’s nest with eggs was discovered on one of the steel beams. Contractor O.W. Armagost patiently waited for the robin to leave the nest, then carefully moved the nest, ensuring the bird’s return to its relocated home.
A January 7, 1940, Eagle article talked about the dedication ceremony which featured an invocation from the pastor of the Riverside Christian Church, the Marshall girl’s glee club sang, “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” (A song I only know because Bugs Bunny would often sing it), and John Riddle of the PWA.
On November 18, 1942, the Beacon noted that, “The board of education voted to discontinue the typing classes at the school”, with a view of letting the pupils learn typing in high school. “The need for typewriters grew out of the fact that the typewriter factories of the country are making machine guns, and the government asked the Wichita schools to give all the machines they could spare.”
Courtesy: The Wichita Beacon
Parents were frustrated and decided to loan the school their personal machines, which the board of education agreed to service.
As the years passed, John Marshall School continued to evolve. In 1952, significant additions were made, including a library, another art room, an instructional music room, four science rooms, and four classrooms.
In the 21st century, the school underwent further enhancements through the 2000 Bond. These improvements included a new band room, four modern science classrooms, four classrooms, and air conditioning.
During the construction, Marshall School experienced an explosion on November 24, 2004. This unexpected incident occurred at approximately 8:20 in the morning, while the school was bustling with activity, hosting around 17 individuals, including five school staff members and roughly a dozen construction workers. Fortunately, the outcome was relatively fortunate, with only two reported injuries.
Courtesy: The Wichita Eagle
In the aftermath of the explosion, students were temporarily relocated to two nearby closed schools, Longfellow and Carter schools, while authorities conducted a thorough investigation. The findings indicated that natural gas had fueled the explosion, with a normally functioning electrical device as the probable ignition source. Deputy Fire Chief Mike Rudd, in an interview with the Eagle, mentioned that the exact source of the gas remained unclear.
Courtesy: The Wichita Eagle
The financial toll of the incident was substantial, with estimated damages amounting to approximately 4 million dollars. However, in a testament to the resilience of the school and the community, just two months later, on January 31st, students were able to return to the familiar halls of John Marshall School.
Courtesy: The Wichita Eagle
Today, John Marshall School stands not only as a testament to Wichita’s commitment to education and its historical significance but also as a symbol of its resilience. It continues to serve the community, embodying a rich heritage of learning and growth, even in the face of challenges.
Check out the histories of some of Wichita’s other schools at Be True to your School.