From Marion’s beginnings in 1839, subscription schools of varying degrees of excellence were maintained at irregular intervals. In 1855, a four room frame building in the 200 Block of West Jefferson Street, was more than adequate for the city’s needs. This facility was called the “Washington Combined School” building and housed students from grade one (1) to grade twelve (12).

About 1881, a two room addition was erected and then in 1885 the building was destroyed by fire. After the fire it was replaced with an eight room, two-story brick building which later received a four room addition. When Marion’s first High School was built at 414 E. Main Street in 1901 Washington was no longer required for grades 9 thru 12 but still served as the Marion Junior High School (grades 7th & 8th) until 1951 when the first Junior High School building was finished at 420 E. Main Street. In January of 1954, many of the students who lived on the southwest side of town were moved to the newly opened Longfellow school on W. Hendrickson Street. By the 1960’s Marion now had a Junior High School, Senior High School, Logan, Jefferson, Lincoln and Douglas grade schools and given Washington School’s age and the need for a new County Courthouse it was demolished in 1969 to make way for the new county building.

When the city built a new High School on S. Carbon Street and occupied it in 1965 the old High School on West Main became the new Junior High School. With the old Junior High School at 420 East Main St. vacated it then became the new Washington School where it remains today.

(This information was obtained from A. C. (Cliff) Storme, Louis Fluck, and newspaper articles published by Violet Grisham and from the personal knowledge of Thomas Wimberly, in January, 2006; edited by Sam Lattuca on 12/22/2012)