The now abandoned Horace Mann school in Gary adds to the many other monuments that have been left to rot by the city of Gary. The school whose construction began in the early 1900s and took seven years to complete operated for 76 years after which it was closed and deserted.

History of Horace Mann School

Horace Mann High School’s existence began in 1920 when residents of Gary appealed to William Wirt for a school. This was brought about by the increasing population of the town. Being one of the most trusted and invested investors, Wirt who spearheaded the construction of Emerson School (one of the best-built schools in Indiana state) was the best fit. At this time, Mann School was operational but had less than 50 students due to a lack of funding to complete other buildings in the school. After consultation, William Wirt began the renovation of Mann High School into a complex high-end public school.  As if that was not enough, Wirt went further and landscaped the whole property making Mann unique from other schools. Many confused Mann to be a private school after the facelift. The main building was the largest of all the structures, the central building featured 48 classrooms as well as offices, gyms (2), swimming pools (2), a man-made pond, and many others. These grand finishes attracted many in Gary and beyond. First enrollment in 1929 recorded a population of more than 800 students. By 1940, Horace Mann High School had a population of 2600 students.

End of an era

Over the years that the school was operational, racial segregation was the order of the day. Many of the students (about 99%) were all whites. This was an issue as most parents and the administration were not ready to accept negros. This did not only cause conflict and strikes among the community tainting the school’s name but years later led to its downfall. Years later, the population of the school began to diminish.  This was brought by white flight that came about when a black man took office as the new Mayor of Gary. By 2003, the school was made up of 98% negros and 2% Latinos. Due to the low number of students, the government cut down funding at the institution. This in turn forced the school board to close the school since it was becoming increasingly expensive to manage.

What remains of the once vibrant school?

Today, Horace Mann High School is in total ruin. Furniture in the building has been broken and the rest scattered all over the floor. Books, trophies, lab equipment lie on the floor of what looks like a storage room. Graffiti has colored the walls of the building giving it an archaic and modern chaotic building of today. Inspectors declared the building a safety and structural problem. The plan to demolish the building has not been made clear by the managing body. The old school is out of bounds to the general public.