On the Saturday before Memorial Day, I had to play with a jazz group for a wedding in Pontotoc, Mississippi, and once it was over, I headed out for New Orleans for the holiday. As I was heading down Highway 15, I came to a town called Reform, Mississippi, or I should perhaps say a former town. Like most ghost towns in Mississippi, this place was still inhabited, but its community institutions, a church and school were rather spectacular ruins. Unfortunately the building that appeared to have been a church was fenced in and inaccessible for closer investigation, but I was able to get some decent photos of the school. The sheer number of abandoned schools one passes in Mississippi is truly disturbing. In the course of my drive on that afternoon, I passed an abandoned high school in Maben, an abandoned college in Mathiston, this abandoned school in Reform, and another abandoned college campus in Newton that has been turned into an institution for the mentally ill.
I stopped by this school this week. The doors were wide open, so I went in. It is relatively in great shape considering it’s age. Aside from some tagging there is hardly any vandalism. There is virtually no information concerning this place. I took pics/video which I will have up on my site hopefully by the weekend. Awesome place.
Many people have wanted to restore the building – it was used by a county agency – so it looks – and the auditorium was used as a poling place during elections. In the room to the left or the stage, there was a phone and a desk – that was maybe 5-6 years ago. I was born in Mathiston, and my older sister started school in Reform – and I told everyone she had gone to Reform School – an old term to juvenile delinquent detention facilities.
I’m a truck driver and I drove by there this week. What is the address for this building?
Not at all sure, but it is on Highway 15.