The history of Magnolia District High School can be best described by dividing it into the four buildings in which it was housed.

The Coleman Building – 1914-1915
The first high school building (white columns) – 1916-1927

The second high school buildings – 1928-1977

The new (present) building – 1977-

Until 1933, each Magisterial District in West Virginia had its own high school. This is how our first schools were named Magnolia District High School. Magnolia District High School started in 1914-15, in the Coleman Building in downtown Matewan. Little is known about this year. We do know that the school was located upstairs in this building and that the principal was E. V. Parsons. The school was housed in this building for one year while a building was being constructed.

In 1916, our first high school building was completed. This was the one with the white columns. It opened in 1916, with E. V. Parsons serving as principal. The second floor of this building served as the high school and the first floor housed grades three through eight. Grades one and two were located in the wood-frame building that stood across the street called the Goodson Building. Grades one and two were located in the bottom of this building and the upstairs was used as an auditorium. It was in this auditorium that Magnolia District High School held its first recorded commencement exercise in 1920, with Wells Goody Koontz delivering the first commencement address. However, records show that one person, Harold Adams, graduated in 1918, and at least on, Kitty Carnes, in 1919.

The three students who graduated in 1920, in the first recorded graduation ceremony were Cynthia Hatfield, Mamie Akers, and Arthur Chafin.

Records show that the five people graduating in 1921 were Leta Belle Downs, Robert E. Hatton, Sarah A. Lovins, Willie R. MicKinney, and Billie B. Sizemore.

Principals during the years when the school was located in this building were:
E. V. Parsons (1916-1917)
_____ Holt
I. E. Baird (1917-1918)
George Gunno (1918-1920)
R. E. Hatton (1920-1922)
George N. Young (1922-1923)
C. P. Guice (1923-1926)
Grant- Moyers (1926-1928)

In 1922, Magnolia District High School had approximately 100 students in grades 8-12. The first football team was started this same year by Coach McManus (no first name available). The team played four games and lost all four. They failed to score a touchdown in their first season, according to Clarence Long who was the center on this team. Their games were played on a field located at Buskirk, Ky. At this time, there was a swinging bridge that crossed the river at Matewan into Buskirk, Ky.
Magnolia High School was moved into this building in 1928 with O. C. Van Camp serving as principal. The first building (white columns) became the elementary school. After a new elementary school was built in the early 1950’s, that building was once again used to house part of MHS.

During this period in 1928, each magisterial district had its own school and its own board of education. Each district raised its own money through taxes. Because of the N&W Railway and the large number of mines in the Matewan area, Magnolia District had a good tax base.

This new school was one of the more beautiful high schools in West Virginia. In 1930, a gymnasium was added. It was the largest gymnasium in southern WV. County basketball tournaments were held her until the fieldhouse w as built in Williamson.

In 1931, a new football field was built in the upper end of town (O’Brien Park today). This field was the second high school in WV to have lights installed.

Mr. Glenn Taylor was brought to Matewan to establish a good football program. He had been a star athlete at Salem College. When he came to Matewan, the colors of green and white and the name tigers were selected for our school. These were the colors and mascot of the college he had attended.

It is not known when the first band was organized, but records show that there was a band in 1931.

It is not known when the school newspaper, “The Magnolia Messenger,” was started, but it was being circulated in 1931. Later the school paper became known as “The Green & White Echo.”

Six people served as principal of MHS while it was located in this building. They were:
O. C. Van Camp (1928-1929)
George Pierce (1929-1932)
Carl F. Montgemery (1932-1952)
J. Herschel Morgan (1952-1954)
John D. Anderson (1954-1971)
James Melmige (1971-1981)

Montgemery, Morgan, Anderson, and Melmige left the principal’s position to serve as Superintendent of Mingo County Schools.

This building was condemned after “The Great Flood of April 4, 1977.” Classes were held at Red Jacket Junior High and at the Red Jacket Community Church in order to complete the 1977 school term. Graduation for the Class of 1977 was held at the Red Jacket Junior High Gymnasium.

A new high school had been under construction for several years when the flood occurred in 1977. Even though it was not completed, students entered this building in September 1977 with James Melmige as the principal. It is a beautiful building with modern facilities. Besides the latest design in classrooms, it also houses a dome-shaped gymnasium.

Matewan sports teams have excelled in all areas. Under the leadership of Danny “Yogi” Kinder, MHS won its first State Football Championship in 1993. More recently, in 2003, Coach Danny Perkins led the MHS baseball team to its first State Baseball Championship.

Principals of MHS at this location include:
James Melmige (197701981)
James H. Keatley (1981-1988)
Dallas Jude (Interim) (1988)
James Williamson (1988-1990)
T. Scott King (1990-1992)
Tom Hoffman (1992-1995)
Jada Hunter (1996-1999)
Franklin Jones (1999-2003)
Marcella Charles (2004-Present)

After 91 years, MHS still stands as an important educational institution. Students from MHS have a high rate of success in business, education, medicine, state government, and many other areas.