Quick Facts State:  GA City:  Columbus Name:  Baker High School Nickname:  Lions Color1:   Blue  Color2:  White School District:  Muscogee County School District County:  Muscogee Year Opened:  1943 Year Closed:  1991

Construction of 104,000 sq. ft. "Baker Village School" was begun in 1941 by the federal government to serve the children of Baker Village, a military housing complex just north of Fort Benning. It was named after Newton Diehl Baker, the Secretary of War during WW I. It initially opened in 1943 serving all grades, graduating its first class in 1945. In 1950, the government sold the school to Muscogee County. The Baker "Arrowheads" won the state basketball championship in 1954, then repeated the feat two years later.

The Arrowheads inhabited the school until 1958, when it was converted to a four-year high school and the Baker High School Lions roared onto the scene. A 4,800 sq. ft. band and choir addition had been built in 1956. In 1965, another 40,000+ sq. ft. in improvements added more classrooms, restrooms, a new lab, a gymnasium & locker rooms and a new cafeteria.

In the 1960's, Baker's enrollment swelled along with the rest of the nation's schools as the wave of baby boomers swept through. During that time, the Baker Lions excelled in Georgia state competitions. In Track & Field, during the 6-year stretch between the '63-'64 school year and the '68-'69 school year, the Lions were State Champions five times. They were also the Cross Country Champions in 1968. They also excelled in academics, becoming the state's Literary Champions in 1963, '65 & '66.

The last seniors graduated from Baker High School in June, 1991 and the school was converted to Baker Middle School. The middle school moved to a new building in 1999, leaving the old Baker High School empty and unused. As of 2007, the building was on the Muscogee County School District's surplus property list and is subject to be bidded and sold.

Among the notable graduates of Baker High School were Donald Ray Johnston (BHS '66), who was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and Newt Gingrich (BHS '61), who became Speaker of the U. S. House of Representatives. Gingrich got his first taste of practical politics at BHS, managing his friend Jim Tilton's successful campaign for class president.

Even though Baker High School no longer exists, its memory and enthusiasm are being kept alive by active alumni. (see web links, below)

Google Street View of Baker High School
1544 Benning Dr.
Columbus, GA 31903
(click for larger interactive image)

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