Citizens registered disproval of the location at the northwest corner of West Fourth and Bowman street claiming it was too far from the center of town.

The year was 1891 and the 11-room school was already under construction. Citizens became so aroused that demands were made for School Board members to resign voluntarily or action would be taken to oust them.

However, by the start of the school year in September of 1892 when the high school doors were opened to six teachers and a senior class of 19, the crisis was passed and the citizens were pointing with pride to their new school.

 On April 7, 1887 the board of education considered building a separate high school building. Board members visited other cities to view buildings and on July 7, 1890 selected the West Fourth and Bowman Site. Bids for construction were received and contracts let in 1891 for the construction of the first 11-room unit.

 The first class graduated from this building in June 1893. John W. Sherman was superintendent of the schools and was largely responsible for directing community action to obtain the school.

 In 1921 it was apparent that a general updating of the school facilities was needed and a one million dollar bond issue was passed in the November election. Part of this money was used to construct a fire resistant addition to the high school consisting of six rooms and a gymnasium. The addition was completed in 1922.

 Part of the million-dollar bond issue was also set aside for the purchase of a site for a new high school. History repeated on Feb. 11, 1924 when the new site for the present senior high was selected, the school board members then in office came under the same "fire" as the Board members of 1891 because again citizens thought the school site was too far out from the center of Mansfield.

With the opening of the present Senior High the old building was converted to John Simpson Junior High in 1927.

Mansfield High School built 1892 (present day location of John Simpson Middle School.)