This is the Fourth in a series exploring once-thriving Appalachian towns left behind by shifting energy markets and changing times.
One of the most telling monuments to the evolution of education in Eastern Kentucky is the old M.C. Napier High School, perched by the North Fork of the Kentucky River in Hazard. Once a proud centerpiece of the community, this imposing red-brick building—now vacant and slowly succumbing to nature—bears silent witness to a time when local families rallied behind the “Napier Navajos,” and postwar optimism fueled county-wide efforts to modernize schooling.
A Monument to a Visionary
M.C. Napier High School opened its doors in 1953, named for longtime Superintendent Mitchell Campbell “M.C.” Napier. Napier was revered for spearheading improvements throughout Perry County’s school system. Under his watch, buildings were constructed and enrollment soared, culminating in what would become M.C. Napier High. With its solid three-story façade and matching “twin” school across the county (Dilce Combs High), the Napier campus was a show of post-World War II progress—built to serve rural students who might otherwise be left behind.
From the very start, the students shaped the school’s identity. They adopted the “Navajos” moniker and proudly wore the scarlet and gray. The halls resonated with the ambitions of young people who were the first in their families to enjoy a full nine‑month term, still gaining traction in mountain counties at mid‑century.
Hub of Academic and Community Life
For decades, M.C. Napier High School was much more than a place of learning: it served as a civic hub. Local clubs used the school’s auditorium for meetings. Teachers hosted adult education classes in the evenings. On game nights—especially during that classic rivalry with Hazard High—the entire county converged on the packed gym, bridging differences in the shared thrill of small-town Kentucky basketball.
Behind those basketball dreams stood generations of committed educators, many carrying on M.C. Napier’s vision of professional excellence. Students here encountered a standard curriculum, combined with a community spirit that transcended the classroom. Numerous alumni went on to become prominent local educators, leaders in broadcasting, or even soared to national heights—like Captain Douglas Huff, a naval aviator who helped recover NASA astronauts in the 1960s.
Glories on the Hardwood
No account of M.C. Napier would be complete without lauding its legendary basketball history—this is Kentucky, after all. The boys’ team racked up regional crowns, including a thrilling 14th Region title in 1971, and they famously battled into the state Final Four in 1984, missing the championship game by just one heart-pounding point.
Yet the school’s crowning moment arrived in 1994, when the Lady Navajos stunned the state by capturing the Girls’ Sweet 16 Championship. Coached by Randy Napier (no relation to M.C.), a local coaching icon, and led by star player Kristie Combs, the team dominated their title run, outscoring Fort Thomas Highlands 88–56 in the final. That golden trophy remains one of Perry County’s proudest keepsakes.
The End of an Era
By the mid-1990s, shifting demographics and tightening budgets led county officials to consolidate high schools. M.C. Napier High closed after the 1994‑95 school year (consolidation finalized summer 1995), merging with Dilce Combs to form the modern Perry County Central. Alumni were bittersweet: they recognized the need for updated facilities but mourned the loss of their beloved Navajo home. For a time, the old Napier building housed an alternative education program, keeping echoes of student footsteps in the halls until around 2005.
Eventually, in 2007, the structure was auctioned off to a private buyer. Today, it stands in disrepair—its windows broken, walls scarred by weather, corridors littered with remnants of once-busy school days. Despite the decay, those familiar with this stretch of the North Fork still slow their cars at Indian Bend, gazing at the husk of a place that molded so many local minds and hearts.
A Living Legacy
Though abandoned, M.C. Napier’s influence lingers. Trophies, banners, and mementos survive at Perry County Central, and alumni pages on social media ensure that the “Napier Navajos” spirit endures long after the final graduation ceremony in ‘95. Periodic reunions remind everyone of the youthful energy and camaraderie that once pulsed through those halls.
Locals talk wistfully about possible future uses: historical plaques, heritage centers, or perhaps one day a revitalization of the property. But until any of that comes to fruition, M.C. Napier High School remains a stoic piece of Perry County history—silent but steeped in memories, a relic of Eastern Kentucky’s drive to educate its children in a new and hopeful postwar era.
Sources & Further Reading:
Jamie in Wanderland – Perry County Local History
WSGS – M.C. Napier Tribute & Local Archives
KHSAA Records & Kentucky High School Basketball Hall of Fame
Perry County Central High School Official Site
(If you explore the area, remember that the old M.C. Napier campus is private property—always obtain proper permissions before venturing inside any abandoned structure.)
Author’s Note: This piece is part of the Abandoned Appalachia series, an ongoing exploration of once-thriving communities across the region — places where generations found work, camaraderie, and identity, only to see it all fade as energy markets plummeted, times shifted, and mines went dark. Follow along for more stories of resilience, reinvention, and the powerful lessons these hills still hold.