Expansion

From that point on, the muscles of young men from Lincoln School provided much of the labor for the construction of buildings. The campus was wired for electricity in 1917 (Tuskegee Institute had wired its buildings in 1898 - the first buildings in Macon County to be wired for electricity). Woolworth Hall was completed in 1921, and became the home for teachers. It was the first Lincoln School building designed by an architect.

Miss Phillips became Mrs.Cloris Thompson in 1922. By then Lincoln Normal School had expanded, and had nearly 600 students and 26 teachers. The plant consisted of two large classroom buildings, a forty acre farm, a teachers' residence, a small gymnasium, a laundry, a shop, a barn, the Forest Home, and three dormitories.

Ranney Hall, a dormitory for young women, was not constructed until 1926. With its completion, the original Phillips Hall became classroom space for the primary and elementary grades at Lincoln School. Still full of enthusiasm and dreams, Mrs. Thompson envisioned concrete walkways, grading the campus, and even the construction of a new free-standing auditorium. Unfortunately, her dreams were not realized during her lifetime, for she died in 1927 at seventy-two years.

A junior college was added in the 1926-1927 school year. Mrs. Thompson's brother, Lloyd Phillips, became principal. His tenure was brief. He followed his sister in death only a few months later.

After Mrs. Thompson's death, plans were set in motion to raise funds for a memorial in the name of Miss Phillips (Mrs. Thompson). At a campus meeting the Rev. Fred Brownlee, Secretary of the AMA, suggested that the memorial be a building. Most knew of Miss Phillips' dream of a free-standing auditorium. It did not take long to approve Dr. Brownlee's suggestion.