CARVER HIGH SCHOOL
Gadsden, Alabama
THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE BLACK COMMUNTY
This is the first of series to share ‘the TIES that Bind”. As many of you know, my beloved sister, Kathryn L. Barrett taught history at our school on Tuscaloosa Avenue and used her passion of educating us with World/American/ history even with current events which we now reflect that to be knowledgeable of the past is to know the present and build the future in many aspects of LIFE. I’m sure Kathryn will give her permission for me to quote from her ‘booklet’ that was presented Sunday, August 30, 1981 in a program at our Carver Complex. She was the chairperson of the planning committee with Mrs. Beatrice T. Webb as co-chair and Mr. Floyd L. Donald, as chair of entertainment. A thorough list of the sub-committees will be listed in the next 2 to 3 months of my monthly ‘Black History-Locals’ articles.
HISTORICAL REFLECTIONS…
These historical reflections of Carver High School are made not only to engage in fruitful nostalgia, but to evaluate “The Ties That Bind.”
In linking physical structure, people, places, and accomplishments with the school’s great past, we enrich our present day experiences and foresee further creative fulfillments for the future.
The full twelve year program of public school education for the Negro youth became a reality in Gadsden when Carver High School the first of many to be named in honor of the late Dr. George Washington Carver, was erected in 1936. When it opened, its enrollment was 1,017 in grades 1-12 and the first graduating class had 36 students. Among these were Mrs. Christine Talley Stewart, the first Black attendance supervisor. Mr. C.A. Donehoo was the superintendent of education and the board members were Misters W. T. Murphy, John Lust, W.D. McNair, W.M. Thompson and Mrs. W.E. Striplin.
The opening of CHS, which contained twenty-six classrooms, an auditorium, and a lunchroom, in 1936 was only a phase in the developing story. The real strength and power of the school depended upon those elements which held it together: the attitudes of students toward teachers and administrators the attitudes of teachers toward students, administrators and the community. Teachers entered the arena of life at the level where students lived and grew; where they got hurt and suffered; where they dreamed dreams that ended in despair and where they rose from the ghetto to stand tall among the more advantaged people of the world.
Let’s take a backward glance and meet the first faculty. An air of expectancy was apparent that day when the principal, the late Dr. Robert Hatch, presented a young, dedicated, energetic faculty which included: Grace Jones, India Baker, Susie R. Singleton, Aulanthia C. Vaughn, Sadia L. Harvey, Mary E. Griffin, Lydia Mcham, Mayme Coffee, Mary Jefferies, Annie Hardy, Nancy E. Oden, Mary L. Bowen, Elizabeth Readous, Edythe F. Bingham, J.T. Williams, Margarette Branch, McDonald Hughes, Susie Inez Robertson, J.H. Creeds, Jr., Velma Coan, Asia Carter, Dorothy Lewis, Ruby Sue Lynch, Bernice Forniss, Mary Dowdell, Bessie Lynn, Julia Towns, Ruby M. Littlefield and Sylvia Penny.
The first teachers at Carver and a great hosts of who followed in their way made tremendous contributions to the betterment of human life. for they were concerned with educating the “WHOLE” child. In doing so, they sought to teach the necessity for excellence and creativity; they sought to develop within students a critical tolerance; a cautious sympathy, a disciplined imagination and an intelligent understanding.
Among these stalwart teachers was the late Principal J.T. Williams, a brilliant science instructor and a magnificent basketball coach. It was he who gave the name “WILDCATS” to the team. In addition, he named the hues of MAROON and GOLD as Carver’s colors that have “endured the test of times.”
Next month, we will continue with sharing Coach McDonald Hughes, Principal D.B. Hannibal, Principal J.T. Williams; a list of ‘ACADEMIC TIES (the 1938_1971 Valedictorians/Salutatorians; SOCIAL TIES (1947_1970 ‘Miss Carver’; Homecoming Queens, Student Council Presidents, etc….
Stay tuned, share and please go to MONTHLY REPORTER NEWSPAPER online to give your comments.
Brenda M. Jelks Hutchinson
(As a proud alumni of ‘Dear Old Carver High, the way we responded to
God’s challenging assignment reveals on the level of commitment, respect
and love
…these are the ‘Ties That Bind“