Raising students and razing schools
Editor’s note: This is one in a series of articles marking the 50th Anniversary of Hartselle City Schools.
Upon opening a time cap sule buried at Hartselle’s First Methodist Church, church member and former HJHS teacher Jimmy Yarbrough discovered a Hartselle Enterprise newspaper clipping that pictured a Morgan County High School surrounded by scaffolding and piles of lumber. The caption below the picture read: The above is a picture of the High School now in course of erection here. It is built of brick and stone, two-stories high, and will contain eight rooms and an auditorium. The interior is plastered. The building will be ready for occupancy on or about January 1, 1909.
Flash forward 70 years, and that same building was again pictured in a Hartselle Enquirer article. This time, a bed sheet-sized banner from the Class of ’79 hung from the second floor windows with Thanks for the Memories captioned in giant, block-style letters.
Students were preparing to say farewell to the structure, just as the community said farewell to its beloved Crestline Elementary School that was razed a few months ago in the shadow of the new school.
It’s difficult to say final goodbyes to buildings that carry special memories, but it is part of the cycle of all living things. And, yes, schools truly feel like living things.
This idea has been beautifully captured by Jimmy Yarbrough who, when thinking on his own feelings about the razing of the original Morgan County High School, imagined the story the school might tell of its 70 years. Find below a condensed version of his essay.
If These Walls Could Talk If you are reading this, you are most likely one of my children. For, you see, I am the Old Building at Morgan County High School. Some learned in other buildings at MCHS in addition to me, but I am the symbol of our school. I am your alma mater, your nurturing mother.
You may look back and say, “If only those walls could talk.” Well, I can talk. “What, you say? How can that be?” I provided a physical structure for Morgan County High School, but I was more than that.
I took on a life of my own and was a vital part of our community. My teachers and you were my voice. Great schools and great teachers live on in their students. When you had children, you passed me on to them and your grandchildren. You were and are my voice.
I am so proud of the accomplishments of my children. Doctors, lawyers, teachers, athletes, mothers, fathers, public servants- the list can go on. Some were soldiers serving in WWI, WWII, Korea or Viet Nam. Some were highly decorated heroes. Sadly, others made the ultimate sacrifice. My alums accomplished amazing things.
Some great teachers taught in my classrooms. These teachers built character, gave you a love of learning and challenged you to become the best person you could be. Some of my children came back to teach in the same rooms where they had been students.
How many romances began in my rooms and halls? How many hearts were broken? Notes passed? Spitwads thrown? Guys paddled? Boys slapped? Pencils sharpened? Books read? Songs sung? Dreams born? I smile when I remember.
It saddens me that I failed some of you. I couldn’t reach everyone. For some of you, your high school years were difficult. All I can hope is that I did help you in some ways and that, with the passage of time, you did find yourself.
I was saddened to learn I would be torn down, but I’ve had a great life and I am very proud of all that was accomplished inside my walls. I hope the years haven’t dimmed too many of your memories of me. Time has brought many changes, but this town and our schools are still very special. We are part of the reason why.
