Taylorsville High School Historical Marker Dedication

            Taylorsville High School Historical Marker
Dedication

 

            Wesley
Lamar Harris, author of the book, TAYLORSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL, 1900-1966, and the
Etowah Valley Historical Society invite the public to a reception and dedication
ceremony celebrating the installation of a historical marker remembering the
first public high school in Bartow County, historic Taylorsville High
School.  The ceremony will be Saturday,
April 5th, 2:00 pm. at Taylorsville Baptist Church.  Dignitaries will speak.  They include former Bartow County School
Superintendent, Rev. Doug Harris; Taylorsville Mayor Mitchell Bagley; Betty Jane
Tilley of the Euharlee Historical Society; Dr. Davis Nelson, Chairman, Bartow
County Board of Education; Raiford Cantrell, former Bartow County School
Superintendent; Clayton Harris, former graduate; EVHS President, Dianne Tate
and Lamar Harris, who in addition to writing the book, established and installed
the marker. 

            The marker project was conceived and
executed by Harris, graduate of THS, to witness to the current generation and
their progeny the selfless gift of their forebears.  The marker project and the commemoration are
sponsored by the Etowah Valley Historical Society, which is committed to
preserving our common heritage through the promotion of historical awareness and
conservation.  A special welcome will be given to the descendants of founders and
patrons, living graduates, former teachers and staff.  If you are one of these, please come and sign
the registry.  The dedication concludes
with a reception and visit to the marker site.

            Why is a former high school of
historical importance?  Taylorsville High
School, the first public high school in Bartow County, was established in 1900,
during a period in which the state of Georgia was impoverished by the Civil War,
was putting all efforts into economic recovery. 
There were no state funds to build a school.  Cassville, which had been the cultural and
economic capitol of North Georgia was in ruins; the county seat was moved to
Cartersville, but Cartersville had no public high school.  Berry Academy was not yet built.  Parents could pay to send their children to a
private school, Stilesboro Academy, or they could get together and hire an
itinerate professor.  A few forward
thinking citizens led the effort to build the school with local funds.  As soon as students became graduates,
they
provided the county with a better educated citizenry, county
elementary schools with teachers, colleges with prepared entrants and eventually
graduates were found in county, state, even national positions.  THS, especially in the early years, seems to
have been a major contributor to the revival and advancement of Bartow
County. 

            All are
welcome.  If you would like to bring
finger food to the reception, email Mina Harper at jdonharp@aol.com.