S. H. Archer High School

Our School's History according to Griselda Houseworth Clemons - class of 1969

http://archerhigh.com/

September, 1956 unvolunteered migration began from all Negro high schools in Atlanta (We were Negroes then!) to the brand new unfinished school on Perry Boulevard, S.H. Archer High School.

We had only 8th - 11th grades. The class of 1960 was in the ninth grade. The word "migration" is used because we came from all over the city, using public transportation, sometimes having to transfer at least once to ride to the end of the Perry Boulevard bus line.

The "road," up the hill, to Archer was unpaved and it was a mile and three tenths walk each way in all kinds of weather. Mud, dust, and rocks were our enemies. Cabs would line up to take anyone willing to pay 10 cents for a ride to school.

Gas was only 19 cents then. Grumbling among students could be heard everywhere; while walking to and fro to school, down the halls or up and down the steps, stepping over workmen and/or their tools, and changing classes to the sound of a cow bell.

The school had no electricity or water; therefore we were dismissed each day at 12:00 noon. Classroom furniture didn't arrive until late in the first semester. Students sat on three legged stools. That's right, no desks or chairs, no lockers either. The adjustment for students was a slow process because we arrived from long standing rival Negro high schools BTW, Turner, Price, Howard, and Carver. It was a difficult period for everyone as we learned to get along and accept our new identity as Archerites.

We were the first students and there were several tasks before us; choosing school colors, a mascot, writing the school song just to name a few. Carol Jean McCoy, class of 1959, penned our school song.

Choosing school colors was easy. Students were presented with several color combinations and we voted. The color purple represents kings and queens and royalty. The color gold represents riches and good fortune. These are also the main colors of Mardi Gras and the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. The mascot, the eagle, was selected in the same manner. We voted for this powerful bird that is also our country's mascot and it appears on our currency. We were very patriotic back then. Students submitted drawings and the selected artist was

George Stewart, class of 1960. The first ninth grade class dominated nearly all extra-curricular activities. The chorus had approximately 30 freshmen members; the girl's and boy's varsity basketball and track teams, as well as the football and baseball teams were successful due to contributions of mostly freshmen team members.

Willie Williams who ran track, played basketball and football went on to play professional football with the New York Giants. The girl's basketball team was phenomenal with Opal Ross and her famous hook shot and Nancy Jones with her jump shot. You had to see it to believe it. The girls played in several playoff championship games and could fill a gym anywhere they played. The baseball team put us on the map also in 1957 by placing first in the city and second in the state. The baseball team holds the honor of putting the first trophy in the school's trophy case. Some of the players from the class of 1960 were Carlton Banks, Walter Connally, Charlie Lyons, Walter Nelloms and Ronald Smith. In fact, Ronald Smith played professional baseball after signing with the San Francisco Giants in 1961. After only one year, the band won the Best Marching Band trophy against the stiff competition of both city and state bands while dressed in uniforms of white pants, white shirts, and white shoes. That was our "ice cream" band. They also received an Excellent rating during concert season and later represented Georgia in the annual Safety Patrol Parade in Washington, DC.

The Student Council, established in 1956 under the leadership of Charles Thomas, was well organized and a strong influence at Archer. The first officers were Stanley Baker, Eunice Hunter, Alton Reynolds, Griselda Houseworth, MacArthur Bridges, and Glover Lee. These young leaders remained with the council until graduation with the exception of MacArthur and Glover who accepted early admission scholarships to Morris Brown and Morehouse.