History
South Ayden High School was once a single frame building with one teacher. The school grew and became a brick building with twenty-eight classrooms because of the hard work of Mr. Alonzo Cherry, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Harry Logan, and Mr. Solomon.
When high school classes were added, the first class graduated in 1937 with six students. Class sizes steadily increased and went into the teens in the mid-1940s. In the 1946 school year, there wasn’t a graduating class due to the law that mandated that a twelfth grade be added to all high schools. During the 1950s and 1960s, class sizes continued to increase, with an average of forty to fifty graduating students per class.
Timeline
In 1923, Lewis N. Peal, principal, spearheaded the constuction of the school by contacting the Julis Rosenwald Foundation. The foudnation provided funds for the constuction of the building.
In 1925, Mr. Charles M. Suggs became the principal and worked there for six years.
In 1931, Mr. J. W. Ormond became the principal and in the fall of 1933, South Ayden began its high school classes.
In 1936, 11th grade was added.
In 1943, 12th grade was added.
In 1937, the first class grauated from South Ayden.
In 1951 & 1958, the Vocational Agricultural building, Home Economics building, gym, lunchroom, and band room were added.
In 1966, Mr. Gaston Monk became principal.
In 1971, Grifton and Ayden schools were consolidated and South Ayden High School was closed.
In 1981, the South Ayden High School building was town down.
Galleries
There are three galleries within this collection: Senior Graduating Classes, High School Sports, and Clubs and After School Activities.
The first gallery is labeled Senior Graduating Classes. This gallery includes four senior class photos along with class rosters for all thirty-four senior classes from 1937 to 1971. Class photos that are included are from 1948, 1964, 1965, and 1966.
The second gallery is labeled High School Sports. This gallery focuses on football, basketball, and cheerleading.
The third gallery is labeled Clubs and After School Activities. This gallery focuses on different clubs and after school activities at South Ayden High School during the 30s to the 60s. These clubs include orchestra, band, crown and scepter club, G.O. club, safety patrol force, smart and thrifty group, and the faculty dramatic group.
