Lee High School History
by Janice Tittsworth Barnett
Class of '65
Lee High Librarian
I recently found in some library files this history (rough copy) as of Fall of '71 - evidently part of the school's self-study for renewal of accreditation for Southern Association of Secondary Schools. I cannot find a copy of the completed report - may be in the principal's office somewhere.
HISTORY OF LEE HIGH SCHOOL
In the early history of Madison County there was located to the north of Huntsville a section of land known as the Old Mastin Estate. This landmark, called Quietdale, became the property of Mrs. Sally Mastin Gill. In 1947 Mr. and Mrs. Guy Bishop purchased the land. As of 1975 it was still their home. On January 28, 1956 they sold 24.6 acres, south of Mastin Lane, to the Huntsville Board of Education.
Ref. Madison Co. Courthouse Records Office
Vol. 227 p. 218===Vol. 232 p. 414
Deed at the Board of Education Office
Lee High Drive was located between the railroad track and Forrest Circle extending to Highway 72. A section near this location extending along Andrew Jackson Drive is found on a plat and map April 21, 1950 designated as "Lee High Homes Sub-division". (It was in this section of Huntsville and to the north that was later to be known as Lee High School).
J. Oliver Johnson, Notary Public
K. A- Woltersdorf, City Planning Commission
Carl T. Jones, Civil Engineer
James D. and Joan Williams, Owner
Ref. Madison Co. Courthouse Records Office
#1 Plat Records, page 221
The Board of Education voted to build the third high school in Huntsville. The Board members at that time were James C. Ashburn, Dr. L. A. Davis, A. V. Sneed, Tom Thrasher, R. P. Van Valkenburgh, Sr. and Superintendent of Education Dr. Raymond Christian. The architect Van Deuren & Davis Co. was employed as the contractor, Pearce & Gresham was given the contract to construct the High School.
Ref. Board of Education Minutes 1956-57
During the time of the construction of Lee High the Chief of Ordinance designated Redstone Arsenal as center of research and development activities for rocket and related items.
January 31, 1958 the ABMA Missile Firing Laboratory, Florida Missile Test Range successfully fired the first American scientific earth satellite, Explorer. Dr. Werner von Braun was the Missile and Space expert.
Lee High developed to a three year high school during the city's rapid
growth. In 1952 there was a population of 12,000. In 1958 the city had
grown to 70,000 people.
"This time like all times...can be our best...if we but know what to do with
it."...Emerson
Ref. A Report to the citizens of Huntsville by the governing body.
First to own the land where the school now stands was John William Walker, the first U. S. senator from Alabama. Later it was owned by John F. Newman, William Fleming then Lemuel Mead, and finally by Robinson, William "Black Bill" Robinson, high sheriff of Madison County in 1842 had an idea to build Quietdale, a pre-civil War Mansion, directly behind the school. His widow continued the plan to erect the house. She died January 30, 1889. Black Bill was credited for the manuf. of the first brick in the country.
Ref. Feb. 3, 1970, Lee Traveler by Sharon Parks & Susan Tehan
Note: Historical Pilgrimage, April 24, 1955 called the home Robinson
Ref. Mastin-Bishop Home, Meridian Pike. This was presented by Huntsville Branch, Am. Association of Univ. Woman. A wing of the unfinished structure was opened to students in mid-term, February, 1958 and the 7, 8, 9 grades attended. Mud was one of the most difficult problems during the awkward transfer of space and students from the overcrowded Old Rison School. This was done with the pride and under the direction of Mr. Cecil Fain who was to continue as Principal of the Junior High School. The first full year of Lee Junior High was 1958-59. The building was constructed as a high school and the add - drop method was used until it became a three year high school in 1964.
The new plant was then composed of one classroom wing and the wing was in which the cafeteria is located. At the beginning of the following school term, in addition to the auditorium and library, the wing containing the science labs, home economics labs, industrial arts, and commercial labs were ready for occupancy. The fourth wing and gymnasium were first occupied during the fall of 1961.
During the first full school year of operation there was an enrollment of approximately 550 students.
From its conception, Lee was intended for senior high school use. In the 1961-62 school year a tenth grade was added with provisions for seventh grade students to be housed elsewhere. This was done with the idea of graduating the first class in 1964.
In the fall of 1963, Lee became a full term Sr. High School with its first class of seniors to graduate in the spring of 1964. Mr. Fulton Hamilton was the Principal (and Mr. J. B, Hill was the assistant principal) for the new Senior High School in Huntsville, Ala.
Many exciting events took place during this first year with the faculty and students planning the activities for the first graduating class.
J. R. Brooks, who was the newly elected Sr. class president, Mr. Fulton Hamilton and the 47 faculty members worked diligently to establish a class tradition that all graduates could fondly remember.
The above mentioned names were not the only people who aided in a successful first year Senior High School but there were also many others. Bob Ramsey, who was the newly elected student council president, had the job of leading a 1255 member student body.
Since 1964, Lee High School has had many outstanding Seniors and Student Council Presidents, but the tasks of the first ones are always the most challenging.
From the first to the present graduates, Lee High School has consistently produced young men and women of exceptional capabilities. They now serve our community as doctors, lawyers, teachers, professional athletics and public officials. Their achievements are the result of an academic and athletic program that has attracted local, state, and sometimes national recognition in numerous awards.
The enrollments at Lee have varied over the years with a steady increase from 1964-1972. The enrollments were as follows:
1964-64 1269
65-661422
66-671537
67-681461
68-691555
69-701642
70-711755
71-721825
Lee High School had been built to house approximately 1200 students. By 1971 enrollments had increased so much that construction for remodeling the present facility was begun. During this period, additions were made to the administrative staff with the appointment of 2 assistant principals, Mr. Jasper Jenkins and Mr. Paul Williams. There were also many other additions made to the coaching staff and classroom teaching staff. The number of classroom teachers had climbed from 47 in 1964 to 72 by 1970.
Before the construction for remodeling began, a great number of portable classrooms had to be used as enrollment reached its highest peak of 1825 in 1971. Space became very limited at Lee and double sessions became a necessity.
Lee High School is now housed in a new modern facility which was completed in the Fall of 1973. With the shifting of population in Huntsville, the enrollment at Lee decreased to 1125; however; the trend at present is toward an increased enrollment.
In the school year of 1974-75, Lee High School completed its reevaluation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities. This marked the second time in its short history that the school has once again met the standards of excellence. This has been made possible under the leadership of our Principal Mr. Jasper Jenkins who became principal.
The Lee High Staff is continuing the evaluation of its present academic program. The staff realizes that all students do not progress at the same level; therefore, efforts are being made to meet the needs of all students. The staff also realizes that year round athletic programs and extra curricular activities play a vital part in educating the student for the citizenship requirements of our complex society.
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