Greeting, Fellow Highlanders,
This Blog has been created to allow ongoing comments and interactions between Alumni of Headland High School in East Point, GA. Please be courteous and DO NOT POST OFFENSIVE COMMENTS OR PORNOGRAPHIC MATERIAL. Variation from this restriction may result in your priviledges being suspended or the Blog being taken down
Thanks for your participation.
Jack Brannon
www.cybermal.com/headland
www.cybermal.com
www.cybermal.com/buys
Add a comment by clicking the No Comments or Comment link in the previous post.
ReplyDeleteBRIEF HISTORY
ReplyDeleteHEADLAND HIGH SCHOOL
Headland High School was one of South Fulton County's best high schools during its existence of the years 1956-1982.
Construction began on Headland in 1955 and was completed in January of 1957. Richard Aeck, of Aeck and Associates, was the architect for Headland High. He was responsible for the modern round cafeteria, round
library, and the new bridge (that became known as the breezeway). Archer Brothers Construction Company built the first phase of Headland for a whopping $678,000 and the addition plan cost another $360,000, to be added on in the next few years. The building and athletic fields
remained pretty much the same until its closing in 1982. The faculty/staff parking lot, in front of the school, was added in the summer of 1967.
Since the school wasn't completed by September of 1956,
the students attended double sessions at Russell High School with the Wildcats. Twenty-one faculty members were chosen for the new school and Mr. Paul R. Lewis was appointed as its Principal. In October of 1956, the student body was given the opportunity of choosing a school nickname and colors. After a spirited campaign and election, the name Headland Highlanders was chosen and red and black were selected as the school colors.
The student body met for the first time in the new building on January 30, 1957. The building was dedicated and presented to the student body on February 24, 1957. The first graduating class was in 1959 with a total of 72 students; its last class, in 1982, had a total of 98
graduates. At its population peak during the mid-sixties, Headland was overflowing. The class of 1965 had the largest graduating class with 285 students. Lakeshore High School and Briarwood High School helped
relieve the growth.
During its existence, Headland became known for its excellent sportsprograms, outstanding music department, and high academic standards. During the sixties, Headland won four State AA Championships: in 1961,
the Highlanders went all the way in their surprise victory for the State basketball win. Three more State wins in baseball, 1964, 1965 and 1969, made the Highlanders rulers of the diamond. During this time, they were also rated tops in football and track & field. The seventies saw the Highlanders win seven (boys and girls) State A track & field and cross country championships.
The Highlander Marching band became known for its style and grace. The band performed at all football games, pep rallys, concerts and plays. They marched in the Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington D.C. in 1964, the Easter Parade in St. Augustine in 1969, the Orange Bowl Parade in 1970 and again in 1974.
ReplyDeleteThe Choral Department at Headland was always getting rave reviews whenever there was a performance.
Headland's faculty was superb. With their help, many students were guided into professions that they are still working at today.
As other schools opened during the seventies, Headland's population dwindled. Although still a fine school, the Fulton County Board of Education's school consolidation plan saw a need for a change. They decided to close both Headland and Briarwood High and combine them into Woodland High School which would be housed at old Briarwood. Old Headland would become Paul D. West Middle School.
The last class graduated in June of 1982. From the Southside Sun Newspaper the next week: "The mood ranged from quiet sadness to outright hysteria Wednesday as Headland High School watched its final class of
Seniors graduate. Principal Garland Watkins watched quietly as the last group of Seniors marched slowly and with dignity down the athletic track, through the gymnasium and out into the "real world"." Headland
High School officially ceased to exist July 1, 1982.
Headland closed in 1982. It became Paul D. West Middle School. Headland merged with Briarwood High, housed at Briarwood, and became Woodland High. Woodland High eventually became Woodland Middle. Since Headland alumni
were getting older, an interest in old Headland sparked in the 1990's.
A band reunion and three class reunions were held there, classes of '67, '69, and '70. When word spread that Headland was going to be demolished in early 2000, a reunion committee was formed from all classes 1959-1982. The Highlander Homecoming was held June 3, 2000. Over 2500 alumni, faculty, friends, and family of the Highlanders showed up. A tribute to the deceased,touring the school (much had been changed),rock bands in the gym, food and separate class tents set up on the baseball field, souvenir caps and t shirts, Fulton County dignitaries, and the Highlight of the day...the Headland High Marching Band performing on the football field...A day to remember. A sale was held at Paul D. West/Headland by Fulton County Schools and two summers later, Headland was GONE, demolished to rubble. The new Paul D. West sits there today and I'm sitting in a HHS chorus chair, with "Property of Fulton County Schools"
on the back.
Dinah Thomas
Headland High, 1969