Picturing the Past 79: Harris High in 1963

Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010, at 10:26 AM

Adminstrators and students stand in front of Harris Elementary and High School on Elm Street in Shelbyville in 1963. (T-G file photo)

The building's changed a lot, but here's a look at the sign and a few adminstrators and students in front of what was known in 1963 as Harris Elementary and High School.

This is in front of the highly-remodeled Elm Street building that's now privately-owned and used for offices. An older portion burned several years ago.

Harris, known for most of its years as Bedford County Training School, is still nationally-known for its football teams, which racked up a 78-0-4 record from 1943-50.

But what about the Harris band? Here's the band from 1963, shown in the gym which still exists and which I remember well from its Central Junior High years from 1972-74 (the name was changed shortly afterwards to Harris Middle).

Harris was absorbed into Central HIgh a few years after this photo was made as schools were integrated.

Recognize anyone pictured here? Feel free to fill in the blanks.

Picturing the Past is featured each Tuesday in this blog and each Wednesday in the Times-Gazette's print edition. Reader contributions are welcomed.

Comments
Showing most recent comments first
[Show in chronological order instead]

I graduated from Central in 1964. I can't remember that Harris even had a band!! That really shows how things were seperated. Change really can bring on better things for all, if we will let it!! I'm sorry to have missed,what I am sure, was some great music and performances!!

-- Posted by nanato5 on Tue, Sep 21, 2010, at 10:34 PM

Thanks David for two more great pictures. There were a lot of good athletes who passed through BCTS as their football and basketball records attest to.

Also, Dr. Sydney Harris was the cream of the crop as a school administrator.

I can remember that our three children did their Jr. High or Middle School work there in the mid 70s after integration of the school system.

-- Posted by leeiii on Tue, Sep 21, 2010, at 12:28 PM

David Melson

- Recent posts
- Archives
- Blog RSS feed

- Comments RSS feed

- Login

David Melson is a copy editor and staff writer for the Times-Gazette.

Hot topics

Picturing the Past 92: Stopping by Parks-Belk
(20 ~ 6:57 PM, May 14)

"Ag-gag" bill full of problems
(1 ~ 9:26 PM, May 13)

Picturing the Past 184: Hootenanny lineup
(5 ~ 8:45 AM, May 12)

Picturing the Past 183: Square in 1965
(10 ~ 11:09 AM, May 7)

Speeding drivers on the loose
(8 ~ 10:06 PM, Apr 27)

Home