Lauderdale County High School 1912

Before 1912, Rogersville High School operated in a two-story wooden frame building in this vicinity. After an August 7, 1907, Alabama legislative act established a state high school in each county, communities seeking one had to provide plans, equipment, and five acres of land worth at least $5,000, to be deeded to the state. Governor Emmet O’Neal visited Rogersville in October 1911 and assured residents that Lauderdale County’s high school would be located there. On October 16, 1911, the trustees of the Rogersville High School Association conveyed five acres and the existing building to the state. The school closed on May 17, 1912, with W. R. Hale as principal. In early May 1912, the County School Board chose W. L. Davis as principal and Mrs. W. L. Davis and C. W. Williams as teachers for the state high school, which opened on September 10, 1912, with 112 students. On May 20, 1913, Rogersville High School, later named Lauderdale County High School, held its first commencement with three graduates. Between 1919 and 1925, two buildings for agriculture and home economics and three more acres were added. The original building burned on April 1, 1927, and was replaced by a modern one-story brick structure costing $30,000. By 1931 the campus had several athletic facilities, and in 1948 a gym was completed. An elementary school built before 1927 burned on January 20, 1960, and was rebuilt with a cafeteria in front of the high school. A new high school was built in 1958, and the old building became the junior high. A new library and office complex were built in 1966, and in 1967 the stadium was moved to the previous elementary school site. In 1977 a new junior high school was built, and the old one was removed in 1982. From 1985 to 1997, a new gym, weight room, band room, and cafeteria were built. A new office and library complex was completed in 2001, and an additional elementary building in 2010. By 2013, the campus covered about 43 acres with modern academic, athletic, and support facilities and equipment, had 65 teachers under its 18th principal, had maintained high academic standards, had developed a rich athletic tradition recognized in local, regional, and state competition, and had presented diplomas to approximately 6500 graduates during its first 100 years.

Rogersville, Alabama · United States