Mike Parker: Savannah Reunion preserves rich history
Although buildings, names, faces, and ages change, the hearts of the graduates of Savannah High School do not. The opening words of Savannah’s alma mater proclaim, “How We Love This Dear School….” These words reveal how graduates feel about Savanah High School still today.
The Savannah Eagles will gather again this weekend to soar together and celebrate their educational heritage.
The reunion will kick off with registration at King’s Restaurant on Friday evening. Roughly 150 Savannah graduates will gather for the weekend of remembrance. The reunion will continue at King’s on Saturday morning when the Eagles gather for breakfast and a meeting. Later that day, reunion attendees will again go to King’s for an evening banquet.
Festivities will continue Sunday when the graduates meet at Savannah Free Will Baptist Church to worship together. After the service, they will head to the Georgia Battle Center for a picnic.
Savannah High School is part of our county’s rich history. In 1950, Lenoir County began building bigger and better school buildings for all students. One of those schools was founded in the Savannah community of Grifton. In 1951, the school was built right next to Savannah Free Will Baptist Church.
Because the community and the church both bore the name Savannah, the school was appropriately named Savannah School.
At first, the school educated Black students from the community in grades one through seven. Savannah’s new structure was a two-story brick building that featured 11 classrooms, an agricultural shop, a home economics lab, and a cafeteria.
In 1952, Savannah became a union school and served all Black students in grades one through twelve. Mr. Rufus L. Flanagan was the school’s principal. As the school’s population expanded, so did the school. In 1953, the county constructed and attached a single-story wing that added 17 more classrooms. In 1956, the county added four more classrooms and a gymnasium. In 1965, the county added a metal building that offered 9 additional classrooms. Savannah also had four mobile units to help alleviate overcrowding for a short time.
The last class to graduate from Savannah High School celebrated its commencement in 1970. In 1971, Lenoir County reorganized its school system. All county schools were desegregated. Savannah High School became Savannah Junior High, serving students in grades six through nine. Rufus L. Flanagan remained principal. In 1972, Mr. Flanagan retired, and Mr. Jim Henry Jones became the principal of Savannah Junior High.
During Mr. Jones’ tenure, Savannah Junior High School hosted Lenoir County’s Developmental Program, which provided additional resources and support to help students receive an equitable, rigorous, and meaningful education.
In 1981, Lenoir County Schools adopted the middle school concept. 9th-grade students transferred to North Lenoir High School, and Savannah Junior High became Savannah Middle School. Mr. Jones retired in the same year, 1981.
After 60 years of service, Lenoir County decided to replace the old Savannah school structure. The campus was sold to Hugo Salvage Company. A new middle school was built and named Contentnea-Savannah Middle School, located off Ferrell Road.
Savannah High School graduates began to feel nostalgic, especially since the Savannah School they knew no longer existed. They joined forces to organize a school reunion. They invited graduates from the classes of 1953 through 1970.
They held that first reunion in 1980 over Labor Day weekend. The organizers chose the theme, “A Decade of Renewing Friendships and Acquaintances.”
Although buildings, names, faces, and ages may have changed, the spirit of the Savannah High School lives on in its Alumni & Friends Association.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
