East Lauderdale News Reports

East Lauderdale News Reports 100 Years of Tradition

The 2012-2013 academic year at Lauderdale County High School, Rogersville, began Monday, August 20, with the first day of classes. Throughout the remainder of 2012 and continuing until graduation of the Class of 2013 in May, this will be a truly special nine months for LCHS as the school celebrates its 100-year anniversary. Various commemorative events are planned, including special events for Homecoming 2012, a festival day next spring, and much more. Articles in upcoming issues of the East Lauderdale News will have details. 100 Years of Tradition The general theme for this academic year is encapsulated in the theme "100 Years of Tradition." T-shirts emblazoned with this slogan will soon be available for purchase from a committee which has been established on campus.  The LCHS English Department and History Department are jointly working on this project. Eric Cornelius, LCHS Principal, said that numerous activities are being planned by a committee of teachers, including those in the following list. 1) Homecoming 2012 with the parade theme being "100 Years of Tradition"; 2) Displays in the LCHS administration lobby featuring photographs of all past LCHS principals, copies of the LCHS Reflector yearbooks and a tribute to all LCHS athletes who have been inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame; 3) A centennial celebration during the Spring of 2013, which will include a day of fun for all students (games, inflatable slides, etc.) including musical entertainment, community-wide activities, guest speakers, and food; and 4) Unveiling of a historical marker inscribed with details about the establishment of LCHS in 1912 and the first graduating class in 1913. The current senior class at LCHS and other groups are in the process of raising funds for the historical marker.  The East Lauderdale Historical Society and several civic organizations have pledged to help.  If any individual or group desires to make a donation, contact Eric Cornelius at 256-247-3414 or by email at eric.cornelius@lcschools.org. Suggestions and other ideas regarding the 100 Years of Tradition celebration are sought from the public.  One idea involves the revitalization of the LCHS Alumni Association.  Contact Brenda Cagle for more details. The first LCHS graduating class in 1913 had three graduates.  The graduating class in 1931 had 34 seniors.  A total of 373 graduates received diplomas from LCHS during the years 1913-1931.  The LCHS motto "He can who thinks he can" was adopted in 1929.

Hello blog readers, website viewers, southern ladies and gentlemen, fur-iners and those of you who ended up here by clicking where you didn't mean to click.

Welcome to fish tales from rogersville.  

This is the official blogspot of the Rogersville Chamber of Commerce and the town of Rogersville. We have some stories to tell;  some will be true and some... well you know how the fish gets bigger with every telling.  In any case we have stories and quite frankly we want to record them. Some will come from word of mouth; passed on from generation to generation. Some will come from the deep recesses in the grey matter of old-timers who can say, "I remember when"... We love our stories as they are our heritage and the history of our place, but some of the youngsters and newcomers don't know them. They either weren't listening or were in the wrong place when the story was being told.       

The story I will begin telling, which will be shared in several posts,  is really not my story at all, I am merely the re-citer of someone else's story, that someone is one of the town's great historians, Jim Cox.  You will often find Jim on Lee Street at the East Lauderdale News or out scouting for yet another story with his trusty camera.      So here goes...

Once known as Rodgersville, Rogersville became an incorporated municipality on February 6, 1858. Now one of Alabama's fastest-growing towns with a bright future, Rogersville has an interesting history going back to ancient times when Native People thrived in this region due to rivers, creeks and abundant wildlife.  Fish, freshwater mussels, deer, berries, etc., were resources which provided sustenance to the Cherokee,  Chikasaw and their prehistoric ancestors.                                                               

The settlement of what is now eastern Lauderdale County by non-Native Americans commenced by 1807. This frontier, known as “Over Elk”, was very appealing to adventurous families…mostly from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky

First among this group were tenants who leased land from Chief Doublehead, a Cherokee leader who controlled a vast reserve between Elk River and Cypress Creek near what became Florence.

Some came down the Tennessee River by flat-bottom boat. Others arrived in wagons or on horseback. There were also many squatters who established residence without payment of lease. 

Well, this is a start. I will post a 2nd chapter later, so stay tuned. Thanks for visiting...