Rise and fall of a legacy

The first colored school was built on March 3, 1890, under contractor W.A. Steger. The cost was $41.00 to build, and it was forty by sixty feet. Harrison G. Goree donated $20.00. Goree was the principal and teacher for a class of six students. There was one classroom with one teacher when it opened. When the student body grew, two more rooms were built. In 1921 a fire burned the building. The school session was continued at Enon Baptist Church and Odd Fellow Lodge Hall. After Goree moved to Texarkana, J.W. Pruitt became principal, the school had a football team, basketball team, band. He also helped to organize the Cass County Colored Interscholastic League. His work started in 1911 until his death in October of 1941. After his death, the school board changed the name to the Pruitt High Tigers. School attendance was growing so a plan to build a larger one was made. In 1953 a brick building was constructed on Booker Street, which is Murray Street today. It was named Booker T. Washington High School. Their mascot was the wolverine. The elementary school stayed in the old location on Howe Street. The new high school had a new principal, Professor Houston Bassett. In 1958 a new building was constructed adjacent to the high school, adding a gym, a band hall, and four marble benches in front of the school. The school colors, blue and gold, were selected by Pauline A. Fisher and Leola B. Booth. The blue represented Bishop College and the gold represented Philander Smith College. The school thrived. Many students went on to become NFL and NBA players. NFL player Jim Hunt graduated in 1956 from the school. NBA player John Barber graduated from the school as well. In 1970 Booker T. Washington and Pruitt Elementary closed their doors to become Atlanta High Rabbits.