The Junaluska Story

1959 Watauga Consolidated School

As the Black population of Watauga County grew in the 1950s, the lack of amenities available at the Consolidated School led to pressure from the Junaluska community for an improved building for their students.¹ Watauga County Schools decided to abandon the previous schoolhouse, and land was acquired for the construction of a new building for the Watauga Consolidated School. Construction began on the building on Wyn-Way Drive in August 1959.²

The new building cost about $55,000 to build. Work on the new school was delayed due to a strike in the steel industry and poor weather conditions, but it officially opened its doors at the start of the 1960–1961 school year. Measuring 150 feet by 40 feet, the new Watauga Consolidated School consisted of a room that was used as an auditorium, a cafeteria area, a library, and a play area. There was a kitchen attached to a storage room and a boiler provided central heat. The school was painted with bright colors, landscaping decorated the areas outside, and a sidewalk was built for the students’ convenience.³

The new school was also home to three classrooms: the top floor classroom was for grades 5–8, the middle floor classroom was for grades 1–4, and the basement was used as both the high school and the principal’s office.⁴ The school’s student population was typically around 49 people, with 3 teachers.⁵ Junaluska community members fondly remembered Miss Lowery and Mrs. Neal, and their principal, Mr. Henderson.⁶

Though the school’s resources were limited, former student Carolyn Grimes recounted that the students were taught writing, arithmetic, dance, music, and P.E. Grimes also said that successful plays, talent shows, proms, and other special activities were held at the school, leaving many students with pleasant memories of their time at the Watauga Consolidated School.⁷ Another student, Roberta Jackson, remembered the library fondly, noting “At Watauga Consolidated School on Wyn Way, there was a small library, and I would borrow books. I read all the Tarzan books by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I loved those.”⁸

After the verdict in the Supreme Court case Brown v. Board of Education in 1954, schools across the nation were encouraged to integrate their educational facilities. However, Watauga County, like many areas, did not integrate until much later. Watauga County Schools decided to integrate in 1965.⁹ Though the Watauga Consolidated School was short-lived in its 1959 building, the school played a significant role in the lives of the people who lived in Junaluska.

The Watauga Consolidated School building still stands on Wyn Way, although it is now used by the Western Youth Network (WYN). WYN is a non-profit organization that serves at-risk youth of Watauga County and surrounding areas.¹⁰

Interior of a Classroom in Watauga Consolidated School

“Watauga School Has New Building,” Watauga Democrat (Boone, NC)” Newspapers Digital NC. Aug 4th, 1960, edition 1, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn82007642/1960-08-04/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Junaluska

Watauga Consolidated School, completed in 1959

“Watauga School Has New Building,” Watauga Democrat (Boone, NC)” Newspapers Digital NC. Aug 4th, 1960, edition 1, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn82007642/1960-08-04/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Junaluska

Bibliography

Keefe, Susan, ed. Junaluska: Oral Histories of a Black Appalachian Community. Jefferson, NC: McFarland, June 12, 2020.

”Shred and Patches: Reconstructing Affrilachian Cultural History,” Watauga County Public Library held in DigitalNC. https://lib.digitalnc.org/record/24202?ln=en&v=pdf.

“Watauga School Has New Building.” Watauga Democrat (Boone, NC)” Newspapers Digital NC. Aug 4th, 1960. edition 1, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn82007642/1960-08-04/ed-1/seq-1/#words=Junaluska

“WCHS Announces Gertrude Tolbert Folk as next Inductee to the WCHS Hall of Fame.” High Country Press. December 20, 2022. https://www.hcpress.com/front-page/wchs-announces-gertrude-tolbert-folk-as-next-inductee-to-the-wchs-hall-of-fame.html.

“ WYN’s History - Western Youth Network.” Western Youth Network. September 27, 2023. https://www.westernyouthnetwork.org/learn-more/history/#top.