Herman Strickland

Recalls for class of 1957...Herman Strickland

This is just a brief summary of some of my thoughts. I will get them better organized and match them more closely to your questions. I just wanted you to know that I am doing something.

I was enrolled at Harrison High in 1949 when it was 1 through 12 grades and there was no Elm Street Elementary (Franklin Elementary) or Robinson Elementary. My oldest brother was a 1st grader in 1935, the first year the Blytheville School for AA became Harrison High. I am sure that before the school became a High School it probably had grades 1 through 8.

I was born on Elm Street in 1939 in sight of the old Harrison High School. There was no McHaney Street. With exception of Elm Street, the school was surrounded by cotton fields. Students from the east and west sides of south Blytheville walked through fields to get to school. There were no public school busses for AA. The athletic teams traveled on labor busses owned by AA.

Mrs. Wiley did an outstanding publication in titled Blytheville/Mississippi County Black Culture Sesquicentennial Scrapbook 1986. Mrs. Willie M. Robinson sent me a copy for Christmas that year and it is kept as one of my most cherished gifts. I think it will be a helpful resource for us