Classes started at Shades Cahaba High School on September 19, 1920 and the school has continuously served students in Homewood for the past 100 years. This project was started to record the memories of those that attended and worked at Shades Cahaba and those that just have a great story to tell.
The Book
To celebrate the centennial of Shades Cahaba, I produced 23 podcast episodes and various blog posts covering the history of the school, the community and Homewood creating it’s own school system, all of which are in this website. I used these stories and interviews to write the book Shades Cahaba: The First 100 Years which is on sale now. Hardback, paperback and Kindle versions are available at Amazon.com. A paperback version is available at Bookshop.org and an electronic version at Apple Books.
If you are a bookstore and would like to place this book in your store, it is now available to order through IngramSpark.
Episodes
Listen to the stories told by those who went to Shades Cahaba. Teachers, students, staff and parents. The school means something a little different to each person. Visit the Episodes Page for more content.
Show Host
My name is Shawn Wright and I attend Shades Cahaba Elementary from 1970 through 1974. My first year was in Mrs. Lemmon’s 2nd grade class. Both of my children have attend Shades Cahaba and my youngest “graduated” during Shades Cahaba’s 100th year. You can find out more about me at ShawnWright.net.
Blog Posts
Third Grade 1950-1951 – Don Harbor’s School Days
My Third Grade teacher was Miss Barbara Manor. Miss Manor was a tall, strikingly handsome woman with long jet black hair worn in either a pony tail or in a bun on the back of her head. Unlike the other teachers, Miss Manor dressed in stylish, though conservative,...
Second Grade 1949-1950 – Don Harbor’s School Days
My Second Grade teacher was Mrs. Lurlie Franke. She was tall, matronly, slightly heavy.set with jet black hair that was very long. She wore it in a bun on top of her head. She still drove a Model A Ford that looked very old to me in 1949, though it was less than...
Don Harbor’s School Days
Don Harbor wrote his memories of his time at Shades Cahaba to share with family and friends. When I mentioned to him that I was going to produce a Shades Cahaba history podcast, he sent me a copy, which was my starting point for the Shades Cahaba Oral History Project....
The Underpass
I shot this video around 2010 with my new iPhone 4. The video was terrific back then. I shared it on the Facebook page “I went to Shades Cahaba when the main entrance was on Hollywood Blvd.” There was a tremendous response from Shades Cahaba alumni. I thought you might like to see the Underpass.