WS Chronicle

The history of the Big 4 is well known throughout Winston-Salem. The Big 4 refers to the city’s all-Black high schools during segregation: Carver, Atkins, Anderson, and Paisley. And last weekend the Class of 1968 from A.H. Anderson High School came together to celebrate their 53rd class reunion.

While enjoying breakfast last Saturday, June 5, classmates looked at old yearbooks and talked about the good times they had when they were students. Laura Allen, who organized the reunion, said it was great to get all the classmates together. “We’re officially celebrating 53 years and it feels good to see you all. All I can say is, God has been good and he deserves all the praise,” Allen said.

After serving the community as Columbia Heights for many years, the local board of education changed the name of the school to Anderson High School in 1962, after the late Albert H. Anderson, who worked at Columbia Heights for many years. The school thrived, producing hundreds of graduates, until the early 1970s when Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) integrated. In the early 1980s, Winston-Salem State University (WSSU) bought the old building and now the university uses the building for classroom space and a conference center. 

Mary Howard, who is also a member of the Class of 1968 and an award-winning writer, said Anderson High School helped shape her to become the person she is today. She said although the school no longer exists and some people left before they received their diplomas, everyone who walked through the halls will always be an Anderson Bulldog.

“No matter where you went or graduated from, once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog,” Howard said.