North Florence in Lauderdale County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

Coffee High School

1951-2004

Photographed by Billy Clemmons, December 25, 2023

1. Coffee High School Marker

Inscription. Coffee High School was located at this site from 1951 to 2004. From 1917 to 1950 it was located three blocks southwest, on the north side of Hermitage Drive at the intersection of North Walnut Street. Growth of the school over the years at that location dictated new facilities. In 1940, the Florence City Board of Education purchased a 25-acre tract of land at this location, bordered by Cherry Street. Old Military Road/Jackson Highway (now Hermitage Drive and Royal Avenue. The Olmsted Brothers, the premier landscape design firm in America at that time, was commissioned to create an overall design for the property, including a football stadium. The stadium opened for play in 1941, ten years ahead of relocation of the school. It was named Braly Stadium, and later, Braly Municipal Stadium, in honor of longtime coach and principal Tom Braly, Jr. Coffee High School welcomed its first group of students, grades 9 through 12, in the fall of 1951. The new facilities, in the International Style, consisted of a complex of three separate buildings: an academic building with 28 classrooms, library, and cafeteria, an auditorium noted

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for its near perfect acoustics with a band room, and a gymnasium building with additional classrooms. Later, more classrooms, a choral room and a large gymnasium were added.
(Continued on other side)

Reverse Side
During the 53 years that Coffee High School existed at this location, it was under the leadership of five principals: Tom Braly Jr., Joe Grant (Interim), E.W. Wadsworth, Ralph Smith, James (Buddy) Moore, and Gerald Johnson. Coffee High School maintained a high level of academic excellence. The students were provided excellent educational opportunities under the watchful eyes of a highly qualified faculty. Also, the school upheld an outstanding athletic tradition which received recognition in local, regional, and state competitions. Many players went on to compete at the college and professional levels. Upon graduating, the students possessed the educational background needed for the pursuit of higher education and career goals. as well as contributing to our community, state, nation, and the world.

Alma Mater
On our city's northern border, reared against the sky,
Proudly stands our Alma Mater, as the years roll

Coffee High School Marker - Reverse Side image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Billy Clemmons, December 25, 2023

2. Coffee High School Marker - Reverse Side

by.
Cherished by her sons and daughters, sweet the memories throng.
Round our hearts, our Alma Mater, as we sing this song.
Chorus - "Forward Ever" be our watchword; Conquer and prevail.
Hail to thee, our Alma Mater, Coffee High, all hail!

Erected 2023 by Florence Historical Board.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1951.

Location. 34° 48.614′ N, 87° 40.438′ W. Marker is in Florence, Alabama, in Lauderdale County. It is in North Florence. It is at the intersection of Hermitage Drive and N.Cherry Street, on the left when traveling west on Hermitage Drive. The marker is located in the Cherry Street Historic District. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 605 Hermitage Dr, Florence AL 35630, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama

and in the Shoals.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

Coffee High School Building before it was torn down image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, April 17, 2016

3. Coffee High School Building before it was torn down

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cherry Street Historic District (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); North Wood Avenue Historic District—Expansion (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Coffee High School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Temple B’nai Israel (approx. ¼ mile away); Major General George Washington Goethals' Home (approx. ¼ mile away); Jackson's Military Road (approx. ¼ mile away); Wesleyan Hall 1855 (approx. 0.3 miles away); Wesleyan Bell (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Florence.

Coffee High School Auditorium image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, April 17, 2016

4. Coffee High School Auditorium

Coffee High School Gymnasium Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, April 17, 2016

5. Coffee High School Gymnasium Building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2023, by Billy Clemmons of Florence, Alabama. This page has been viewed 917 times since then and 133 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 25, 2023, by Billy Clemmons of Florence, Alabama. 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 20, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.