Photo by Julianna Leopold

ATLANTA—A parking lot now stands where Mike Barrett shared a first dance with future wife, Loraine, at a sock hop in the gymnasium of Saint Joseph Catholic High School.  

Although the Atlanta high school on Courtland Street was demolished long ago, Barrett and fellow members of its Class of 1966 have fond memories of friendship, love and lessons learned.  

The reunion planning committee of the class realized their 60th reunion this summer might be the last big gathering, and member Bill Todd shared his vision to leave a permanent memorial to document the existence of SJCHS for all to see. 

The school, open from 1960 to 1976, at 320 Courtland St., had 13 graduating classes.  

By 1960, St. Pius X High School had grown to the point that a school annex was opened downtown in the former Sacred Heart High School space on Courtland. Initially named the St. Pius X Annex, it was renamed Saint Joseph High School in 1961. 

In 1972, the property that included Saint Joseph High School—and was formerly home to Marist College and Sacred Heart Parochial School—was sold to developers. The board of education searched for a new location for the school, but alternatives proved cost prohibitive. The diocese was able to lease the existing property long enough to allow the class of 1976 to graduate. Then the school closed forever. 

The plaque for Saint Joseph High School is surrounded by rose petals in the garden of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Atlanta. The reunion planning committee of the class realized their 60th reunion this summer might be the last big gathering, and member Bill Todd had a vision to leave a permanent memorial to document the existence of SJCHS. Photo by Julianna Leopold

The Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, diocesan priests and laypeople were the teachers and faculty at the schools. 

“Saint Joseph High School was in the center of town, but the kids were from all over,” said Barrett.  

Classmates Bill Todd and Bill Adams “generously” funded the creation of a memorial plaque sharing the school’s existence and a bit of its history. The six-month project culminated with placement of the plaque in the rose garden of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was within walking distance of their former school. The location reflects the strong connection between the then-Sacred Heart Church and the school community. 

Barrett said creating this memorial was an “emotional, nostalgic and personally fulfilling experience.”  

Father Tri Nguyen, pastor of the Basilica, blessed the plaque during a ceremony after Mass on Aug. 9. Rose petals from the previous evening’s school reunion dinner in Decatur were scattered around the plaque. 

Barrett was among the speakers at the ceremony and thanked Kelly Schreckenberger, pastoral administrator at the basilica, for her support in the process. He admitted that seeing the finished product nearly brought him to tears. 

For the group, the most difficult aspect of the project was coming up with the wording on the marker.  

“It reminded me of an assignment given to us in Mrs. McCoy’s English class to write our own epitaph which was a very though-provoking exercise for such young minds,” said Barrett in his ceremony speech. 

The monument’s plaque begins acknowledging the “beloved” school’s existence and history, and even its mascots, The Hawks. 

Its parting words read, “Our high school years together were a time of great excitement and endless possibilities. Now all these years later, high school is but a dream of simpler times and of gratitude that we were instructed in the way we should go.”