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Scarboro Community celebrates its historic past and the future

The community started celebrating its history in 2012 and continues the tradition every two years.

In the parking lot of Spurgeon Chapel Church, people gathered from all over Oak Ridge to celebrate the history of the Scarboro Community and those who attended Scarboro High School during segregation.

According to Scarboro Community Alumni Association member John Spratling, in the 1940's and 50's during the Manhattan Project, Scarboro was an all black neighborhood. He said the community started celebrating its history in 2012 and continues the tradition every two years.

"We're just trying to connect the dots and keep that history alive," Spratling said.

Spratling also teaches fifth graders at Robertsville Middle School. He said his mother was a student at Scarboro High.

"Before we integrated, everybody went to Scarboro School out here and eventually to Oak Ridge High School."

Yvonne Mims is 82 years old and a graduate of Scarboro High School. She said she's been to every Scarboro Community Reunion and is grateful it continues to happen.

"So far I've been able to attend each one of them, and I'm always in the parade, which I like doing," Mims said.

"To me, the most important thing about Scarboro back then is everybody felt like family," Mims said. "And our teachers, we always felt like our teachers loved us. We really did."

Looking ahead, Mims said she hopes to not only continue celebrating the community's history, but also to spread one thing. Love.

"I hope we will continue the love, 'cause it's so important to have the love," Mims said.

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