The original Spruce Pine School on the left and the new Harris School on the right circa 1920. This is the property in which Colonel C.J. Harris donated for the new school buildings in Spruce Pine to be named in honor of his brother Dr. W.T. Harris. This picture was taken from near the present location of the Mitchell News Journal.
After the coming of the railroad in 1903, Spruce Pine grew into a sizeable town. Between 1918 and 1928, the population of the town quadrupled. Because of its mineral wealth, the Spruce Pine area had attracted the interests of many in the mining industry, including Colonel C.J. Harris of Dillsboro, North Carolina. Harris had established Harris Clay & Mining Company, and was one of the early leaders in the development of Spruce Pine. He had envisioned its location as a natural trading center for the neighboring counties and invested greatly in its growth.
Dr. William Torrey Harris (1835-1909)
Born in North Killingly, Connecticut, Dr. W.T. Harris was appointed U.S. Commissioner of Education in 1889. He was known for innovation in education while serving as superintendent of the St. Louis, Missouri schools, establishing America’s first permanent public kindergarten there in 1873. He also edited the Webster’s International Dictionary from 1900 to 1909.
During this period, Spruce Pine would also develop its own school system. The first public high school in Mitchell County, as well as an elementary school, had been established when the town was incorporated in 1907. A two-story frame structure was erected at that time. With the growth of the town and the schools, there arose a need for land on which to build a new and larger school. Colonel C.J. Harris donated a tract of land, which was part of his mining interest, across the river from the town to build the new school. (This is the present location of the Pinebridge Complex.) In 1916, a new brick building would be built on this site. At first glance, it would seem that the school would take its name from the land benefactor – C.J. Harris. However, this would not be the case. Colonel Harris and his family requested that the school be named in honor of his brother Dr. William Torrey Harris, who had died in 1909. Therefore, it was named William Torrey Harris Memorial High School. Sports would become an integral part of the school’s teams by the 1920’s and 30’s. However, no one knows when the Blue Devil became the official mascot.