BLOG: Some traditions are rock-solid

Posted 2:30PM on Friday 29th April 2016 ( 8 years ago )

Traditions are the rocks of communities. The keep things together, turn strangers into friends,

It's not just a tradition, it's Gainesville's rock.

In this case... literally.

We've all driven by it. It's a big ole piece of rock covered in years of spray paint.

And, it's asking Emily to prom.

Or maybe it's cheering on the Gainesville High Red Elephants with "Beat Flowery Branch!" painted in red, white and black.

Maybe its showing well wishes for Deshaun Watson - "Deshaun won more! Beat Bama!" in orange and purple. Or saying farewell to a favorite teacher that's retiring. Memorializing a student or long-time coach who has passed away - "Elephants never forget."

I first discovered the Rock in a Brenau yearbook, with a cluster of sorority girls sitting on the painted thing with their pledge class year painted on the side. I asked someone about it and she said, "Oh yeah, that's the Gainesville High Rock. My mom actually got arrested painting it in high school. She went to Johnson."

Now, I try to drive by the Rock as much as possible to see what's been painted on there now.

Like today: the Rock is celebrating Marimartin's 15th birthday (Happy Birthday, by the way). The fresh, glossy, white, red and black paint covers years worth of multi-colored sentiments.

The rock became a staple for Gainesville High school in the late 1960s. "Over a period of time - this is not just in one day, it evolved - the first time it was painted by another group... it was the Riverside boys. I remember they came in and painted it over the weekend, because they were bussed in to churches on Sunday. It was painted and then the Gainesville High group went back and painted over it again," said Kristy Nix, a cheerleader and Gainesville grad of 1968.

"Over a period of time - this is not just in one day, it evolved - the first time it was painted by another group... it was the Riverside boys. I remember they came in and painted it over the weekend, because they were bussed in to churches on Sunday. It was painted and then the Gainesville High group went back and painted over it again," Nix said.

Nix was a cheerleader when the Rock was given to the high school during a pep rally by Gainesville City on October 17, 1967. "From that point on... it was all she wrote," Nix said.

The Rock isn't alone either. Each Gainesville City School has a rock of their own, including Fair Street and Enota Elementaries.

Now you can't just go paint the Rock willy-nilly. Cheerleading Coach Helen Perry said you need to get permission through the office and it needs to be relating to school spirit, current students of the like. But sometimes, there are exceptions.

"Typically, during a rivalry week, like when we're playing Flowery Branch or when we used to play North Hall, You know the other schools love to come and paint the rock," said Perry. Other exceptions she said include memorials for former teachers, coaches and administrators, and occasionally students, who have passed away.

North Georgia, there's just one thing we need from you: we want to see your memories - send your pictures of the Rock to me in an email and we'll put them in our gallery. The Afternoon News Wrap crew will pick the most memorable, oldest and most creative and those winners will get a little prize from us here at WDUN.

So email me your pictures! Deadline to submit is Thursday, May 5 and winners will be announced on the Afternoon News Wrap on Friday, May 6.

Until next week,

Stay curious.

Courtesy of Helen Perry

Congrats, Super Swag Jamel. You're 16th birthday rock message is forever emblazoned on Google Maps.

Leanne Minghini ('84) submitted this picture from May 1984.

Happy Birthday, Marimartin! The Rock on April 29, 2016.

So. Much. Paint.

Elephant foot. See it? Also, literally decades of paint.

Casey Cochran submitted this photo of school spirit - cheering on the GHS swimmers!

Carolyn submitted this photo of her grandson at the famous rock. She was a senior at GHS in 1967-1968.

Len Fleming, class of , submitted this photo: "The class of 78 painting THE ROCK in honor of former principal Curtis Segars. His daughter Laurie was a 78 grad and a lifelong friend to all in this picture, as was Mr. Segars."

The finished product, submitted by Len Fleming. "The finished product of the Curtis Segars memorial painting by the class of '78 in the spring of 2015. RED ELEPHANT FOR LIFE!"

A retirement rock. Courtesy Helen Perry.

Gold City Quartet - 1981. Submitted.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/4/393506/gainesville-high-rock