Caverna Stories

The school systems of Horse Cave and Cave City merged across county lines in 1950, forming Caverna Schools. A school system shared by two counties (Barren and Hart) was an unprecedented occurrence. There was dissent among the communities and even lawsuits. Then, seven years later, in 1957, Caverna integrated all twelve grades at once and was one of the first school systems in Kentucky to have an integrated teaching staff. The audio clips in these “Caverna Stories” provide differing perspectives and reactions to the formation and integration of Caverna during the 1950s. Caverna sports soared in state ratings after the school was formed and then again after integration. It is considered a model of successful integration, and yet, some people, black and white, still fell through the cracks.