Groundbreaking Ceremony Planned for Scarboro 85 Monument
August 27, 2026, 2:49 p.m.

Scarboro 85 Gallery; image courtesy of the Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation

OAK RIDGE, TN - The Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the Scarboro 85 Monument on Thursday, September 3, 2026, from 10 to 11 a.m. at A.K. Bissell Park, at the future site of the monument.

The monument will honor the 85 courageous Black students from Oak Ridge's Scarboro community who, in 1955, became pioneers in the desegregation of public schools in the Southeast. On September 6, 1955, the students entered previously all-white classrooms at Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High School, making Oak Ridge a pivotal location in the nation's civil rights history.

The groundbreaking represents a significant milestone in the community's years-long effort to create a permanent place to remember and share the story of the Scarboro 85.

"The Scarboro 85 Monument will help ensure that the courage, sacrifice and accomplishments of these students are remembered for generations to come," said Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation President John Spratling. "This is an important moment for Oak Ridge and for everyone who believes in the power of education, courage and community to create lasting change."

Plans for the monument were developed through a collaboration between the Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation, the City of Oak Ridge, Anderson County and community supporters. The monument is being designed for A.K. Bissell Park near the Peace Pavilion and will provide a place for visitors to learn about the experiences and contributions of the Scarboro 85.

The public is invited to attend the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, September 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. at A.K. Bissell Park.

The project is supported by the City of Oak Ridge, Anderson County, the United Way of Anderson, Campbell, Morgan & Scott Counties, the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and the Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce, the State of Tennessee, along with several community members and donors. For more information about the Scarboro 85 Monument, its history and the project, visit scarboro85monument.com.

About the Scarboro 85: In 1955, 85 Black students from Oak Ridge's Scarboro community entered Oak Ridge High School and Robertsville Junior High School as part of the desegregation of Oak Ridge's public schools. Their nonviolent act of courage made Oak Ridge the site of the first public school desegregation in the Southeast following the U.S. Supreme Court's Brown v. Board of Education decision. The Scarboro 85 went on to make history in education, athletics and their communities, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire future generations.