Smyrna Rosenwald School

Smyrna Rosenwald School. . , 1870 , Clem Ross gives land for Mt. View Church and School, 1874 , Richard Benson sells land to Mt. View trustees for church and school for $5. School was built by Ross family and Mt. View Church Family., 1912 , Julius Rosenwald (CEO of Sears) becomes interested in Booker T. Washington's efforts to improve education for African-Americans., 1913 , Julius Rosenwald, a millionaire Jewish high-school dropout, teams up with Booker T. Washington on an innovative program to improve education for African-Americans in the South., 1913-1933 , Rosenwald Fund used matching grants to help construct 5300+ school buildings in 15 southern states. Rucker Hill Elementary is overflowing with children and is an inadequate facility., 1918 , Mt. View School closes., 1927 , A new schoolhouse is built from donations and the Rosenwald Fund. The building is formally designated as Smyrna Rosenwald School. Mrs. Nannie J. Glass of Lebanon is principal of this school., 1930 , Mrs. Lottie Richardson is first Smyrna African-American child to attend high school (Holloway High in Murfreesboro)., 1932 , Mrs. Maude Collier becomes Rosenwald School Principal., 1935 , Mrs. Collier's sudden death leaves the principal position vacant. Mr. A. D. Washington of Murfreesboro was assigned the position and remains the principal until his untimely death in 1962., 1935-1962 , Smyrna Rosenwald students displayed their best work at Holloway High School and the Mid State Colored Fair. School motto is "Take what you have and make what you want." Rosenwald School students received many awards for their carpentry, arts and crafts, "maypole platting" and musical abilities., 1959 , Queen Washington, A. D. Washington's wife, and Silver Springs students transfer to Rosenwald School. Emit and Elizabeth Bishop deed 8 acres to Rutherford County for a new school., 1960 , Smyrna Rosenwald School was rebuilt on the southwest side of Old Nashville Highway. Dedication of the new school was held on November 20, 1960., 1962 , Smyrna Rosenwald School grieves with the death of long-time principal A. D. Washington. Mrs. Cora R. Vaughn is assigned the position. 1967 - Smyrna Rosenwald becomes Smyrna West with integration. Smyrna West still exists as a Rutherford County School., 2003 , Town of Smyrna works with Hilltop-Rosenwald Historical Committee to construct Hilltop-Rosenwald Park and honor long-time residents for their contributions to the community., 2005 , Town of Smyrna works with Hilltop-Rosenwald Historical Committee to construct replica of the original Smyrna Rosenwald School. Replica facility is named Rosenwald Community Center by Town of Smyrna.