Arlington in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Wade Bolton and Bolton College / Bolton School

Wade Bolton and Bolton College side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 18, 2020

1. Wade Bolton and Bolton College side of the marker

Inscription. Wade Bolton and Bolton College On this site in 1887 upon the Hoboken Plantation was erected the first building of Bolton College, established under the provisions of the will of Wade H. Bolton, prominent landowner, killed in 1869 by a former business partner in Court Square, Memphis, during the notorious Bolton-Dickens feud which lasted from 1857 to 1871. Bolton's bequest included $10,000 to build the school and an outright gift of 300 acres for the school grounds and supporting farm. Subsequently, the farm was increased to 1200 acres after the death of Bolton's widow, thus consolidating the remaining plantation property.

Bolton School Bolton College operated as an agricultural school and teachers' preparatory school from 1887 until 1911 when it became associated with the Shelby County public school system. In 1925 it was converted into a regular high school and completely rebuilt in 1978 with several expansions since then. The Bolton College Board of Trustees continues to assist the Shelby County Board of Education in providing special additional educational facilities on this site, thus making Bolton High School the only privately subsidized public school in Tennessee.

Erected by Bolton College Board of Trustees and the Shelby County

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Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1887.

Location. 35° 19.544′ N, 89° 45.685′ W. Marker is in Arlington, Tennessee, in Shelby County. Marker is on Brunswick Road, 0.2 miles south of Osborn Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7323 Brunswick Road, Arlington TN 38002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rosemark National Historic District (approx. 2.6 miles away); Dr. Peter John Flippin (approx. 2.6 miles away); Richland Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (approx. 2.6 miles away); Paul W. Barret (approx. 3.2 miles away); Bobby Blue Bland (approx. 3.3 miles away); Hurst's Raid at Barretville (approx. 3.3 miles away); Anthony Chapel School, Greenwood AME Church & Cemetery (approx. 4.4 miles away); Pleasant Hill Cemetery (approx. 4.9 miles away).

Also see . . . The Dickens-Bolton Feud. Excerpts of contemporary newspaper accounts about events in the feud. Compiled by Genealogy Trails History Group (Submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Bolton School side of the marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 18, 2020

2. Bolton School side of the marker

Wade Bolton and Bolton College Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, April 18, 2020

3. Wade Bolton and Bolton College Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 20, 2020. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 568 times since then and 49 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2. submitted on April 20, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3. submitted on April 19, 2020, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.