Spencer in Van Buren County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Burritt College

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 26, 2020

1. Burritt College Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Established 1848 through the efforts of Elihu Burritt, a blacksmith who intended that the youth of his community should get the benefits of education denied to him. It closed its doors in 1939, as a result of the development of the public school system and improvement of communication facilities.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2C 3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list.

Location. 35° 44.787′ N, 85° 27.803′ W. Marker is in Spencer, Tennessee, in Van Buren County. Marker is on College Street (State Highway 30) 0.1 miles west of Webster Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 427 College Street, Spencer TN 38585, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. War on the Plateau (within shouting distance of this marker); Bragg’s March to Kentucky (approx. 4½ miles away); Gilbert Gaul, Civil War Painter

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 26, 2020

2. Burritt College Marker

(approx. 7.7 miles away); The Old Kentucky Road (approx. 8.8 miles away); Rodgers' Tavern (approx. 9 miles away); Camp Forrest (approx. 11 miles away); Trail of Tears (approx. 11 miles away); George Gibbs Dibrell (approx. 12.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Spencer.

Also see . . .
1. Elihu Burritt. Biography of the noted 19th century American educator and activist. From Central Connecticut State University Elihu Burritt Library. (Submitted on July 27, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Burritt College. Tennessee Encyclopedia entry by Tennessee Historical Society. (Submitted on July 27, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Elihu Burritt image. Click for full size.

By J.W. Allderige

3. Elihu Burritt

From life by J.W. Allderige. New York Public Library Digital Collections — The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection

Main building at Burritt College image. Click for full size.

Tennessee State Library and Archives, circa 1900

4. Main building at Burritt College

Former Burritt College building image. Click for full size.

By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, July 26, 2020

5. Former Burritt College building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 27, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 70 times since then and 5 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 27, 2020, by Duane Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.