George Washington Carver High School (Brownsville, Tennessee)
History
Freedman's School For Blacks, later known as Dunbar School was built in Brownsville in the 1860s with money raised from local black residents as the first public school for African-Americans. The principal was John Gloster, and the assistant principal was George Currie. It served children in grades 1 through 8 before the building was destroyed in a fire in 1919. Education continued for several years, housed in three local churches, Farmer Chapel C.M.E., First Baptist, and Holiness (Brick Sanctified). In 1922, the school was rebuilt, with financial assistance from the Rosenwald fund, and was renamed the Haywood County Training School. In addition to accommodating children, the school also helped returning war veterans complete their education. From 1916 to 1963, Professor Jeffries served as principal. Reflecting the agricultural focus of the school, he was known as "the agriculture man", and in 1936 became Haywood County's first Negro Agricultural Extension Agent. In 1950, a new high school was built, and named George Washington Carver High School, with principal Roy Bond, who served as principal until the last class graduated in 1970. When the schools were integrated, the high school students moved to Haywood High School, while the younger children were transferred to the newly built Eastside Elementary School. Carver's peak enrollment was over 1,600 students, accompanied by a staff of over 50. The buildings were located within the Dunbar-Carver Historic District and the former high school is now the site of the Dunbar Carver Museum of African-American history.
Notable people
- Alline Bullock, songwriter
- Anna Mae Bullock, later known as Tina Turner, attended school, played basketball and cheered at Carver.
- Clay Evans, founding national board chairman of Operation PUSH
- Dwight Waller, professional basketball player for the Atlanta Hawks and the Denver Rockets
References
- ^ Norris, Sharon (2000). Haywood County, Tennessee. p. 8.
- ^ "Dunbar, Haywood County Training, Carver High Schools - 4D 49". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ Thomason & Associates (September 2013). City of Brownsville Historic Properties Survey. Tennessee Historical Commission.
- ^ Smith, Sheila (July 16, 2006). "All-class reunion recalls Decatur's ties to Brownsville, Tenn". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ "Black History". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ Rebecca Hightower (May 5, 2014). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Dunbar-Carver Historic District" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved April 27, 2017. Includes 19 photos (see photo captions page 27).
- ^ "Brownsville museum recognized for legacy as historic African American school". December 14, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ Malone, Janice (September 28, 2017). "The Ultimate Tina Turner Event Visits Brownsville". The Tennessee Tribune. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ "Tina Turner Museum at Flagg Grove School". Retrieved November 22, 2018.
- ^ "Reverend Clay Evans (1925- )". Retrieved November 23, 2018.