History of Arlington Elementary School

Compiled by Miss Lola Knight 
circa 1966
 
Arlington Elementary School has served this community since 1899, when a frame building was constructed. The school is located south of the L & N Railroad and on the Rocky Hollow Road which leads to Lewis Branch and Long Branch.

The first teacher was Ira Balls, assisted by Mrs. Lillie Connell Knight and Mrs. Lillian Weaks Wilson. Other teachers who followed were Arthur Averitt, Annie Nichols, Bert Robbs, Clatie Thomas, Amelia McMillan, Olive McMillan Harris, Bessie Hall, Stella Gross, Kitty Largent, Pearl Robins, Edgar Hassell, Flora Bratschi, Mr. McClanahan, E. M. Neighbors, Sarah Shelton, Moody Hobbs, Alice Hobbs, Flora Hobbs, A. L. Platt, Delma May Morrison, Gertha Brooks, and Grace McMillan.

The school is the only school in the county located on the same plot of ground as the original school. The building, constructed in 1899, was torn down, but some of the material was salvaged and used in the new school on the same location.

Later teachers have included Pauline Dillard, Tilden Richardson, Jennie Roby, Lura Warden, Luther Wynns, Mrs. Emma Wynnas, Edward Holmes, Annie Black, Helen Fussell, Ina Jones, Lola Knight and Lora Roby.

The present faculty at Arlington School has a unique twin sister-teacher team–Mrs. Lora Knight Roby and Miss Lola Knight. Mrs. Roby has been at the school for the past sixteen years and Miss Knight has been at this school for the past twenty years. It is believed that this is the only two-teacher school in the public school system of Tennessee with twin sisters as teachers.

Some pupils who have attended Arlington School down through the years have included Garner, George, Margaret, Lora, Lola, Viola, Percy, G. A., Grady, Claude, Dossie, Pauline, Ruth, and Blanche Knight; Carl, Gervis, Ira, Mamie, Ida, Gilbert, Marshal, William Francis, Maxie, and Rowe Nichols; Mabel, Sarah, and Arthur Burns; Loyd, Pearl, Hattie, and Bessie Roby; Grace and Bird McMillan; Keenana, Balls, Pulleys, McElroys, and many others from the old families of Arlington.