MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TENNESSEE
SCHOOL HISTORIES
Greenwood Elementary School
In 1939, Howell Grammar
School for grades 1-8 became so crowded that a contract was let for an
elementary school building on Greenwood Avenue. The Holmes Fuqua property
had been purchased for this purpose. During the fall term teachers from
Howell School were selected to go to the new school, and the children who
resided in that area were placed in the classrooms of those teachers so
that with the greatest expediency they could he transferred. "On Saturday
before the first of March 194O vans drew up at Howell School and moved
ten teachers, one principal, and equipment for ten school rooms to Greenwood
Avenue. The following Monday morning four hundred children entered the
beautiful new Greenwood School as if they had always belonged there". (Quote
from Mrs. Ridgway.)
The Greenwood Building consisted of twelve classrooms,
a library, cafeteria, two playrooms, teachers' rest rooms, toilets on each
floor and an auditorium. The two-story building housed the first three
grades. Mrs. Caroline Ridgway was the principal. The teachers included:
Mrs. Florence Stevenson, Miss Verda Williams, Mrs. Martha Edmondson, Mrs.
Ione Williams, Miss Katherine Smith, Mrs. Marjorie Durrett, Miss Elizabeth
Damon, Miss Frances Bardwell, Miss Ruth VanCleve and Mrs.Juanita Gootee.
In 1952 the fourth, fifth and sixth grades were
added to the primary school to complete the elementary grades 1-6. Mr.
and Mrs. Phillip, co-presidents of the Parent Teacher Association, reported
an active organization with good community participation in all of the
school activities. To meet increased enrollment, the school had to
have more rooms added and the faculty increased. More land was purchased
for building additions and playground space.
In 1952,Greenwood was converted into a junior high
school. The students were zoned to one of the other three schools for elementary
children. Norman Smith and Moore schools were opened that year and Howell
was remodeled. Mrs. Ridgway retired in 1952, after twelve years as principal
of the school. The teachers were transferred to the other schools.
In 1994 Greenwood became a complex that included
The Teachers Center, Book Processing, The Technology Center, Alternative
School, and the Greater Clarksville Community High School.
Submitted by Sandra Stacey and Mr. Winters.
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