HISTORY OF SANGO SCHOOL

By Margie Cocke

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Prior to the year 1899, the nearest available school for the children of Sango was at a distance of two miles. This was a one-teacher school operated part-time free and part-time subscription. The people of Sango decided that the community must have a school.

A school board consisting of S T Halliburton, Rev. H M Gardner, A W Hutch­ison, R P Jett, H W Bennett and Mrs. G C Halliburton was organized. This in­cluded the leading citizens interested at the time. The board secured funds and erected a five room, two-story building. This school, called MONTGOMERY ACADEMY, was a boarding school of note - the first principal being R L Harris of Columbia, Tenn.

Eight years later, in 1906, when Clarksville joint high school was opened, S. L. Smith, then Principal of Montgomery Academy, became the first principal of CHS. After the high school began operating, Montgomery Academy gradually declined as an academy. In a short time those owning the building sold it to the county.

In 1912, Davis and Grant, two one-teacher schools, were consolidated with Sango School. Pupils from these schools were transported to school in team­ drawn wagons by the Sadler Brothers. John and Charles Sadler replaced the team-drawn wagon with a Model T Ford truck, which was the first gasoline bus to haul school pupils in Montgomery County. After this consolidation, one of the school buildings was moved to Sango and added on to the back of the school and adequately -equipped for the teaching of Home Economics.

The first year a teacher came out from Clarksville High School once a week to teach Home Ec. From 1913 until 1925, the school had a regular teacher. Miss Emily Marshall, Miss Hallie Miller, Miss Amaryllis Peay and Miss Eva Porter served as teachers.

By 1925, the building was quite inadequate and the county, with the aid of the community, erected a modern stucco building. In 1936, Walton and Carmel schools were consolidated with Sango and a bus was purchased to transport the pupils to school.  At this time a Smith-Hughes, teacher was added to the faculty. He taught agriculture to the 7 thru 10 grades.

A shop was built in the back yard where the boys could do metal, electrical and other kinds of work. Robert Pitts from Trimble, Tenn. served as teacher until 1941, when the high school pupils were taken from Sango and sent to Clarksville High School.

In 1940, Port Royal School was consolidated with Sango and in 1942 Shady Grove from District 10 was moved also. In order to meet the demand for more class rooms, two barracks rooms were erected on the West of the building.  These make shifts were used for several years:

In 1953, the county erected a new wing on the West side of the old building. This included four class rooms, a new cafeteria being on the first floor, four rest rooms and running water for the entire building. An extra class room was built on the West side, and a central heating system was installed.

In the early 1960's, the 7th and 8th grades were sent to Clarksville for their Junior High work, leaving only six grades at Sango School.  In September of 1970, Sango and Roosevelt schools consolidated to form East Montgomery Elementary School.

A school board consisting of S T Halliburton Rev. H M Gardner, A W Hutch­ison, R P Jett, H W Bennett and Mrs. G C Halliburton was organized. This in­cluded the leading citizens interested at the time. The board secured funds and erected a five room, two-story building. This school, called Montgomery Academy, was a boarding school of note the first principal being R L Harris of Columbia, Tenn.

Eight years later, in 1906, when Clarksville joint high school was opened, S. L. Smith, then Principal of Montgomery Academy, became the first principal of CHS. After the high school began operating, Montgomery Academy gradually declined as an academy. In a short time those owning the building sold it to the county.

In 1912, Davis and Grant, two one-teacher schools, were consolidated with Sango School. Pupils from these schools were transported to school in team-drawn wagons by the Sadler Brother's. (John and Charles Sadler replaced the team drawn wagon with a Model T Ford truck, which was the first gasoline bus to haul school pupils in Montgomery County. NLC) after this consolidation, one of the school buildings was moved to Sango and added to the back of the school and adequately equipped for the teaching of Home Economics.

The first year a teacher came out from Clarksville High School once a week to teach Home Ec. From 1913 until 1925, the school had a regular teacher Miss Emily Marshall, Miss Hallie Miller, Miss Amaryllis Peay and Miss Eva Porter served as teachers.

By 1925, the building was quite inadequate and the county, with the aid of the community, erected a modern stucco building.  In 1936 Walton and Carmel, schools were consolidated with Sango and a bus was purchased to transport the pupils to school. At this time a Smith- Hughes, teacher was added to the faculty. He taught agriculture to the 7 thru 10 grades. A shop was built in the back yard where the boys could do metal, electrical and other kinds of work. Robert Pitts from Trimble, Tenn. served as teacher until 1941, when the high school pupils were taken from Sango and sent to Clarksville High School.

In 1940, Port Royal School was consolidated with Sango and in 1942; Shady Grove from District 10 was moved also, In order to meet the demand for more class rooms, two barrack rooms were erected to the West of the building. These make shifts were used for several years

In 1953, the county erected a new wing on the West side of the old building. This included four class rooms, -a new cafeteria being on the first floor_, four rest rooms and running water for the entire building. An extra class room was built on the West side and a central heating system was installed.

In the early 1960's, the 7th and 8th grades were sent to Clarksville for their Junior High work, leaving only trades at Sango School.

(Editor's Note: Beginning Sept. 1970, Sango School and Roosevelt School will consolidate into a new school building just off Hwy-41-A South behind Lowe Redding's house)

Montgomery County's school system history is being prepared by Mr. N L Carney, former County Superintendent of Education, and who is assisting with accumulation of these historical facts.

Submitted by Sandra Stacey-  Thank you!