West Chester Elementary

 

Architect Drawing of West Chester, 1961

 

 

West Chester is a k-3 school located in Henderson, Tennessee and is one of three elementary schools in Chester County.  Today the school serves approximately 300 students.

 

 

Photographed in 1963, this was the first group of students to attend West Chester. 

 

 

Our School History

 

              Years ago, Chester County’s school system consisted of many rural schools.  In schools such as Masseyville and Hickory Corner, one teacher was responsible for every child in the community.  He or she might have 30, 40 or more students in various grades from first grade to eighth grade.  The teacher was faced with many children, may ages, and many subjects to cover.

                On July 8, 1961, the Chester county school board approved a new building program which included an eight teacher elementary school west of 4-way grocery.  In a meeting the following month, a site would be determined. 

                Did you know that West Chester was almost located at Montezuma?  At the August 29, 1961 school board meeting, the board voted to approve the general location of the west side school.  The minutes stated:

                “Motion made by Brodie Rouse and seconded by R.L. Wilson that the Board, after looking over sites proposed for new building on the west side of town, vote on the two general areas under consideration.  The two areas being Montezuma and one near intersection of Highway 100 and Montezuma road.  Upon roll call, the vote was as follows: D.W. Bulliner, Montezuma;  H.E. Cooper, Montezuma;  H.R. Clifford, Intersection;  Brodie Rouse, Intersection;  R.A. Talley, Montezuma;  R.L. Wilson, Intersection.  Since there was a 3-3 tie, the Chairman was called on for his vote.  Mr. (Frankie) Carroll voted for Intersection, making four for Intersection and three for Montezuma.  Motion carried for Intersection.”

                While many of the community schools had closed, a few in the western area of the county remained open.  Montezuma was closed in 1961 and the students spent one year at the Henderson School.  These students, along with those from Phillips, Deanburg, Woodville, and Wilson School, would come together in the new school building. 

                On October 3, 1962, the school was officially named “West Chester County Elementary School.”  The building, designed by architects George Mahan Jr. and Arnold Shappley, Jr. of Memphis, was now under construction.  Lashlee Rich Lumber Company of Humboldt, Tennessee, served as the general contractor.

                The school consisted of an office, a cafeteria, eight classrooms for one class each of grades 1-8, and a big gymnasium for basketball and indoor activities.  Mr. William Barrett was the principal.   The doors opened on July 22, 1963 to approximately 300 students.  Some of the first teachers included:  1^st grade, Dartha Plunk; 2^nd grade, Jimmie Hearn; third grade, Pauline Rush; 4^th grade, Mavine Cox; 5^th grade, Bernese Cox; 6^th grade, Beatrice Burkhead; 7^th grade, Evelyn Roby, and 8^th grade, Virginia Webb.  The principal was also a classroom teacher.

                Flossie Newman, Janice Thomas, and Morene Marsh worked in the cafeteria in the early sixties.  Rudolph Deberry served at custodian and Alice Ethridge taught piano.  The library was located in what is now the janitor’s closet next to the restrooms.  There was no librarian, so the teachers maintained the books and checkouts. 

                There was no secretary the first couple of years.  Because the classroom next to the office had an adjoining door, the teacher in that room answered the phone or had a responsible student answer the phone.  This task was easily accomplished because the phone didn’t ring very often.  Mrs. Virginia Webb taught in this classroom during this time.  She said there were no calls about the students’ transportation because students either rode the bus or walked.  There were no “car-riders.”  One of her most memorable phone calls was the phone call that she answered to hear the news that President Kennedy had been shot. It was a moment that the whole nation would remember.  Mrs. Joy Dismuke was hired soon after to serve as the school secretary.

                A typical class had 35-40 students.  There were no special classes or teachers.  The classroom teacher taught all subjects including art, music, and recess and even ate lunch with her students.  After teaching a variety of ages at the small community schools, teaching one grade level was a new improvement to get used to.

                The last period of the day, the students in the seventh and eighth grade had the opportunity to practice basketball.  Yes, West Chester had both a girl’s and boy’s basketball team. Both were coached by the principal, Mr. Barrett.  Our largest rival was East Chester.  Basketball continued until 1970 when the seventh and eighth grades were moved to town.

                Growth continued and in 1975, four additional classrooms were added on the west side of the school.  This included two kindergarten classrooms which had the luxury of two bathrooms per classroom. 

                In 1976, a new leader took the reigns.  Mr. Gordon Weaver, a former “Army man” joined the school to teach, coach, and serve as principal.  His “Japanese Love Song” he sang to students will always be remembered. Mr. Weaver remained principal until his retirement in 1991.

                In 1978, the sixth grade classes were moved to town and only students in grades k-5 remained.  As enrollment increased, the faculty and staff increased as well.  The library was moved to the classroom adjacent to the office.

                In 1991, Dr. William “Bo” Miller began as the third principal.  It was during his time here that technology reached the schools.  Teachers now used computers for record keeping and student enrichment.  By 1996, more classrooms were needed.  While the school only had room for 8 classrooms, there were 14 classes.  Classrooms were squeezed in every available space including the library, a closed-in hallway and the principal’s office. 

                In 1997, some of the overcrowding ended as grades four and five were moved to the new Middle School.  By 1999, the school had outgrown its walls again and a major addition was under construction.

                Constructed at the back of the east side, the new addition included eight classrooms and a new cafeteria.  Renovations were made to the old cafeteria to convert it to a library and computer lab. 

                In 2002, our current principal, Mr. Jimmy Dyer joined us to lead our school.  A former principal at Jacks Creek, he seemed to be “at home” from the very beginning. 

                In the 46 years that West Chester has been open, some things have changed and some remain the same.  Enrollment today is that same as it was in 1963, approximately 300 students.  The school created for one class each of grades 1-8 now houses four-five classes each of grades k-3.  Students from the past are now part of the 2009 faculty and staff that we see each day greeting visitors, teaching students, and taking care of the school.

                While the building and the faces have changed over the years, one thing remains unchanged.  West Chester still has a dedicated and loving staff and involved and caring families that work together to make wonderful students and future citizens.

- AEaton