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E. W. GROVE HIGH SCHOOL, 1906-1958
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CHAPTER III
FOUNDING AND DEVELOPMENT cont
After the building was constructed and all improvements made, the Building Committee made its final report and it is written upon the pages of Minute Book N of the Henry County Quarterly Court as follows:
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E. W. GROVE HIGH SCHOOL (1997)
HENRY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION OFFICE (1986) |
In 1908, E. W. Grove High School presented diplomas to its first graduating class. The following account was given in a history of Henry County:
The first graduates from Grove High School were Louise Johnsonius (Mrs. Paul Doran), and Fern Madole (Mrs. James Calhoun). This was in the year 1908 and at the time of the closing of the school, the Rev. Lynn Broughton was holding a revival under a tent on South Poplar Street near where the First Methodist Church stands. At this meeting, on a Sunday night, the two graduates, Miss Johnsonius and Miss Madole were called to the front and presented their diplomas, thus completing the first graduation exercises of Grove High School (Johnson, 1958, p. 159).
Graduation was possible after only two years since other schools in the county had offered the ninth and tenth grades before the existence of E. W. Grove High School. The curriculum offered by these schools which equaled the first two years in the new high school is shown in Chapter V of this study.
During the April Term of the Henry County Court and on April 4, 1910, the Court was given a report on E. W. Grove High School. The proceedings as heard by the Court and given by W. W. Farabough were:
We wish to submit a report of E. W. Grove Henry County High School.
There has been enrolled at this session one hundred and fifty pupils, a large number coming from outside the First Civil District.
The school is in a flourishing condition and doing most excellent work.
There has been raised between $15,000 and $16,000, looking to the building of dormitories for the economical boarding of students; plans have been drawn and are now in the hands of contractors for bids to build and equip a dormitory for girls. By this means board and lodging can be secured from $8.00 to $10.00 per month, not withstanding the higher prices of food products.
Your Board feels greatly encouraged at the prospects and we hope and confidently believe that this institution will continue to prosper and grow until it is a training or higher school surpassed by none throughout the country.
We further beg to report that Mr. Grove and Mr. Barton have agreed to macadamize the boulevard leading from Dunlap Street up to the school property... (Minute Book O, April 4, 1910, pp. 144-145).
In the summer of 1910, Cavitt Hall, a two story and basement girls dormitory was built (The Grove Comet, May, 1913).The money for the new addition was contributed by "Dr. Grove, Col. and Mrs. O. C. Barton, Mr. J. C. Rainey, Mr. A. H. Lankford and other citizens of Paris and Henry County" (Visiting Committee, 1950, p. 11). Mrs. O. C. Barton's maiden name had been Cavitt and the building was named after her father Mr. N. Y. Cavitt (McSwain, Interview, 1960).
Cavitt Hall was described in The Grove Comet as follows:
This building--Cavitt Hall--is lighted by electricity, heated by steam, has sanitary toilets, tub and shower baths on each floor, with hot and cold water. The building is furnished with ample furniture, except light bedding. Table board is furnished here at actual cost to both girls and boys.
The principal and his family live in the girl's dormitory (The Grove Comet, May, 1913).
The May 7, 1913, issue of The Grove Comet also brought out a very important fact concerning the campus and buildings of E. W. Grove High School and one of interest to Henry County tax payers:
All this property has been paid for, so that this magnificent school plant is open to the people of Henry County without one cent of extra tax levy--it is their school--while other counties of the State, which have high schools, maintain them with a levy of ten or fifteen cents, and most of them are inferior in building and equipment (The Grove Comet, May, 1913).
During the early part of the twentieth century the roads in the county were of poor quality since most of them were not graveled or paved. For this reason it was necessary for the pupils at E. W. Grove High School to live in the city, thus explaining the need for Cavitt Hall and the accommodations which were made for boys also in 1910.
The following account was included in A History of Henry County, Tennessee:
On Aug. 2, 1910, Mr. S. W. Sherrill, the superintendent, announced the dormitory for boys would not be completed in time for use at this term and that they had secured the beautiful home of Mrs. J. N. Thompson for a year. This home will accommodate 20 pupils. The boys can take their meals at the girls dormitory with the Co-op Club. Boys are to furnish sheets, pillows, bed coverings and towels. The monthly charge is $1.50 for the room. A teacher will live in the house and have charge of the boys (Johnson, 1958, p. 159).
In 1912, Dr. Grove visited the high school around Thanksgiving. He was warmly welcomed by the students as they attempted to show their gratitude for his gifts. On his return to St. Louis, the kind gentleman sent the principal, Mr. W. T. Robinson, a check for $150 for the purchase of fruit to be given to the students. For several years Dr. Grove continued to send the check and "fruits were placed on the first floor from six to eight weeks" (Visiting Committee, 1950, P. 12).
Since the road leading to the school was of dirt surface and became difficult during the rainy seasons, some of the administrators of the school felt that the students needed a good road more than they did the fruit, so the $150 was spent on gravel. This action displeased Dr. Grove who terminated the fruit allotment (Rhodes, Interview, 1960).
In 1915, E. W. Grove High School was admitted to memberships in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Only one public high school in the state, Hume-Fogg of Nashville, has been a member longer than Grove. One other public school, Chattanooga High School, was admitted in 1915 (Geiger, 1951, pp. 42-46). Prior to the entry of the Henry County school, "five private schools of the state were admitted" (Visiting Committee, 1950, pp. 11-12).
In 1916, a post card was printed which was devoted entirely to E. W. Grove High School. The card contained many interesting things about the school namely:
The Motto
A High School Education for Every Boy and Girl in Henry County.
Girls Dormitory Regulations
1. Each room is furnished with bed, dressers, table, wardrobe, two chairs, washstand and water set.
2. All bed linen, pillows, covers, towels, and other necessities will be furnished by students.
3. No rental charges will be made for rooms.
4. Board is furnished at cost to all students, the average price being about $12.
5. A rebate will be given twice a month for those visiting home. No rebate will be given oftener than twice a month, because it is believed that visits of greater frequency are detrimental to the best interests of the student, and though not prohibited, will be discouraged.
6. No student will leave the school premises without permission and proper chaperonage.
7. Each student pledges herself to abide by all regulations of the dormitory.
Entrance Requirements
1. Students from Henry County with elementary certificates from County Superintendent will be admitted without examination.
2. Students from the city schools with elementary certificates from City Superintendent will be admitted without examination.
3. All others will be required to pass examinations on the following subjects: Arithmetic, Grammar, U. S. History, Geography, Physiology, Tennessee History and Spelling (Post Card, 1916).
During the October Term of the Henry County Quarterly Court in 1916:
Came W. M. Huddleston and offered the following resolution and moved the Court to adopt the same, which said resolution was accepted by the Court and ordered spread upon the Minutes of the Court and is in the words and figures, following to-wit:
Whereas, the Executive Board of the Board of Trustees of E. W. Grove Henry County High School, desire to establish a Demonstration Farm in each of the new Civil Districts of Henry County, Tennessee, to be used under the supervision and control of Prof. D. M. Clements, teacher of Agriculture in said high school; and
Whereas there has already been established demonstration farms in each of the following Districts, #1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, and 14; and
Whereas, the Executive Board; together with other Public spirited citizens of Paris, have subscribed, bought and paid for an automobile to be used by Prof. Clements in visiting the demonstration farms in the various Districts of Henry County (Minute Book O, October 2, 1916, p. 522).
At the death of the noble benefactor, Dr. Grove in January of 1927, the following settlement was made in the Quarterly Court of Henry County:
Whereas, under a written instrument executed by the late E. W. Grove the 6th day of July 1905, certain provisions were made for the endowment to the E. W. Grove Henry County High School located in Paris, Tennessee, which instrument is of record on the minutes of the County Court of Henry County, Tennessee in Book N page 115 which is here referred to, and
Whereas, E. W. Grove now deceased, provided in the aforesaid instrument that he should have the privilege at any time he saw proper by paying $50,000.00 in money and such annum at 5 per cent per annum and terminate his agreement or understanding; and
Whereas, since the death of the said E. W. Grove, his personal representatives in the city of St. Louis where his estate is now being administered desire a and here given the Board of Trust created under and by said instrument notice that they desire to terminate said trust as provided in said instrument have signified their willingness to pay over to the board of trust the sum of $80,000.00 in cash and the additional sum of $1,000.00 as the quarterly payment of said sum which is due and owing the first day of August 1927. The Said Board of Trust feeling that they have no option in the matter except to comply with the desired now made by the representatives of said estate, have agreed to accept the sum of $81,000.00 and release the Estate of the said E, W. Grove from any further liability under said instrument.
Now therefore in consideration of the premises, it is ordered and adjudged by the Quarterly Court of said Henry County now in session that the proposed settlement made by the executors aforesaid to the said Board of Trust in termination of the liability under said contract be and the same is hereby ratified and confirmed by the Court.
In ratifying the foregoing action of the Board of Trust, the County Court is glad of the opportunity this occassion affords of again expressing in behalf of the citizenship of Henry County their appreciation and gratitude of this generous beneficence of Mr. E. W. Grove, evidencing his interest and concern in the youth of Henry County.
This fund contributed to the education of the youth of our County provided a perpetual monument to the honored memory of Mr. E. W. Grove (Minute Book R, July 5, 1927, p. 396).
In 1931, Mr. E. W. Grove, Jr., attempted to perpetuate the tradition established by his late father. The following article was taken from The Grove Comet and stated the aims of the younger Mr. Grove:
On Monday, January 5, the members of the Henry County Court, met and enacted a law which will be a part of Henry County's History. A resolution accepting the proposal of Hon. E. W. Grove to erect several new buildings at the school in memory of his father, the late E. W. Grove, Sr., came as a surprise to those interested in the advancement of the school. It had been understood for sometime that some action would be taken at this session of court in regard to Mr. Grove's proposal, but owing to the conditions throughout the county, some feared that the court would not act favorably at this time.
The proposed buildings include a fully equiped manual training and commercial departments. The only requirement was that the county agree to maintain the school as a first class grade school (The Grove Comet, January, 1931).
The Henry County Quarterly Court Resolutions follow as they appeared in Minute Book S:
Whereas, Hon. E. W. Grove, of St. Louis, Missouri, propose, in memory of his honored and revered father, the late E. W. Grove, to, in his memory, erect several buildings on the Grove School site, and to fully and completely equipt same, among other things installing and equipting a manual training department and a commercial department, and
Whereas, the only requirement is that the County Court of Henry County will agree to maintain said school as a first class, A Grade School, and,
Whereas, upon careful investigation it is found that the cost of such maintenance will amount to approximately $3000. 00 to $4000. 00 in addition to the present cost for the first year, and will increase accordingly to the growth of the school, now,
Therefore be it resolved by the Quarterly Court of Henry County, that the proposition of Mr. Grove be and hereby is accepted and that the said Court agrees to 80 maintain said school as required, and,
Be it further resolved, that the appreciation of the Court, and of the whole County is hereby expressed to Mr. Grove for his generosity, and a reiteration of the request and reverence for his honored father, E, W. Grove be stated (Minute Book S, January 5, 1931, p. 64).
The motion was carried and thus E. W. Grove High School was given another chance for expansion by a friend of the school. By 1931, the list of contributing friends was becoming quite lengthy, and the majority of them would be recognized on the list of stockholders of the Paris Medicine Company. Some of the friends of the school who were stockholders other than the Grove family were the Bartons, Jernigans, and Cavitts (McSwain, Interview, 1960).
Mr. E. W. Grove, Jr., also made another contribution to the school in 1931. The following news item was taken from The Grove Comet which describes Mr. Grove's contribution and also contains a letter from him to the student body:
The entire student body wishes to express their grateful appreciation to the Parent-Teachers and Mr. E. W. Grove, Jr., for the money, shrubs and flowers they have contributed to help beautify the campus.
The P. T. A. provided for a benefit show several weeks ago, and Mr. Grove, on reading of the show, sent us a check of $300.00 to encourage the endeavors of school and P. T. A.
The following is a letter received from Mr. Grove:
St. Louis, Mo.
Feb. 24, 1931
The Student Body
Grove High School
Paris, Tennessee
My Dear Friends:
I notice from an article in your local paper that you are preparing a benefit for the beautifying of the grounds around the school. I wish to heartily complement the board or those responsible for this move, and also for what has been done in this connection the past year.
On account of my deep interest in the school, not only in this movement but in all sound efforts of the school, I wish to offer the enclosed check as my contribution toward your benefit fund.
I hope to be with you again before the close of your school term when I can probably tell you more about the Grove memorial.
As ever your friend
E. W. Grove, Jr. (The Grove Comet, April, 1931)
Mr. E. W. Grove, Jr.'s plan for a building to serve as a memorial to his father never matured. After his death, on May 30, 1934, a structure of the type he had planned was erected. The new building was completed in 1937 and was designed as a gymnasium with space for manual training and commercial shops under the gym. The erection of the building was a project of the Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works, which furnished the funds and labor (Visiting Committee, 1950, pp. 12-13).
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FEDERAL EMERGENCY ADMINISTRATION OF
PUBLIC WORKS BUILDING (1997) |
At the October Term of the Henry County Quarterly Court in 1940, the Court entertained the settlement of Mr. E. W. Grove, Jr.'s estate in which E. W. Grove High School had a great interest. The following was recorded in Minute Book S:
Whereas, under the terms of the last will and testament, dated April 7, 1931, of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., late of the County of St. Louis and State of Missouri, the St. Louis Union Trust Company, as Trustees under said will, was directed to pay to the Grove High School at Paris, Tennessee, out of the net income accruing to said trust estate, the sum of Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) per year for a period of ten years, after payment of other bequests in said will contained; and,
Whereas, from the date of the death of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., on May 30 1934, until the present date there have been no assets of his estate to be delivered to the Trustee aforesaid for administration, but said Estate of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., has now pending a claim against the Estate of Edwin W. Grove, Sr., the settlement of which will result in the delivery of assets of substantial value to the Estate of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., and,
Whereas, the St. Louis Union Trust Company, as Executor and Trustee, and the beneficiaries under the will of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., has contended that no part of such assets will be chargeable with payments to the Grove High School or for its benefit for the reason that there was no income earned or accrued by the trust estate during the period from the date of the death of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., to the present time, which claim is denied by the Grove High School and the directors of the Henry County Board of Education; and,
Whereas, the parties desire to settle the controversy, and the Executor and the beneficiaries of the Estate of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., have by way of compromise and settlement, offered to pay the sum of Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) in cash to the Board of Education of Henry County, Tennessee, for and behalf of the Grove High School, in full satisfaction of said bequest; and,
Whereas the County Court of Henry County, Tennessee, has been furnished with a certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Education of Henry County, Tennessee, adopted on the 7th day of October, 1940, accepting said offer of settlement on behalf of the Grove High School at Paris, Tennessee; and it appears that the acceptance of said offer was approved and recommended to the School Board by L. B. Browning, Superintendent of Schools of Henry County,
Now, Therefore, Be it resolved, by the County Court of Henry County, as follows:
1. That the action of the Board of Education in accepting for and behalf of the Grove High School of Paris, Tennessee, the sum of Ten Thousand ($10,000.00) In full settlement and release of all rights and claims under the said bequest of Edwin W. Grove, Jr., late of the City of St. Louis, Missouri, be and is hereby, in all respects, approved, ratified and confirmed (Minute Book S, October 7, 1940, pp. 472-473).
In the "Evaluative Study," reference was made to a ten thousand dollar donation made to the Grove Trust Fund from the estate of Dr. Grove. However, the donation more probably came from the estate of his son, E. W. Grove, Jr., since a gift of this amount was mentioned during the settlement of the latter's estate as recorded in Minute Book S of the Henry County Quarterly Court and as viewed earlier in this study.
The money was used to repair and improve E. W. Grove High School. Four thousand dollars was used in repairing Cavitt Hall after it burned on January 27 of 1943. "The remainder of this gift provided the lights and hardwood floors in the main building; these were installed in 1946 and 1948 respectively" (Visiting Committee, 1950, p. 12).
Another bid was made for expansion when the Henry County Quarterly Court in 1946 ordered:
A resolution requesting the Direct Representatives, the State Senator, and Flotorial Representative in the 1947 General Assembly of Tennessee to present for enactment a bill to provide necessary funds for the improvement of the present facilities and the construction of additional building and facilities to the E. W. Grove Henry County High Wchool (School) necessary and required for the approval of the E. W. Grove High School.
Whereas, the State Department of Education has issued an emergency warning to the Henry County Board of Education that the building facilities at E. W. Grove High School are inadequate for the present enrollment, and
Whereas, the State Department of Education has notified the Henry County Board of Education that, if Grove High School is to maintain its present rating, immediate steps to improve the present building and erect a new building when materials are available must be taken,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Henry County Quarterly Court request the Direct Representative, the State Senator, Flotorial Representative in the 1947 General Assembly to be present for enacted a bill to provide facilities and the construction of additional buildings and facilities to E. W. Grove High School (Minute Book T, October 7, 1946, p. 160).
The Court went further as it made a.
Resolution to authorize Henry County Board of Education to make advance planning for building at Grove High School.
A resolution to grant permission to the Henry County Board of Education to make application for advance planning for a building at E. W. Grove High School.
Whereas the State Department of Education has issued an emergency warning to the Henry County Board of Education that the present building facilities are inadequate, and,
Whereas, the State Department of Education has recommended that, in order that E. W. Grove High School may maintain its present rating, the Henry County Board of Education make application for funds for advance planning which would include the services of an architect to make preliminary sketches for the application, said funds not to be paid to said architect until actual work on building is started and said architect does the initial work without charges and obligation to the Henry County Board of Education except in the event that the building is constructed.
Therefore, be it resolved that the Henry County Quarterly Court grant permission to the Henry County Board of Education to make application for advance planning for a building at E. W. Grove Henry County High School (p. 160).
The Court voted unanimously for the acceptance of the above resolutions. During the January Term of the Henry County Quarterly Court of 1947 a Planning Committee was named in the following proceedings:
Whereas, the Henry County Court in regular session at the July 1946 term passed a resolution offered by Squire McGehee that Miss Mary Sue Dunn, J. P. Lasater, Jr., and his Honor J. J. Thompson, compose a committee to investigate the needs of the E. W. Grove High School in order that the said school may maintain its present rating, said resolution being of record in Quarterly Minute Book T. page 151, County Clerk's office,
And Whereas, after said committee's report to the Quarterly County Court at its October 1946 term, the Court authorized the Henry County Board of Education to employ an architect to make application to the Federal Works Agency for funds for advance planning, all of which is of record in Minute Book T. page 160,
And Whereas, after said committee's report to the Quarterly Court at its October 1946 term, the Court authorized the Henry County Board of Education to employ an architect to make application to the Federal Works Agency for funds for advance planning, all of which is of record in Minute Book T. page 160,
And Whereas, the Henry County Quarterly Court realizes that it is not wise and practical to undertake the construction of new buildings at the present time,
Therefore, be it resolved that the Henry County Quarterly Court pledge to the Henry County Board of Education that the Court will issue Henry County Bonds to construct and repair buildings at E. W. Grove High School as necessary and required by the Department of Education in order that E. W. Grove High School may maintain its present rating as a member of the Southern Association of Secondary Schools, said buildings and repairs to be made when materials are available and building conditions are more nearly stabilized (Minute Book T, January 6, 1947, p. 168)
"In May, 1948, after 3 failures, the Henry County Court appropriated funds for a $700,000 building program for the county schools." E. W. Grove High School received $370,000, which was used for the erection of Weston Hall (Visiting Committee, 1950, p.13).
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| WESTON HALL (1997) |
The new addition to the campus was completed in 1949 and was named for Mr. A. S. Weston, a former teacher, who served twenty-six years at the high school before his death in 1946. Included in the structure were a gymnasium and auditorium as well as an agriculture shop and five classrooms, one of which was a very modern and well equipped chemistry laboratory.
With the addition of Weston Hall the E. W. Grove High School campus contained four classroom buildings. In the order of their erection, they were: the main building built in 1906, Cavitt Hall built in 1910, the old gymnasium built in 1937, and the newly constructed Weston Hall in 1949.
In 1948, a concrete stadium was constructed on Barton Field, the athletic grounds bearing the name of Col. O. C. Barton, who was indeed a friend of the school during its struggle for existence. The building of the stadium was sponsored by the American Legion and is referred to as the Henry County American Legion Memorial Stadium. In 1954, the athletic field was further modernized by the addition of a $3,500 field house.
No higher tribute could be paid to Dr. Grove by the students, both past and present, as a display of their appreciation, than the one which follows:
The thousands of young men and women who have entered Grove are grateful to Henry County's best friend and noble benefactor, the goldenhearted philanthropist who made Grove School possible and whose name it proudly bears, Dr. E. W. Grove, founder of our school (p. 13).
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