Bernard School

Bernard School
Location
Bernard Drive,
McMinnville, Tennessee, U.S.

35°40′45″N 85°45′57″W / 35.679251°N 85.765817°W / 35.679251; -85.765817
Information
Other nameBernard High School
Established1922
Closed1966

Bernard School was a Rosenwald school for Black students, active from 1922 until 1966 in McMinnville, Warren County, Tennessee. A historical marker commemorates the school's history.[1] It was also known as the Bernard High School.[2]

History

Bernard School was built in 1922 with money from the Rosenwald Fund. It was named for Rosenwald agent for Tennessee O. (Ollie) H. Bernard.[1] The land for the school was donated by local stonemason, Sam Leftwich.[3] It was located on Bernard Drive, on the east side of McMinnville.[4] A library was built in 1927, following a donation from W. H. Hagness.[5]

In 1946, the school burned down.[6] It was rebuilt a year later in 1947.[1] A gymnasium and field house were added in 1954, at a cost of US$40,000.[7]

It closed following school integration in 1965–1966 school year, and the building was used for administrative offices, and later used for Head Start.[8] Demolished in 1982, the site was used for brush disposal.[8][9]

Legacy

The school gymnasium is the only surviving building, and since 2019 it has housed the Young Men United, a youth mentorship program.[3][10] The Bernard School centennial and homecoming was celebrated in 2022.[11]

The Magness Public Library in McMinnville held an exhibit “Building a Bright Future: Black Communities & Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee” (2025) on Rosenwald schools, and included the Bernard School.[12]

The Black History Museum of Warren County has a collection of items from the Bernard School.[1][13]

Alumni

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Zepp, Louise. "The Black History Museum of Warren County: Preserving the Past two Educate Future Generations". The Tennessee Conservationist. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  2. ↑ "African-American High Schools Now Long Gone". The Tennessee Magazine. February 2, 2020. Archived from the original on July 9, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Gwyn speaks on Black history in Warren County". Southern Standard. February 3, 2023. pp. A8. Retrieved March 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ "Soul of Warren County Bernard School, The Building" (video). February 21, 2023 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "School Gets Library". The Chicago Defender. June 4, 1927. p. 23. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "M'Minnville Fire Destroys School". Chattanooga Daily Times. August 18, 1946. p. 7. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "McMinnville". The Chicago Defender. January 30, 1954. p. 16. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. 1 2 3 "Master Plan: The Cultural Center at Bernard School" (PDF). City of McMinnville, Tennessee. June 13, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  9. ↑ "The Story of the Bernard Community Center". Bernard Community Center. January 23, 2025.
  10. ↑ Hobbs, Lisa (October 2, 2019). "Young Men United Secures Bernard School Lease For $1". Southern Standard. pp. A5. Retrieved March 30, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ↑ Hobbs, Lisa (April 24, 2022). "Bernard School's Centennial Celebration set for May 27-29". Southern Standard. pp. B7. Retrieved March 29, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ↑ "Bernard School Rosenwald History Exhibit". Humanities Tennessee (Tennessee Humanities Council). February 1, 2025.
  13. ↑ Havenner, Nathan (March 25, 2026). "Black History Museum working to educate, preserve history". Manchester TImes. Retrieved March 30, 2026.
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