Bernard School
School in McMinnville, Tennessee, US (1922–1966)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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]
| Bernard School | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
 | |
Bernard Drive, McMinnville, Tennessee, U.S. | |
| Coordinates | 35.679251°N 85.765817°W |
| Information | |
| Other name | Bernard High School |
| Established | 1922 |
| Closed | 1966 |
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
- Carl T. Rowan (1925–2000), journalist, author, and diplomat[1][8]