Wilson Elementary School History by Linda Reed

• Wilson Elementary is the youngest of all the schools in Overton County. School started at Wilson Elementary on Jan. 2, 1966. The first year’s enrollment was 304, with the faculty of 10 teachers. Millard Harris was the principal of Wilson during that part of the school year from January to May of 1966. The rumor of a consolidation of schools for the mountain area was heard first in the late fifties and early sixties. The people of the mountain thought of this as only a rumor, because they could not visualize all the smaller communities losing their schools. The emotions were very mixed about the school; as to whether this would be best for the children. The greatest problem of the school was the site for the school building. All eight communities involved wanted the school; but only once could received the school.

   

• The location of the school was decided to be in the Green Pond Community. This was the midpoint between the communities. Eight acres of land was purchased from Fletcher Norrod to build the school. IN September of 1962 the board decided to erect a one-story eleven classroom building on the mountain at the cost of $254, 100. The board member for the district at this time was Clyde Wilson. The superintendent of schools was Illard Hunter. The chairman of the building project was Wynn F. Easterly. The school received its name from Clyde Wilson and thus was named Wilson Elementary.

   

• The schools that were consolidated ware as follows: Anderson Elementary which was taught the last year by Mrs. Claudie Phillips and the enrollment was 28. Mrs. Phillips had grades 1-8. The community of Anderson received its name from John Anderson who built the first school there in 1880. Crawford Elementary was taught by Mrs. Gladys Harris and George L. Harris. Gladys Harris had grades 1-4 and 39 students in her room. George L. Harris taught grades 5-8 and also, had an enrollment of 39 students. The community of Crawford was named after Leonard Crawford, a surveyor for the mining companies in that area. He was one of the first settlers in that community. Crossroads Elementary was taught by Mr. Millard Harris. The enrollment was 44. Mr. Harris had grades 1-8. Crossroads is named for the two roads that cross in the very middle of the community. The settling of this area was because of the Peacock mines located nearby. Hanging Limb Elementary was taught by Mrs. Elizabeth Norrod and Billy Joe Officer. Mrs. Norrod taught grades 5-8 and the enrollment was 25. Officer taught grades 1-4 and his enrollment was 33. Hanging Limb received its name from a large tree that stood near a watering hole. The tree had a huge limb on which people hung saddles and saddle bags. Lovejoy Elementary was taught by Mrs. Mildred Neely, the enrollment was 35 in grades 1-8. Lovejoy was named for a man who worked a switch yard. Thus the community was named Lovejoy for him. Mineral Springs Elementary was taught by James Webb and Mrs. Hattie Mae Bowman. Webb had grades 5-8and an enrollment of 29. Bowman had grades 1-4 and an enrollment of 30. The community received its name from a spring located on Bruce McDonald’s property. The spring was thought ot have mineral values which would be healthy. Vines Ridge Elementary was taught by Larry Looper, grades 1-8, with an enrollment of 26. In the 1800’s Alvis Miller named Vines Ridge for a long ridge where many vines grew. Twin Elementary was not one of the schools combined with the other seven that December. Twin was closed in May of 1965. The children went to Crawford Elementary and Alpine Elementary. The last teacher at Twin was Mrs. Phyllis Davidson. She taught grades 1-8 and had an enrollment of 17. Twin received its name from the mines that the Brior Hill Collier Coal Co. opened up in 1913. The company opened two mines side by side, thus the area was named Twin.

  
  

• The following are a list of principals at Wilson Elementary School: Millard Harris 1966, Howard Webb 1966-1967, George L. Harris 1967-1968, Troy Crabtree 1968-1969, James Harris 1969-1970, George L Harris 1971-1972, David Brown 1971-1973, Sam Hoskins 1973-1975, Scott Trevathan 1975-1977, John Ridgell 1977-1979, Thomas Boyd 1980, Ray Franklin 1981-1984, Joe Gore1984-1989 , James Bilbrey 1989-1990, Alice Reed 1990- 2002, Harold Watson 2002-2008, Terry Webb 2008-2009, Christy Lee 2009-2010, Melissa Palk 2010 to 2012, Derek Zachary 2012 to 2014, Susan Bryant 2014 to 2015, Ashley Fisher 2015 to present.

The vision at Wilson Elementary is to prepare and motivate our students for a rapidly changing world by instilling in them critical thinking skills, a global perspective, and a respect for core values of honesty, loyalty, perseverance, and compassion. Students will have success for today and be prepared for tomorrow.