Davidson Academy Tigers Alumni
Tullahoma, Tennessee
1898-1964

History

The history of the school known as Davidson Academy began in 1898, when land was purchased for the construction of a three room school for Negro children. The location of the land was on South Jackson Street in Tullahoma, Tennessee. Officially, the school did not have a name, but was referred to as the Tullahoma Negro School. One of the first teachers at the Tullahoma Negro School was John Work, Jr.

In 1924, Professor Crosby DeWitt (C.D.) Stamps came to Tullahoma from Roger Williams College, Nashville, to sing with a group. The late superintendent of schools, F.E. Rannick, offered him the position of principal of the Negro school. He accepted the position, which he served until he retired in 1966.

In 1924, the Tullahoma Negro School taught grades 1st through 6th. It had an enrollment of 64 students. In the spring of 1925, after seven months of school, Professor Stamps was told he would have to close the school by the superintendent. He said, "Not I, but you." Professor Stamps was challenged to keep the Negro children in shool acquired a nine month status.

In the fall of 1925, a physical renovation took place and four more classes--7th, 8th, and two grades of high school--were added. Professor Stamps had a dream that the 8th grade would be accredited. In order to move on to high school, he wrote County Superintendent of Schools David Shield for accreditation, but was rejected. Professor Stamps kept his dream, and one day while he was teaching Algebra, a white man with clay on his boots entered and observed the class. Later, he found out the man was Shield, whom he had written requesting accreditation. The observation brought about accreditation for the 8th grade both in Tullahoma and Manchester.

In 1927, two more classrooms were added and an auditorium. The late W. J. Davidson, mayor of Tullahoma, donated $1,000 to the school which was used to purchase chairs for the auditorium. This resulted in the school being named Davidson Academy.

Since there was not another school for Negroes in Coffee County, which went beyond the 8th grade, Davidson Academy was open to those seeking 9th and 10th grade classes. A husband and wife in Manchester, Tennessee, mortgaged their home to purchase a bus to transport children from rural areas to Davidson Academy.

The first bus driver was Mr. Riche. Later, the Coffee County Board of Education supplied bus transportation for the county students. Other bus drivers were Mr. Ben Christman, Mr. Nevels, John Murray, and Jim Murray.

In the fall of 1935, Robert E. Lee became superintendent of schools. At this time, Davidson Academy was a joint city-county Negro school. Superintenent Lee worked to bring all schools under the city school system, which he achieved. Davidson Academy was turned over to the city of Tullahoma in 1936.

The first graduating class was the class of 1937 consisting of Ulyess Wilhoite, Thelma Davidson, Jimi R. Whittaker, Mary Francis Harris, and Bennie Frank Christman, Jr.

Enrollment grew at Davidson Academy during World World War II. It was about this time that Mrs. Viola Harris offered to prepare hot meals for the students. In 1945, five additional classrooms were added. The school had their first indoor toilets. In 1948, a Manual Arts Building was erected. In 1953, a gymanasium with dressing rooms and a stage was added.

In 1960, a $253,000 modernization and expansion program began which included the addition of six classrooms, a cafeteria, kitchen, clinic, office, lounge, and restrooms. With the renovations complete, Davidson Academy was one of the best equipped schools in the Tullahoma school system, second only to the Tullahoma High School. With this came more opportunities for black students. A band teacher, Professor Green was hired along with a typing teacher, Miss Wood, and a music teacher, Miss Ruth Thornton.

Professor S. M. Stamps headed the football program for years and was followed by H. V. Sims, Jr. Professor Sims brought to the sport program the game of basketball, although the school did not at this time have a gymnasium. Softball was played at the school. Mr. Young began a tennis program for the students shortly before the school was phased out.

High shool students participate in the Freshsouso Club which was organized to give stuents insight into college life with fraternities and sororities.

Music was an important part of the school structure under the direction of Professor C.D. Stamps. The school had a boy's glee club, a mixed chorus and an all girls' chorus. These musical groups performed throughout Tullahoma for various organizations and challenged other schools in competition.

Under the direction of Professor G. W. Hall and Mrs. C. D. Stamps, the students participated in dramatics and competed in competitions with other schools.

The last class to graduate was the class of 1964. In the fallof that year the schools were integrated, and Davidson Academy was used for all 6th grade classes, special education classes, and a kindergarten, however, it was called the South Jackson Street Annex.

When the school was phased out in 1966, Professor C. D. and Mrs. Stamps retired after 42 years of dedicated service in the field of education. The late Mayor Floyd Mitchell declared June 8th "Stamps Day" forever in the city of Tullahoma, Tennessee.

Sometime afterward, Davidson Academy was converted into a community center called Southside Community Center. The Joylette Club and citizens went before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen and requested that the name be changed to the C. D. Stamps Community Center, after the former principal. The Board agreed and the structure carried his name. During this time the former school was in part operated by the Tullahoma Recreations Program, and housed the Davidson Academy Head Start Program, the Tullahoma School System's Exceptional School and the Alternative School Programs.

In 1998, the C. D. Stamps Community Center was demolished, and a new structure was built in its place, which was completed and opened for operation in 2001. The Board agreed that the new structure would continue to serve the community in the same capacity as its predecessor and would also be called the C. D. Stamps Community Center.

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