Anna Russell Cole Auditorium

A cholera epidemic broke out in 1873.  Many people died.  A huge mass of orphans who needed homes were the result.

Davidson County Probate Judge John C. Ferriss began organizing and raising money for a boarding school for homeless children.  The project of establishing the school originated in about 1874 with Judge Ferriss.  During the 13 years he worked for the establishment of such a school, he canvassed the State from upper East Tennessee to Memphis, in West Tennessee, urging people to petition the legislature for such a school.  Through this means, Judge Ferriss procured over one hundred petitions from over the State, signed by thousands of Tennessee's citizens, asking the legislature to do something for the dependent children of Tennessee.  These petitions were presented to the legislature of the State of Tennessee, and a bill was prepared by Colonel Case of Chattanooga, in compliance with the petitioners, which passed the house on its second reading, but for some cause was not heard of any more during that session.  Judge Ferriss' spirit was somewhat grieved over these proceedings, but in the next legislature he again presented the bill.  Due to an early adjournment of the legislature, it was not passed.

Judge Ferriss was determined was determined to further the cause of the dependent children, so he appealed to his friends for subscriptions and raised two or three thousand dollars and began to make further appeal throughout the State.   Colonel  E.W. Cole, after reading one of these letters addressed to the public, agreed to give one thousand dollars for the cause.  Others offered smaller sums.  Colonel Cole made a larger purchase of land, and proposed to donate that, but the legislature refused to accept the offer.

In October, 1884 Colonel Cole's son, Randall, at the age of 19, died after being injured in a train wreck.  The father equipped the Cole mansion for school service as a memorial to his son's memory.  The estate which became the school is located three miles south of Nashville just off Murfreesboro Pike.  It consisted of 92 acres of land and a large residence.  (The property now includes 365 acres of land and some 50 permanent buildings).  Colonel Cole proposed to convert the residence into school rooms.  Col. Cole used the money that would have been his son's inheritance to establish the school.

The school was created as the Randall Cole Industrial School on February 20, 1885.  It operated under the provisions of a corporation for two years, February 17, 1885 until March 26, 1887.  The original act in 1885 stated the school was established "for the benefit and protection of orphan, helpless or abandoned children."  

In 1887 the school had grown so large that Col. Cole could not continue to maintain it and he turned it over to the State of Tennessee.  In July of 1887 Col. Cole offered to turn the land and buildings over to the State free of charge.  The school had a value of $60,000 at this time.   The name was then changed to the Tennessee Industrial School also known as T.I.S. 

The school was to serve every county in Tennessee.  Each county was entitled to send children to the school on the basis of it scholastic population.  This system remained in existence until  2001 when DCS made the settlement to the Brian A. VS Sunquist Lawsuit.  Then a 75 mile radius was put in force. 

Under the name of Tennessee Industrial School, they budgeted that it would cost $150 per year per child.  $50 would come from the county,  $50 would come from the state and the children would earn $50 working on the farm.

The first girls to attend T.I.S were brought from "The House of Industry" in 1892.  The House of Industry took orphan girls and taught them sewing and other feminine arts.

When the State assumed the responsibility of operating the Tennessee Industrial School, a Board of Directors was name to direct the school.  Mr. W.C. Kilvington was selected as the first superintendent, and Mrs. Kilvington was selected as the first principal of schools.  Mr. Kilvington served in this capacity for over thirty years.  His work is best described by statements of Bishop Fitzgerald on the occasion of the dedication of the Anna Russell Cole Auditorium on Sunday, December 11, 1898:

"The success of the school is largely due to the love the Professor Kilvington has for his work, and the kindness and tact with which he manages his pupils."  Bishop Fitzgerald added, "Professor Kilvington's face is a cross between Benjamin Franklin and the 13th Chapter of Corinthians.  Experience has proved that he is both wise and charitable enough to conduct the school with entire success."

In 1923, under the re-organization plan of Governor Austin Peay, the school was placed under a new department of state government, The Department of Institutions.  Here it remained until 1937 when it was transferred to the Department of Education.  In 1948, the school was placed under the control of the State Board of Education.  The Commissioner of Education served as Chairman of the State Board of Education.  After Mr. Kilvington's retirement, Professor J.H. Byers became the Superintendent in 1917.  Mr. Byers was followed in 1919 by Reverend Harding Copeland who served until January 1, 1921.

It was in 1921 that Christian C. Menzler became the head of the school.  Immediately he started reorganization and improvement programs.  These far reaching changes made the school one of the most outstanding of its kind in the United States.  Mr. Menzler received wide recognition for his work in this field.  In 1937-39 Mr. Menzler was on another assignment Mr. Harry Williamson was superintendent of the school during this period.  After serving as superintendent 33 years, Mr. Menzler reached retirement age in 1954.

In 1955 the name was again changed.  This time to Tennessee Preparatory School also known as T.P.S.

Joe B. Sills, after filling the position of Assistant Superintendent for 20 years, was appointed by the State Board of Education to succeed Mr. Menzler on July 1, 1954.  Superintendent Sills continued the program of constant improvements in program and physical plant.   Since 1954 many buildings were added that included the dormitory for small boys, elementary school, physical education building, dormitory for junior girls, Menzler Hall (dorm for junior boys), Cole Hall (dorm for intermediate girls), Kilvington Hall (dorm for junior girls), and many more.

TPS was a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, the Tennessee Secondary Schools Athletic Association and a charter member of the Nashville Interscholastic League.

Many of the graduates have continued their education and hold degrees from such institutions as Auburn, University of Florida, Memphis State University, MTSU, North Texas State, Peabody College, Tennessee Tech, University of the South, University of Tennessee, Vanderbilt University and many others.

This school has probably been the most misunderstood school in Tennessee.  It was not a reformatory or a treatment center.  It was a place that provided a home and education to the children of Tennessee who did not have the privilege of having these things in a family home setting.  It allowed abused, neglected and underprivileged children to be children again.  During the late 1960's and early 1970's this school sometimes cared for over 600 children at a time, grades 1 through 12, boys and girls. 

The school had one of the best academic curriculum in Tennessee, a superb athletic program, an excellent vocational program and many clubs and organizations  where the kids could be "kids". 

The school went through devastating changes in the past few years of it's existence.   The Department of Children's Services (DCS) was in charge of the school in it's last remaining years.   Now parts of the campus are used for such departments as the Department of Safety, and other various departments of the state while other buildings are being leased.  The school is now closed.  The state has decided that the school no longer has a purpose  for the children it was intended to help and did help for over 100 years.   As of February 2003, there were 13 children living on the campus.  The high school ceased classes in December 2002.  These 13 children  either graduated, moving in with families or moving out on their own. 

A section of the campus has been leased to the Metro Nashville Schools for the temporary location for the Nashville School of Arts.

  Did you know that there is a public note about TIS-TPS, carved in stone, and in a public place, near downtown Nashville?
 

The “note” is carved in stone as E.W. Cole’s footstone on his grave in Mount Olivet Cemetery. His head stone says: E.W. Cole 1827-1899 “A noble life does not end on earth with death. It continues in the thoughts and deeds of posterity.”

The footstone says, “Founder of Tennessee Industrial School 1886 He delivered the poor that cried and the fatherless and him that had none to help.”

Pictures of the headstone and footstone are below.

Col. Cole is buried in the front, left corner of the 40’ X 40’ Cole Cemetery Plot in the cemetery, at a numbered stop on the tours set up for that historical part of Mount Olivet.