Lake County Schools
Lake County led the state with the first county high school in 1900, when the court voted to establish a high school in Tiptonville, which would be free to all students in the county. The $7,500.00 needed to build the school was raised by public subscription. The two-story brick building was built on Church street on what is now used as the cemetery. An annex was added for the elementary grades. This school was quite an improvement over the two-room frame building located on Elm Street or the first log school north of Tiptonville in 1857.
In 1925, a new school with both room for high and elementary school was built on Cherry Street. It hosted a large auditorium and under it a large room where the first hot lunch program was started by the P.T.A. under the leadership of Mrs. Blanche Peacock in the late 1930's.
The first school in Ridgely was a one-room school in 1897 with Mr. Jim Bright as teacher. In 1910, a tall brick building on "College Hill' gave space for all four years of high school. In 1923-23 a new brick high school building left the two-story building for the elementary school. In 1951 a new elementary school was built in both Tiptonville and Ridgely and named for two women who dedicated their lives to teaching. Lara Kendall in Ridgely and Margaret Newton in Tiptonville.
In 1963, a consolidated high school was built in Tiptonville to accomodate students from Tiptonville High, Ridgely High and later Lincoln High in the late 1960's. The Lara Kendall School in Ridgely for one through eight and Margaret Newton Elementary in Tiptonville would take place for several 'one-room' schools from all over the county. Keefe, Mooring, Wynnburg, Cates, Phillipy, Cronanville, Sheep Ridge, Hathaway, Cottonwood Grove, Chandlers Mill, Proctor City, Madie and probably several others. Lincoln School was closed in the late 1960's when all the schools were intergrated. Mr. Ellis Truett was the first principal of Lake County High School and guided it through the early years of consolidation and intergration.
Lake County Schools have always been blessed by good teathers who have lent their names to the above-mentioned elementary school and Miss Mable Craig whose name was on the first gymnasium in Tiptonville. Excellent principals have served all the schools, dedicated superintendants have been appointed by the Lake County Court; H.R. Raymond (1873-1882), M.A. Lowe (1883-1884), L Donaldson (1884-1896), R.C. Donaldson (1896-1917), Thurman McCain (1918-1938), Jack Brewer (1938-1969), James Wilson (1969-1989), Ronald Pope (1989 - ), Barry Olhausen ( - ), Joey Hassell.
The list of subjects taught in the high school has increased steadily. The 1906 Annual lists English, geometery, Latin, history and education (with Greek, French and German optional). Agriculture was taught was early as 1908, Home Economics was added in 1916-17. Today, in addition to the basic curriculum, classes are taught in computer training, vocational studies, sciences and special departments to accomodate students with special needs. Caps and Gowns were worn at graduation in 1918 and usually thereafter.
Basketball was first played in 1916 and football began about 1927. Through the years there have been many winning teams in both boys and girls basketball. The county has supported State Championship football teams and several successful basketball teams. The academic programs have prepared students for local jobs, for vocational jobs, and for the finest universities in the country. Lake County Schools have produced business men and women, doctors, lawyers, farmers, teachers, pharmacists, nurses, engineers, politicans and ministers.
The newest building programs came in 1981-81 when the new school was built in Ridgely and several classrooms were added to Margaret Newton in Tiptonville.
The Board of Education wishes to thank Mrs. Catherine LeDuke for this excellent history.
Lake County High School is approved by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges. This county is the forerunner in educaiton and continues to lead in the best possible educationf or all.
*Compliments of The Lake County Historical Society
Lake County High School
Lake County High School
Lake County High School
Ridgely High School - Lara Kendall
Lara Kendall
Lara Kendall
Margaret Newton School
Lincoln School
Circa 1951
