Montgomery Bell Academy - Bell Yearbook (Nashville, TN)

Page 5 text:

MOniTliOM»V BELL Montgomery Bell Academy was originally started in 18()(), as the preparatory de- partment of the old University of Nashville, rhe school started under the conduct of the Board of 7 ' rustees of the University of Nashville, and today its operations are conducted by a board still operating under the title of the “Board of Trustees of the University of Nashville.” In 1855 the Western Military Institute was merged with the preparatory school which continued to operate as a department of the University of Nashville. The school continued under this direction until the opening of the Chvil War, and for the six years from 1861 through 1866 its activities were dormant. However, in 1867 the Board of Trustees met and decided to accej t the legacy of the Honorable Montgomery Bell, a Nashville industrialist and banker, who in 1852 left a trust fund for the education of worthy boys. This trust fund jn ' ovided for the educa- tion of twenty-five worthy boys free of charge, and also stipulated that the school to be established for this purpose must be called “Montgomery Bell Academy.” The trustees of the University of Nashville accepted his legacy and established Montgomery Beil Academy as a separate school and department of the University of Nashville. From September, 1867, to date, the school has been operated as pro- vided in the will of the Honorable Montgomery Bell, and under the direction of the said Board of Trustees of the University of Nashville.

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MONTGOMERY BELL ACADEMY oard of Zrustees Brownlee O. Currey Chairman Henry D. Jamison Vice-Chairman Sydney F. Keeble Secretary John Ferguson Treasurer Ferriss C. Bailey Maclin P. Davis James T. Granbery Fred Greve J. T. Griscom E. O. Harris H. G. Hill, Jr. David Huggins O. H. Ingram Edwin Keeble VV. R. Manier, Jr. Alfred D. Sharp Tony Sudekum Vernon Tupper Vivian Tupper Buford Wilson The students of Montgomery Bell wish to express their sincere appreciation to the Board of Trustees for the splendid work they have been doing for the betterment of the school. We firmly believe that this Board is composed of the mid-South’s most capable men, and that their interests and efforts surpass those of any other southern preparatory school. I’his year more improvements have been made for the benefit of M. B. A. than have been made for many years. Much credit is also due to the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the many improvements they have wrought around the school. With the Board of Trustees and the Ladies’ Auxiliary working hand in hand, the following improvements have been made: a new concrete bridge has been constructed in place of the old wooden one; the front wall has been rebuilt and parts of it cemented; an entire new road system is now being built throughout the campus; a beautiful brick terrace and brick walks are being built in the rear of the main building in memory of Messrs. Tom and Harold Joy; new tennis stops are being obtained; new lockers are being added in the gymnasium; the old bicycle shed has been torn down and a new one built in its place in back of the Science Building; much painting has been done, both inside and outside, on all three build- ings; the campus has been landscaped; new draperies have been installed in the Library and in the Honor Room; and many other new improvements are planned.

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Brownxee O. Currey Montgomery Bell I ■ • i - r. B, A. is fortunate indeed to have as chairman of its Board of rrustccs Mr. Brownlee O. Currey, who has been a student of the school and a lifetime res- ident of Nashville. To his foresight and industry we owe many of the splendid innovations which have been made, and in his deep and abiding interest we find an additional reason for loyalty to M. B. A. This sch(K)l takes its name from Mont- gomery Bell, Nashville industrialist and banker, whose will in 1852 created a trust fund for educational purposes.