Bodenham High School Traditional Cache

Your looking for a small lock & lock container with tradable items. Placed with permission, however be discreet and don't scare the children, it is not near the daycare.Happy Hunting

Education was considered an important part of everyday life in the early days of the community with Sneed’s Academy and Slate Springs, a school housing 100 boys in small log buildings, being two of the earliest schools. From the time of these early schools until 1927 there was no high school in the immediate Bodenham section. The nearest was a two year high school at Union Hill. Some high school work was also taught at Weakley. Several other one and two teacher schools had come into being at this time, some of these being West Side, Rose Hill, Shores, Owens and Weakley. The people of the vast and growing community began to see the immediate need of a high school. Mrs. Elizabeth Parker was really the first person in the community to instigate the idea. Rallies were held, public interest aroused, a building site selected and the people of the community began work in earnest. In November 1927 Bodenham High School, taking its name from the community, was opened. School was held on Saturdays that year in order to finish the term. The main building and the home economics room were the two buildings, which at that time comprised Bodenham High School. A tennis court and baseball grounds were the playground facilities. The water supply was a large cistern and one well. For many years, until TVA, the buildings were lighted with oil lamps and heated with “pot-bellied” stoves. Three buses served the community for transportation. The first bus drivers were: Mr. Newt Green, Mr. Robert Phillips and Mr. Harvey May. Mr. B. H. Gaultney was County Superintendent of schools at this time and Mr. F. A. Reasonover was school board member for the Bodenham district. The faculty for the new school were Mr. J.O. Alsup, Mr. J.D. Ridgway, Mrs. Floyd White, Mr. Conroy Sawyers, Mrs. Eugenia Locke, Miss Eula Bell May and Mrs. Tom Pittard. There was no graduating class the first year. In 1928 Bodenham was made an accredited four-year high school, and the need for a Parent-Teacher Association was soon realized. The PTA officers for the first year were: Mrs. Walter Burns, president; Mrs. Tom Anderson, vice-president; Mrs. Tom Pittard, secretary; and Mrs. Elmo Green, treasurer. Many distinguished educators have served as principals at Bodenham High School, the first being Mr. J.D. Alsup. Mr. John K. Rayburn served as principal from 1933 to 1935. Mr. Thomas “Dick: Newman was principal only one term, 1935-36, due to ill health. Green and white were made the school colors in 1934, and the “Green Hornet” became the emblem after a basketball game at Fayetteville where practically every ball rimmed the hoop and came out. Rip Inman overheard somebody say, “Poor things, they never quit trying.” They were then referred to as green horns----so Green Hornets! In 1935 gymnasiums were springing up over the county. A frame building about three feet wider than the ball court was completed at Bodenham in time for the first game after the Christmas holidays. Before this time all games were played on outdoor courts or in the Massey gym in Pulaski. J. Marlin Goodman assumed the duties of principal ship in 1936. He served in this capacity until 1942 when he was called to serve in the Armed Forces. In 1938 a Manual Arts Building, consisting of a classroom and shop, was completed. Edgar Bills taught the first class in this new building. Also, 1938 will always be remembered as the year that the Bodenham girls won the Middle Tennessee Girls Basketball Tournament, The highest ever attained by a Giles County Team. This victory is comparable to today’s State Tournament. Hollis Kaiser was elected principal in 1942, Floyd Smith in 1943, and H.L. Broyles in 1945. Mr. Goodman returned from the Army the next year and returned to the position he had given up to serve his country. J. Marlin Goodman was soon became “Mr. Bodenham” as the school gained popularity and publicity through his heated and total involvement at basketball games. In 1947 a Community Club was organized at the school. Many worthwhile projects were completed by this and other clubs of the community. In 1949 the gym was enlarged, and the boys team won the district basketball tournament and took second place in the regional. In 1951 Vocational Agriculture was introduced for the first time at Bodenham and a caretaker’s home was build. In the fifties a central heating system, bathrooms, lunchroom, sound system, and concrete walks were added to the school. In 1957 a much need playground was purchased. In 1964 Mr. Goodman was elected County Superintendent of Schools and Arvil Chapman succeeded him as principal. In 1967 Jimmy Helton became principal and served until consolidation in 1978. Bodenham was the youngest of the County High Schools being consolidated in 1978, and it has been far from the largest school in number of students; but school spirit and loyalty of alumnae equal that of any school, of any age, of any size, anywhere!

From the day its doors were first opened, to the day the doors forever closed in 1978, the foremost purpose of Bodenham High School was to provide a center of learning which extended beyond just "book-learning" to all areas of life. Bodenham has produced many outstanding young people able to compete and succeed in all walks of life, in school and beyond. Whether in academics, athletics, 4-H Clubs, FFA, FHA, Beta Club, sportsmanship, or citizenship, Bodenham students have ranked among the top. The school closed officially on June 30, 1978, but it will never close in the hearts and lives of all who have loved Bodenham High School.

Alma Mater

Near Giles County's Western border
Reared against the sky,
Proudly stand our Alma Mater,
As the years go by.
Forward, ever be our watchword,
Conquer, and prevail.
Hail, to thee, our Alma Mater.
B H S, all hail!