CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The gym at Burt Elementary School was filled with both people and a lot of memories Sunday, February 28 as a crowd gathered for a ceremony to dedicate a historical marker for the former Burt High School in Clarksville. Some of the students who organized the event and attended the school from 1938 to 1970 were also on hand for the ceremony.
Burt High School opened its doors in 1923 and was the only black high school in Montgomery County as well as surrounding counties. It was never integrated as far as students until it closed in 1970, but was integrated when it came to faculty in its last two years, 1969-1970.
Burt High School first opened on 1001 East Franklin Street and remained at that location until 1951. A new Burt High School opened in 1952 at 110 Bailey Street, now the site of Burt Elementary School. One of the schools most famous students was Wilma Rudolph who graduated in 1958. Rudolph went on to win three gold medals for track in the 1960 Olympics
The school was named in honor of Dr. Robert T. Burt, a black local physician and surgeon. Burt opened his own infirmary and the first hospital in Clarksville in 1906 and because of his strong belief in education, he dedicated himself and his resources to establishing a secondary school for students.
Jackie Collins, a 1969 graduate of Burt High and Chairman of the the Burt High School Historical Marker Committee spearheaded the project and he along with the committee have worked for over a year and a half on the approval and creation of the historical marker.