On January 15, 2025, Johnny Beth Nolen was the speaker at the January meeting of the Huntingdon TN Historical Society. Johnny Beth spoke on the history of Southern Normal University.
Pictured above, Southern Normal University was a private college that was built in Huntingdon, Tennessee. The college was chartered in 1890 and the college opened in 1891. The Huntingdon site was chosen due to the location of the railroad, the water, and the citizens of the town of Huntingdon. The school from 550 students to over 890 students. The college operated successfully for 11 years. The school closed in 1902.
In 1908, J. H. Bayer bought the Southern Normal University buildings and the buildings were re-purposed to become the Industrial Training School. J. H. Bayer was the superintendent until the school closed in 1918. At that time, the site of Southern Normal University became Huntingdon High School.
In 1935, a new building was constructed by the WPA. Huntingdon High School had a bell tower, and the bell in the bell tower came from the bell tower of Southern Normal University. Mr. Leroy Tate had found the bell and the bell was later placed in the high school’s bell tower.
If you would like more information on Southern Normal University, please see our Facebook page at Huntingdon TN Historical Society, where a video of the speech is available.
The History of Carroll County, Tennessee 