Alvin C York Agricultural Institute Historic District
- Also Known As: York Institute
- Address: US 127
- Vicinity: S of jct with TN 154
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y/M/D | Person | Association | Description | Composition | Food | Event |
| 1920/00/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | Barely literate veteran Alvin York establishes the non-profit York Foundation and begins touring the United States, giving lectures to raise funds for a free school for children in the mountains of Tennessee. | |||
| 1925/09/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Founder | With $12,000 he raised on speaking tours, York buys 400 acres that include an old Poor House. The first students at York Institute began taking classes in the fall of 1925. They live and attend class in the Poor House. | |||
| 1926/05/08 | Alvin C York host a ground breaking ceremony before a crowd of 2,000. | |||||
| 1927/01/16 | The Nashville Banner announces the launching of a $100,000 fund-raising effort for York Institute. Also, each American Legion post promises to donate 1 dollar per member and University of Tennessee president H A Morgan pledges support. | |||||
| 1927/06/00 | Attorney L A Ligon investigates classes at the Poor House for the county and deems them "unwarranted, unauthorized and illegal." | |||||
| 1927/07/09 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | The County Board of Education serves York notice to vacate the premises by July 11, 1927, or be forcibly evicted. York turns over the matter to his attorney. | |||
| 1929/09/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | After a protracted series of legal challenges, Alvin York opens his Agricultural Institute in the fall of 1929. | |||
| 1931/00/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | In 1931 and 1935, York secures a mortgage on his farm from banker, W L Wright to hire drivers, buy buses and pay teachers' salaries for the Institute. Susie Williams, twice loans York the money to pay off his notes avoid foreclose. | |||
| 1937/00/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | The state of Tennessee takes control of Agricultural Institute and removes York as administrator. Because he did not have a college degree, they give him the honorary title of "president emeritus". | |||
| 1948/00/00 | Alvin Cullum York | Vocation | York continues to promote York Institute, raising donations and presiding over every graduation ceremony until a stroke in 1948. York made regular visits to the school up into the late 1950s. |
| Particulars for Alvin C York Agricultural Institute Historic District: | |
|---|---|
| Area of Significance | Education |
| Sight Category | Historic District |
| Criteria | Historic Event |
| Level of Significance | National |
| Architectural Style | Neoclassical |
| Criteria | Person |
| Historic Use | School |
| Area of Significance | Social History |
| Owner | State |
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.