THE YEAR was 1977, and the decision had been made that the best option for Tullahoma’s first school, South Jackson School, was to destroy it. In their defense, it was falling apart, and although it was deteriorating and eroding, breaking the building down brick by brick would remove and destroy decades of Tullahoma’s history. The school was originally built in 1886. Nearly 100 years later, the answer was demolition.
Then, the people of Tullahoma, with the leadership of Alice Harton Ratcliffe, came together to find another answer. They believed the school should be preserved. But revitalizing and recovering the school would be no easy task. The South Jackson Civic Association grassroots movement was successful, and the building was saved to become a performing arts center for the community. Two years later, in 1979, the doors opened once again, this time under the name South Jackson Civic Center. Now, just like Ratcliffe in 1977, the people of Tullahoma are working daily to keep and preserve the Center for generations to come. This time, thankfully, without the threat of demolition.
One of those working to better Tullahoma and the Center is Greg Gressel. Gressel has a Master of Arts and is the chairman and executive director of the Center. While he leads in the present and into the future, he looks to the past for motivation and inspiration.
“It was used by the school system for years, and that portion of the building was built in 1886,” Gressel said, explaining the history of the building. “And that was the first school in Tullahoma.”
Roughly 50 years before the school was on the cusp of being demolished, builders added on to the school. One of the additions was an auditorium. This auditorium turned 100 years old in 2022.
“And then in 1922, the northside classrooms were built around the original school,” Gressel said.
Many citizens have called the South Jackson Civic Center the crown jewel of Tullahoma, including mayors. This jewel at 404 S. Jackson Street also holds rich history within its walls. Some of that history is even housed in the Mitchell Museum. The Mitchell Museum, nestled inside the South Jackson Civic Center, is an opportunity for families to learn more about their hometown.
“There are so many cool things in the Mitchell Museum.” Sean Fuller, a Mitchell Museum guest, shared his thoughts online. “It is just incredible. Some of the staff know so much about the history of Tullahoma that just talking to them is worth the visit.”
The community of Tullahoma can help preserve and restore the South Jackson Civic Center, including renovating the auditorium to continue the 1920s aesthetic. This renovation would make citizens who walk through the door feel like they’re stepping back in time to find peace and enjoyment through entertainment. One way you can help the Center is through the 1922 Club. as a 1922 Club member would help the center meet those restoration needs. On top of that, members get valuable benefits, including pre-sale access to events, free tickets, reduced-price tickets, 1922 Club swag, invitations to private events at the Center, tax benefits, and more.
While the landmark contains more than a century of history, it will create more in the years to come. This landmark jewel has impacted the lives of generations of people in Tullahoma and beyond. It’s a second home. It’s a nostalgic peace. And it’s an opportunity to shape a career.
Gressel believes the Center has been a safe haven to many, allowing people to feel at home.
“I think that South Jackson has been a place where people can find themselves, where they find a place to belong. The arts about culture, about humanities. And I’ve seen South Jackson become a home away from home for so many people,” Gressel said.
The Center creates an environment where people can feel comfortable enough to be themselves.
Gressel continued, “For some people, it’s become their happy place, where they feel like they fit in for who they are. And then they can express themselves through the medium of art and finding a place to belong [that is] full of opportunity.” GN
