Limestone High School history

Unaware that they were venturing into Chickasaw territory, white settlers were moving west of the Congressional Reservation Line by 1808, leading to clashes between settlers, Indians, and soldiers.

In 1809, soldiers stationed at Ft.

In September 1816, after many years of fending off attacks from the Chickasaws and removal by the government, the settlers living west of the Congressional Reservation Line were finally allowed to stay.

Limestone County was formed by an act of the Alabama Territorial General Assembly in 1818 and was named after Limestone Creek, a local stream that runs through the county.

Belle Mina grew around Thomas Bibb’s home, Belle Manor, built in 1826, and the railroad depot that was located there after the residence of nearby Mooresville opposed having the railroad come so close to their homes and businesses.

Elkmont, named for the elk that flourished on the “mount” on which it sat, began to flourish with the completion of the Tennessee and Alabama Central Railroad in 1859.

In May 1862, Union Colonel John B. Turchin and his soldiers sacked Athens and occupied the city, looting, burning and destroying property there.

The history of African American education in Limestone County goes all the way back to 1865, with the establishment of the American Missionary Association-supported Trinity School, which for the next 105 years would be Limestone County’s high school for African Americans.

W.R. Hanserd built the original school in Elkmont on that site in 1874.

Cotton was still the main crop in the county, and in 1900 a cotton mill was established.

In 1907, the need for electricity had increased, and the city of Athens contracted with Westinghouse to provide a 140-kilowatt electric plant and 30 new street lights for $4,025.

When the first railroad opened in Austin in 1914, the railroad named it Ardmore and the town changed its name to follow suit.

The Tennessee Valley Authority, established in the 1930's, continues to provide jobs for many of the citizens of Limestone County at its Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant.

In 1934, Athens became the second city to sign a contract with TVA to purchase electricity, 30 days after Tupelo, Miss.

In 1941 the teachers were Miss Mattie Maberry, Mrs.

Limestone Community High School first opened its doors on October 14, 1953.

About four acres was purchased in 1959 for $7,000 and two years later the Limestone Dependent School District was absorbed into Bartlesville Independent School District #30.

The museum, established in 2000, is dedicated to honoring the memory of all veterans.