History of Snowden

In 1909, McLean Avenue was a 30 ft wide lane and North Parkway was graded but unimproved. Only one paved street existed in the new Evergreen neighborhood on the eastern edge of Memphis.  R. Brinkley Snowden was persuaded to donate land for a new school if the Evergreen Club could prove to him that there were 175 children who would attend it.
 
The tract of land Mr. Snowden offered to the city of Memphis in April of 1909 “fronted 200 feet on the north line of the Speedway and 420 feet on the east line of McLean Avenue.”  It was valued at $12, 000 yet would be offered free upon assurance that the building would be erected without delay.  “ It will be required that the building be of brick or stone, and of such size, character and design as to be an ornament to the Evergreen neighborhood, “ stated a letter from R Brinkley Snowden to Superintendent McNeill.   Walk Jones, Sr. and Max Furbinger designed the original Beaux Arts building. Snowden Elementary School enrolled 172 students on September 12, 1910. There were four large classrooms and since the desks had not arrived, the students sat on the floor.  A young student had to wait to enter first grade at Snowden until the day they turned six years old.
 
Expansions and a growing student body rapidly followed. In 1913, six classrooms were added. In 1924, 21 classrooms and a gym were built. The auditorium and cafeteria were added in 1938.  The current gym was built in 1957.  In 1979 the middle school library wing was added and in 1991 the current cafeteria and elementary classroom wing was completed. Snowden’s enrollment of 1500 students in 1929 matches the current enrollment of over 1500 pre – k through 8 grade students in 2010.
 
Outstanding administrators and teachers plus neighborhood stability and support bring motivated students and their families to Snowden from the neighborhood and Mid South region. In 1976 Snowden began offering the optional program of enriched academics.  In 1983 Snowden received a Presidential Award of Excellence as an outstanding public school in the nation.
 
Snowden School began as a suburban school on the far eastern reach of town and continues it’s tradition of excellence 100 years later in the heart of historic midtown Memphis. It’s history and growth reflect that of the neighborhood and Memphis. From the beginning, Snowden gained the reputation of one of the finest schools in Memphis and continues to be an example of the best of public schools in Memphis.