after wenonah school was destroyed by fire in 1946, the tennessee coal & iron (tci) company donated a parcel of land consisting of approximately to be used for a new elementary and high school. construction began in late 1946, and in the fall of 1947, students in grades 8-12 from riley elementary school and galilee, mt. olive and bryant chapel ame churches began classes in wenonah elementary school's first floor while construction on the second floor and high school was being completed.