Providence Day School - History

History

In July 1970, James Williams, Thomas Ridenhour and Gilbert Bell began discussing the idea of starting a school. On Aug. 30, 1970, they held the first organizational meeting at the home of James Williams. Present were Gilbert Bell, Reid Caldwell, Joe Conrad, Charles Graves, Charles Harper, William Hester, John Locklear, Wilton Parr, Charles Reed, Thomas Ridenhour, Preston Sizemore and James Williams. These men formed the Southeast Community Corporation for the purpose of beginning an independent school. They also became the school’s first board of directors. In September, a meeting was held to enlist interested parents. By the end of the night, 112 children from 108 families had registered to attend the new school.

Several days later, potential property for the school had been located. The board of directors, led by David Raphael, borrowed $200 from each family who had enrolled a child, purchased 7.6 acres (31,000 m2) of land for $75,000 on Sardis Road.

After the deed to the land was signed, parents went to work converting the house that was on the land into a school. On Sept. 28, 1970, Providence Day School was born. There were 180 students in fifth and sixth grades.

In February 1971, the State Department of Public Instruction approved Providence Day School as a private school. In the summer of 1971, William T. Townsend Jr. was hired as the first headmaster and the late Gil Murdock was hired as the first coach and physical education instructor. At the time, Murdock was the longest serving faculty member in school history before retiring in 2006. He died three days later of a heart attack. The next year the school had its first (annual) Gil Murdock Turkey Trot in his memory, which collects donations for local charities.

The 1974–75 school year brought the school’s first state championship in sports (golf), the addition of a two-story building (later named Overcash Hall) and accreditation from the Southern Association of Independent Schools. 1975 also was the year of the school’s first graduating class.

In 1982, adjacent property was purchased for an athletic complex to accommodate football, track, baseball, softball, and tennis. The gymnasium was dedicated and named the Thomas L. Ridenhour Athletic Center in 1983. In 1985, the wing between the Williams Building and Providence Hall was enclosed and three classrooms were added.

Eugene Bratek became the school’s third Headmaster in 1986. Bratek retired from the school after the 2007 school year, and was replaced by Dr. Jack Creeden. In December 2010, Dr. Glyn Cowlishaw was selected as the new Head of School. His tenure began July 1, 2011.

In 1990, the McMahon Fines Arts Center was dedicated and the school purchased adjoining property and a house for the Extended Day Program.

In 1998, the Dickson-Hemby Technology Center opened and now houses math, science and computer classes. The Thompson-Jones Library and the Mosack Athletic Center were dedicated in 2001 at the conclusion of the “Tomorrow Begins Today” campaign. The Dining Hall in the McMahon Fine Arts center was expanded in 2005. This expansion also included a black box theater and more space for the band program.

In October 2012, the school celebrated the dedication of the newly-renovated Overcash Stadium during Homecoming. The dedication celebrated the completion of Mosack Field, Compton Track, the Charger Pavilion and the new student section named the Stampede. The 6,000-square-foot field house and Nix Family Press Box were completed in December 2012.