After the school fire in August 1923 a new school building was built in the same location and was ready for students to attend in 1924. The new brick building contained twelve classrooms at a cost of $18,750. The Eagleville School was one of the most modern and well-equipped buildings in this part of the state and by state officials recognized as one of the best schools in Tennessee. In 1929 there were only five schools in Tennessee that was given a higher rating than Eagleville. Those rated higher had larger enrollments in their high school departments.

Sports have always played a big part of school life in Eagleville. The students were playing basketball outside so a need for a gymnasium was evident. The people of Eagleville community built the first Eagleville School gymnasium in 1926-27. It was the third one built in the county. The late Mr. Horace Mosley hewed the logs that were used as pillars of the building. Students of the school also helped with the construction of the gym. The first ballgame was played in the gym on December 24^th, 1927 against College Grove. All that day work was being done to complete the building for the ballgame that night. The late Mr. Fred Taylor, a senior, was one of the students who help complete the floors that day and played ball that night. College Grove won the game by two or three points. Mr. Fred once stated that they probably got beat because the Eagleville players were so tired from working all day. Everyone in the community who helped build the gym was invited to the first ballgame. Mr. Horace Mosley attended that game which was the first and only game he ever attended. He said it was too much noise for him. In 1948 dressing rooms was added to the gym. In 1976 a new gymnasium was built and in 1988 this much-loved Eagleville school landmark was torn down.

The 1927 boys basketball team members, first team to play in the Eagleville gymnasium, were: Grady Elmore, Herman Jackson, Fred Taylor, Ben Redmon, Eurban Elmore, Howard Windrow, Robert Covington and Irving Marable. Dearborn Hayes was coach.

In 1929 according to the first “ Lone Eagleville” school annual, there were 18 graduates: Harry Hazel, Lucille White (Salutatorian), Ruth Brown, Roy Hughes, Edna Ralston, Annie Ruth Ayres (Valedictorian), Ruby Davis, Virginia Taylor, Maye Cothran, James Zumbro, Sarah Edmonds, Lula Farmer, Lillian Floyd, Mary E. Graves, Margaret Scott, Gertrude Taylor, Evelyn Ward, and Herbert Davis. The faculty consisted of Mr. C. M. Pickler, principal; Mr. H. B. Smith, assistant principal; Mr. David Calahan, principal of grade school; Miss Dorothy Staley, Home Economics; Mrs. Henry Moon Holmes, History and Kindergarten; Miss Mary T. Jones, fifth and sixth grades; Miss Grace Fann, third and fourth grades; Miss Reita Ayres, primary and Miss Ethel Elmore, music and voice. Several members of this faculty also taught other high school classes that were offered to students at this time. Some of the students also participated in the Music Club, Home Economics Club, Wilson Literary Society, Franklin Literary Society, Burke Literary Society and the Webster Literary Society. A highlight of the school year was always the Junior-Senior Prom along with other social events.

Over the years Eagleville School has produced some outstanding basketball teams. In the 1928-29 school year the Eagleville girl’s basketball team won four out of eight scheduled games and played in the semi-finals in the county tournament. Team members were: Margaret Scott, Johnie Lou Floyd, Audrey Jones, Maye Cothran, Maggie Bell Ralston, Elaine Cothran, Louise Redmon, Maye Bennett and Sarah Jones. Coach was Mary T. Jones. The Eagleville boys did not seem to get started well until late in the season losing their first 8 eight games. Out of eighteen games, they won only six but were the Rutherford County Tournament champions. In the district tournament the team who eventually won the state tournament defeated them. Team members were: Marion Stem, Freeland Bennett, Rollie Woods, Roy Hughes, Herman Bullock, Powell Taliferro, Herbert Davis and Jack Vaughn. Coach was Mr. David Calahan, the grade school principal.

In 1930 there were 12 graduates at Eagleville School; Gifford Kelly, Eunice Holton, Nathan Lowe, Mary Esther Taliaferro, Marion O. Stem, Sara Jones, Herman Bullock, Maye Bennett, Powell Taliferro, O’Fallon Staley, Ruth Marable and Alene Bennett. Mary Esther Taliaferro (Crosslin) was Queen of The Lone Eagle. The faculty had some changes from the previous year. Mr. H. B. Smith had moved up to principal, Mr. W. F. Shelton, assistant principal and Mr. Charles Grisby, grade principal. The faculty included Miss Christine Owen, mathematics, Mrs. W. D. Potter, home economics, Miss Ethel Elmore, music and voice, Miss Erline Carlton, second grade, Mrs. Martha Moon Holmes, first grade, Miss Grace Fann third and fourth grades and Miss Mary T. Jones, fifth and sixth grades.

Also in 1930 the Eagleville girls and boys basketball team were county champions playing some of the best teams in Tennessee. The girl’s team won twenty out of twenty-four games. Along with being county champions they were runners-up in the district tournament and consolation winners at the Middle Tennessee state tournament at Manchester. They were beaten only by one point in the district and regional tournaments. Mrs. Maye Taylor, a lifelong citizen of Eagleville, played basketball all thru school and was the captain of this champion team. The Eagleville girls played; Cornersville, Unionville, Kittrell, Smyrna, Lascassas, College Grove, Rockvale, Hampshire, Chapel Hill, Liberty, Christiana, Mt. Juliet, Manchester, Linden, Ashland City, and Dupont. The boys, also county champs won eighteen out of 24 games. Their competition included Christiana, Cornersville, Unionville, Kittrell, Smyrna, Lascassas, Chapel Hill, Liberty, Brighton, College Grove, Rockvale, Hampshire, Woodbury, and Morrison. (Continued next month)