Spring City School Bus Tragedy Memorial - Spring City, TN
N 35° 41.568 W 084° 51.647
16S E 693562 N 3951985
A memorial in remembrance of 11 children who lost their lives when a school bus was struck by a train on August 22, 1955
Waymark Code: WM23CP
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 08/28/2007
Views: 148
On August 22, 1955, a Spring City school bus was struck by a southbound train killing eleven children and injuring many more. Several older boys opened the emergency doors and helped unload many children or there would have been more injuries. We will always remember our children lost on this date.
Mary Elizabeth Ball
Everett Edwards Jr.
Rose Mary Gideon
James Leon Hackler
Edward Muriel Hartbarger
Wallace Sanders Hartbarger
Charlotte Ann Marshall
Serry Diane Mincy
Jerry Mincy
Ricky Phillips
Max Phillips
As a result of this tragedy, these caring Spring City women lobbied and achieved the first law requiring all school buses to "stop look and listen" at all Tennessee railroad crossings. Thanks to these women within one year every state had passed the same law.
Irene Caldwell
Erma Lee Cheek
Anna Mae Decker
Juanita Denton
Mildred English
Virginia Gamble
Ann Gibson
Jean Goodnight
Amy Hackler
Myrtle Hackler
Virginia Hale
Sybil Hardaway
Lois Harris
Ginny Hatcher
Amanda Holloway
Billie Huskins
Laura Jenkins
Lela Johnson
Mamie Jones
Edith Landreth
Willette Metts
Lucille Moulton
Ethel Neely
Cumi Nuby
Layton Porter
Mary Porter
Kathryn Robinson
Eileen Sims
Mattie Skirlock
Lois Smith
Mary Smith
Reba Starnes
Pearl Thurman
Octa Torbett
Sue Wildasin
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Originally in 1956, a plaque and fountain were constructed to honor the victims at their elementary school with the remaining funds donated to care for the medical expenses of the injured. That monument was removed when the school expanded. After a two year effort to raise $5,000, this memorial was rededicated in 2005 at the site of the crash.
Disaster Date: 08/22/1955
Date of dedication: 08/20/2005
Memorial Sponsors: local citizens of Spring City, TN
Disaster Type: Technological
Parking Coordinates: Not Listed
Relevant Website: Not listed
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