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About the Club |
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The McDonald Ruritan was established in 1966 in McDonald, Tennessee. In 1986 the club opened its very own clubhouse located on McDonald School Road in McDonald, Tennessee. While the elementary school was the "heart of the community" the McDonald Ruritan was a major supporter of the school. When McDonald Elementary School closed in 1995, the club was offered a lease agreement with Bradley County to develop a community center in the school building. On November 18, 1996 this became a reality. The club worked hard to renovate the old school to become a community center that would benefit the entire community. This allowed the community to hold a reunion of school alumni and teachers in 2009. Due to ongoing structural problems the county decided in 2010 it would not assist the club in doing some major repairs needed to keep the community center open. In 2011 the club was able to renew the lease with the county to obtain the former schools two portable buildings and gymnasium. The old school is scheduled to be permanently boarded up and demolished in the near future. A fundraiser is currently in the works by selling bricks from the former school as a keepsake to alumni, teachers, staff and others. Proceeds from the sale of the bricks will help with repairs needed for the gym as well as building a park and walkway for the community to enjoy. In 2006 the Black Fox Ruritan merged with the McDonald Ruritan to form the McDonald-Black Fox Ruritan. The club currently works closely with Black Fox Elementary School and Bachman Academy. It is also one of the Bradley County Voter sites for the McDonald Community.
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The Former McDonald Elementary School |
To the left is the former school and the right is the gymnasium the McDonald-Black Fox Ruritan will be using as the McDonald Community Center |
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Cletis Bailey accepting an award from 2010 Club President, Jim Sells |
The two portables and gymnasium the club will be utilizing as the new McDonald Community Center |
