In 1869, the Trussville Academy was founded by Robert Greene Hewitt (also served as

principal from 1869-1871 & 1876-1884) who was from the Tarrant City area and served

60 years in the Jefferson County school system. The Trussville Academy was a

wooden building 60 x 40 and would accommodate 60-100 students located near what is

now South Chalkville Road in the vicinity of the railroad tracks.

New taxes were levied by the 1901 State Constitution and Trussville built a new and

larger school. In late fall of 1903 the new building opened. Trussville Grammar School

served students until 1938. This school was located on the site that is now occupied by

Trussville First United Methodist Church.

On May 9, 1922 a site for a new school to house higher classes was offered to the

Board of Education. The site was across the street from the grammar school. The new

building was completed in 1922. In 1925 Robert Hewitt presented a proposal to make

Trussville a senior high school with the addition of classrooms. The name of the

Trussville school was changed to R.G. Hewitt School in September 1925.

In June 1936 the U.S. Government entered into an agreement with the Board of

Education to erect a new school building. The original plans were for the primary and

upper elementary pupils to be taught at the new school on Parkway and the

Junior/Senior grades were to be taught in R.G. Hewitt High School on Chalkville Road.

The plan was never implemented. The new Parkway Drive School Building (old high

school, now HTMS) opened with grades 10-12 in the fall of 1938 as Hewitt High

School. One room on the south end of the building was used as a

nursery/kindergarten. Hewitt School on Chalkville Road housed grades 1-9.

On September 24, 1937, the Methodist Church and the Jefferson County Board of

Education exchanged land. In the early 1900’s the Methodist Church was located

across Chalkville Road from its present location. The Methodists wanted to exchange

property with the grammar school (located where the Methodist church currently sits).

This gave the Jefferson County Board of Education two pieces of property together and

gave the Methodist Church a larger, new building.

The stadium was built in 1949 at a cost of $40,000 at the Park Drive School Building.

As the area grew, Hewitt High expanded and housed students in grades 7 – 12.

Jefferson County contracted for a junior high school. Hewitt Elementary on Chalkville

Road was also overflowing with students.

Hewitt Elementary School Annex on Cherokee Drive was opened in 1969 for grades 2

and 3.

In May of 1973, Hewitt Elementary School on Chalkville Road burned to the ground.

Hewitt Elementary School Annex was expanded to hold all students in elementary

grades.

In December of 1983, Hewitt High School on Parkway Drive closed its doors for the

Christmas holidays and re-opened in January of 1984 at a new building on TrussvilleClay

Road. Although there was much discussion about changing the name at the time,

the school reopened with the name Hewitt-Trussville High School.

In May of 1985, the City of Birmingham attempted to annex 7500 acres including Hewitt-

Trussville High School. The attempt was soundly defeated and as a result, the city

ofTrussville annexed the school on May 29, 1985.

The Parkway Drive school building was renovated and remodeled and in August 1984

began serving as Hewitt-Trussville Middle School.

Trussville Through the Years by Carol and Earl Massey ends at this point with school

history.

*Hewitt Elementary closed and the Paine campus opened for the 2003 – 2004 school

year. At this time, the Hewitt-Trussville Junior High closed and the grades were

restructured.

Paine Primary School – Kindergarten – 2nd grade

Paine Intermediate School – grades 3 – 5

Hewitt-Trussville Middle School – grades 6 – 8

Hewitt-Trussville High School – grades 9 – 12

On July 1, 2005, Trussville City Schools became an independent school system.

http://www.trussvillecityschools.com/Pages/History%20of%20Trussville%20by%20Earl%20Massey.pdf