Battle Ground Academy

battle ground academy was established in 1889. named due to its original location on the battle ground of the civil war battle of franklin, bga was founded on the principles of character, scholarship and excellence. the first campus was erected at the corner of columbia avenue and cleburne street. s.v. wall and w.d. mooney were chosen as the first to head the new academy. in 1902, the original school building burned and the school was relocated on a site on columbia avenue in franklin. bga was established to educate young men, but young women were also allowed to attend. the school operated as a day school though students came from all over the south to attend. they boarded in private homes until the first dormitory was built in 1922, changing bga to a boarding and day school. after the construction of the first dormitory, the decision was made to go to an all male student body. the departure of the last women in 1929 ushered in a half-century when bga was a boys' school in the absolut