Grove Tower

Saving the Grove Tower

The Grove Tower is a building of significant historical and architectural importance, primarily known as the original home of E.W Grove High School. The Tower was conceived by Edwin Wiley Grove, who later founded the Grove Park Inn. He offered to endow the public high school in 1902. The tower building was completed in 1906, making it the first privately endowed public high school in Tennessee. It was designed by Ruben Harrison Hunt of Chattanooga, a prominent architect who also designed the first brick Henry County courthouse. (Photo by Shannon McFarlin.)


The building is a unique blend of the Romanesque and Classical Revival architectural styles. Its dramatically Gothic appearance has led to it being described as looking "like an old castle." It was designed by Ruben Harrison Hunt of Chattanooga, a prominent architect who also designed the first brick Henry County courthouse. he building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1980.

In late 2023, the Henry County Schools board approved and completed a temporary stabilization project to shore up the structural issues and prevent further deterioration, with the immediate need being to stop the roof from leaking. The building is not currently used, but due to it’s historic significance, further efforts are now underway to save it. A meeting was held in August 2025 which we hope will result in positive action. We will continue to follow the efforts to save the tower and report the latest information here as it becomes available.

Grove Tower
Save Grove Tower Association: Now a Public Charity!
Great news! David Webb confirmed to me today that the Save Grove Tower Association has now been accepted as a 501(c)(3) Public Charity! Currently, donations must be sent by mail. We hope that an automatic means may be provided in the future. For now, their information is: EIN: 41-4747371 Address: 166 Edmonds Pl Paris, TN […]
2026 Grove Ornament
Ornament update
Just a quick note to say thanks to everyone who expressed interest in the ornament. It is quite popular, however we had a few comments about the "6" in 1969 which looked a bit like an "8." I have spoken with Ben and this will be fixed. We had well over 25 interested, so the […]
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Options for the Grove Tower Being Discussed
The Paris P.I. recently reported that the Grove Tower Advisory Committee met on Feburary 3rd to continue discussions on the fate of the Grove Tower. A recommendation was made at the meeting naming the City of Paris “a logical candidate” to take over temporary stewardship of the historic former high school campus from the Henry […]

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