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Tennessee Children's Home - NORTH CENTRAL

BRIEF HISTORY 

          

(formerly Happy Hills Boys Ranch & Happy Hills Youth Ranch)

 

            In September of 1970, nearly 400 acres in Cheatham County just 10 miles north of Ashland City were secured for the Happy Hills Boys Ranch.  This was a farm donated by Houston Ezell an elder at the Vultee Church of Christ.

            At that time, the phrase “out were boys ought to be” was coined to suggest that young men who were in need of special care would grow and mature better in that kind of environment.  The boys would be taught the dignity of honest toil, good sportsmanship and fair play, with a special emphasis on moral and spiritual values.

            The mission of the Ranch was to provide a substitute home for dependent and neglected children and to restore the broken lives of children and families.  The goal of the Ranch has always been to help a child become independent, capable of living and contributing in our society, while dependent on God.

            Founders and board members have been active in leadership positions in area Churches of Christ.  Clayton Pepper was the first superintendent.  Tom and Maxine Stroud were the first houseparents at Happy Hills Boys Ranch.

            Area congregations of the Churches of Christ built the houses and buildings used to care for the boys.  The Vultee church built the first house with other houses paid for and constructed by Joywood, Grandview, Hilldale, Bellview, West End, Chapel Hill, Springfield and all the congregations of Cheatham County.  This has truly been a church family project.

            In 2000 the Youth Ranch merged with the Tennessee Children’s Home.