History
"Brennen Elementary School began as a community effort headed by Gladys Tomlinson and other parents living in the Kilbourne/Devereaux/Beltline area in 1947. Tomlinson remarked later that she and other parents, 'walked the unpaved streets, often pushing baby buggies through the dirt and mud, to get the petition signed. In 1947 the school board said they had no money. We said we'd be back again.'
And indeed they were. The next year the school board purchased the land from Daniels and Wray for $3,800 and let the construction to George Price Company for $146,760. The building contained 12 classrooms and a cafetorium, an innovation at the time. Dr. A. C. Flora, superintendent of schools, said the school was the 'safest, newest, most modern' school in the state and the 'colors were chosen for their reflection qualities.' The modern school had green chalkboards and individual doors for each classroom.
The school opened in 1949 with 335 students as Devereaux School. The first Devereaux principal was Carol Mundy who was also principal of Hamrick School in Olympia. Mundy served at Brennen until 1965 when she retired.
In 1951 the school was named for Miss Francena C. Brennen, a teacher and administrator in the Columbia School System for 45 years. She taught math and was head of the Math Department at Columbia High School for 25 years, then served as assistant principal at the school for 20 years. She retired in 1951."
Warner M. Montgomery
The Columbia Star