Rutherford County Tennessee Historical Society

Upcoming Events

Saturday, May 18, 12:30PM

Saturday, May 18, 12:30PM, Ransom School House, 717 North Academy Street: RCHS Board meeting. Remember, you don’t have to be on the Board to attend.

Monday, May 20, 7:00PM, Rutherford County Archive Building, 435 Rice Street (down from the Murfreesboro Athletic Club) Bart Walker of Murfreesboro’s WGNS Radio will present the history of radio in Rutherford County. WGNS, Rutherford County’s ‘Good Neighbor Station’ came on the air 10PM, December 31, 1946, when Rutherford County had only 8,000 residents. Bart is…

Monday, June 17, 7:00PM

Monday, June 17, 7:00PM, Rutherford County Archive Building, 435 Rice Street (down from the Murfreesboro Athletic Club) Our program is to be announced but Pettus Read of ‘Read all about it’ fame is firming-up plans for something big. STAY TUNED!

Preserve and Promote OUR local history!

The Rutherford County Historical Society has been preserving and promoting OUR local history since 1971. Perhaps you are researching your family, your property, perhaps just plain, old fun facts - the RCHS is an exceptional resource. The RCHS hosts 'Coffee & Conversation' each Saturday morning from 9AM-noon at the Ransom School House Museum, 717 North Academy Street, Murfreesboro (Tennessee). VERY informal, VERY fun and VERY informative. Our funding comes from membership dues, grants, a trust fund and donations. We have no paid staff - we are all volunteers thus every penny of your membership dues or donations goes to preserving and promoting our local history.

Bart Walker speaks on the history of Local Radio

Monday, May 20, 2019, Rutherford County Archive Building The Rutherford County Historical Society held its monthly meeting at 7:00 o’clock Monday (5/20/2019) night and WGNS’ Bart Walker shared the history of Murfreesboro’s first radio station. Walker noted, “WGNS rang-in the New Year of 1947, a time when there were no…

Greg Tucker receives due recognition

Monday, May 20, 2019, WGNS Radio Last night’s program featured Bart Walker of WGNS Radio. WHAT A PROGRAM!!! We also witnessed a special treat at State Representative Mike Sparks and Smyrna Historian Marty Luffman presented Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker a State proclamation thanking Greg for his dedication to OUR…

Saturday, May 18, 12:30PM

Saturday, May 18, 12:30PM, Ransom School House, 717 North Academy Street: RCHS Board meeting. Remember, you don’t have to be on the Board to attend.

Murfreesboro Airport terminal demolished, $4.5 million replacement on the way

May 1, 2019, Mealand Ragland-Hudgins, The Daily News Journal Murfreesboro Airport workers said goodbye to the city’s nearly 70-year-old terminal earlier this week. Demolition of the terminal took place on Monday and cleanup at the site along Memorial Boulevard is underway, Airport Manager Chad Gerkhe said. Removing debris should take…

Monday, May 20, 7:00PM

In Pursuit of Life and Liberty

Parri Ordoubadian, The Daily News Journal, June 25, 1978 A couple of years ago helping a refugee adjust to this country was the latest rage. The influx of Laotian refugees into this country was one of the biggest topics of conversation. But, just like any other fad, the word ‘refugee’…

Bobby Turman shared info regarding Cannonsburgh

RCHS Board member Bobby Turman is a self-made expert concerning Cannonsburg, located near downtown Murfreesboro. Bobby shared the reason(s) behind the creation of Cannonsburg in 1976, as well as what the future holds.

Monday, June 17, 7:00PM

The Iconic City Cafe on Tennessee Crossroads

Tennessee Crossroads, City Cafe, April 11, 2019 Tennessee Crossroads recently visited the iconic City Cafe:

State Farm Insurance Regional Office

Frank Caperton, April 3, 2019 State Farm Insurance has maintained a regional office in Murfreesboro since 1954. This is ‘The Scope’, volume 21, issue 12, dated December 24, 1975:

State Farm Insurance Regional Office

Frank Caperton, April 2, 2019 State Farm Insurance has maintained a regional office in Murfreesboro since 1954. The following is a pamphlet that was distributed by the Data Processing department as a memento at the grand opening of the ‘new’ State Farm regional office location at 2500 Memorial Blvd., October…

Hayes more than a county all-star

Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, March 25, 2019 I love studying the history of football, beginning with the first game of intercollegiate football in 1869, Rutgers vs. Princeton. My husband, Charles Dwayne Harber, played the game for seven years and was awarded a state honor in football as a…

Captain William Lytle Dedication

Lytle Cemetery, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, March 22, 2019 The Captain William Lytle Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution conducted a dedication ceremony commemorating a DAR marker for Captain William Lytle. Perhaps as many as 200 people attended the festivities held at the Lytle Family Cemetery, located next door to…

2019 Show & Tell

Oaklands Mansion, March, 18, 2019 Wow – what to say about the 2019 edition of the annual RCHS Show & Tell. More than fifty local history enthusiasts enjoyed a meal provided by Carriage Lane Reception House on the grounds of the historic Oaklands Mansion. The evening saw volksmarching sticks, rail…

Colgate Princess Doll Offer

The Daily News Journal, September 27, 1951 You know, it wasn’t too awfully long ago companies made offerings to entice customers new and old to purchase their product. Duz Detergent and their free glasses, jelly jars used as table glasses, and many,many more. Look at all the locally owned grocers…

Renault Dealership in Murfreesboro?

Murfreesboro Import Motors was operated by J.D. Tyner and A.R. Dyer at 612 West College Street (present day 610 Building and Todd Janitorial Service) approximately from March or 1959 till August of 1962. Note: You had to be married AND sober to sell Renault cars at Murfreesboro Import Motors…

First City Bank moves to the City Center

The Daily News Journal, April 30, 1989 Discussion regarding the tallest building in Murfreesboro officially began in 1987. First City Bank moved into the ‘tall building’ April 30, 1989. Want to learn more about Murfreesboro’s tallest building? Click on the following articles… February 8, 1987 – NHC plans 15-story Building…

NHC plans 15-story Building

Tom Spigolon, The Daily News Journal, February 8, 1987 Murfreesboro-based National Health Care Corp. could begin construction within six months on a 15-story office building to house its new headquarters near the Public Square. Please visit “A View from the Top” article from 2012 for a view from the top…

Big Daddy Bradley’s Red Barn Square Dance

Contributed by Randall Upchurch & Danny Campbell, March 15, 2019 Big Daddy Bradley’s Red Barn Square Dance, was located in Walter Hill behind Crossroads Market. Thank you Danny Campbell for sharing this pic. Danny had his first stage appearance here in 1974 at the age of 9!

1975 Map of Murfreesboro/Rutherford County

Rutherford County Historical Society, March 15,2019 Banks, gas stations, funeral homes, radio stations – so many businesses gave away maps back ‘in the day’. This is a map of 1975 Murfreesboro/Rutherford County Map from Citizens Central Bank. Citizens Central Bank was once located at 319 North Maple Street (Murfreesboro) current…

Join the RCHS today!

Believe it or not, the $25-a-year family membership is our primary source of income. $25 goes a long, long ways to helping preserve our local history. A membership runs from January 1 – December 31 each year.