Susan Harber, Daily News Journal, April 5, 2015
When I began my journey to discover the lovely town of Eagleville, I was stunned with the abundance of rich history to explore.
A 1940 photo shows Crosslin Supply, Ira Hay Grocery, Peoples Bank and Green Hays Hardware Store.
I love to ride into this stunning town on Salem Road and view the high-rising hills to the east. The sheer beauty of these tree-lined hills reminds me of the Smoky Mountains.
When you travel down Salem Road, one can encompass the breadth of the high school on the right and adjacent stadium standing next to handsome farm land. Football is a main attraction in town.
My dad, Paul, performed a wedding in Eagleville over 50 years ago for his friend, Coon Victory, at the Eagleville Church of Christ that is still standing. Our family has always had a special connection to this community.
Historian Bobbie Sue Shelton-Lonas, a 1960 graduate of Eagleville High, has carefully conserved and maintained meticulous records on Eagleville long term in a wonderful manner. Her book “A Step Back in Time ” is so important to the heritage and history of the town.
Eagleville has 2.1 square miles with a population of 662. In the past, tobacco and lumber were the staple industries. In recent years, just one police officer served the town with a very low rate of crime.
The story of Eagleville begins with pioneer Absalom and Nancy Scales, who moved into the area to settle in 1790.
Absalom Scales built the original two-story, four-room, poplar log home in Eagleville circa 1790. Mr. Scales’ son, Noah, added the brick exterior and expanded the home in the 1830’s. At some point the home passed to Noah’s son-in-law, John K. Womack, thus the name “the Old Womack Place”.
At this time, buffalo were seen roaming the territory. The Scales built a four-room house of yellow poplar and limestone with the aid of slaves and acquired 600 fertile, rolling acres. The original Scales house was later renovated into a larger brick dwelling. Today, the structure on Rocky Glade Road is one of the oldest homes in the county and was added to National Historic Places in 1973.
Early settlers in the most primitive days included James Gillespie, William Jordan, James Shepherd, George White, Thomas Jordan, Robert White, Robert Wilson, Joe Carson and James Neal.
Shepherd, Wilson, and William Jordan fought in the Revolutionary War. Thomas Jordan was in direct lineage of the founder of Jamestown. Henry Ridley was a member of the Constitution Convention of 1834. Other pioneer farming families in this area before 1850 included Marshall, McCord, Russell, King, Gentry, Puckett, and Logan. Some of the descendants of these forefathers still reside in Eagleville. All of these outstanding men were firmly united in the establishment of a prosperous community.
Eagleville was first named “Manchester” on May 7, 1832. Yet, another town by the same name had an established post office, and the decision was made to change the name on August 16, 1836.
Legend says a large eagle was killed on Sullivan Hill by well-known resident Chesley Williams in the looming Harpeth Hills behind the village, and the settlement gained their existing name. Williams, known as “Father of Eagleville“ was a substantial innovator in developing the town.
Downtown Eagleville, 1911. The building in the foreground is the Chesley Williams Store, built 1832. (‘Pictures and the Stories they Tell’, 2008, Frank Caperton/Susan Daniel)
He served as postmaster for 30 years. He also owned a successful general store in 1832 that was still operating in 1972. He was heavily involved with the school district and principal stockholder of the Eagleville/Unionville Turnpike. Williams owned a large quantity of land with a magnificent white house on the south of town.
The historical churches and ancestral homes are full of history.
One of the earliest churches in Eagleville was the Baptist congregation established in 1859. This church was burned in 1864 by Union troops. Eagleville Church of Christ began in the Simmons School House in 1880 near Rocky Glade.
Moreover, the area has several stunning homes. The Old Womack Place on Rocky Glade was built by Absalom Scales in 1825 as a two-story home. Thomas Williamson House, McCord House, and William Jordan Farm on Taylor Lane are all on the National Historic Places.
Notable resident George Savage graduated from Union University in Murfreesboro in 1871 and arrived in Eagleville in 1884. He established Savage School, an excellent chartered four-year college and preparatory school. There were 178 students in 1887 with a new school and ten structures for housing.
The school offered classes from first grade through college. Three years later, the college was converted into Eagleville High, a private school. In 1915, a two-story concrete and stucco building was erected to serve the increase of students. Yet, this structure was rebuilt after a fire in 1923. Today, Eagleville schools draw over 800 students.
Eagleville was a segment of Williamson County until March 24, 1877, and then sectioned to Rutherford County with an agreement to build a road from Murfreesboro to Eagleville. The area was a farming and tobacco community.
Owens Tobacco thrived, as well as a manufacturing plant on Cheatham Springs Road, run by A.P. Elmore. Other prominent businesses included Rowena Flour Mill (1892),
Rowena Mills was operated by Alfred P. Elmore, 1840-1929. It manufactured White Rose Flour, Magnolia Flour and choice bolted meal. Mr. Elmore also operated a sawmill on the same property.
Puckett Grocery Store, sawmills, tile mills, blacksmith shops and grocery stores. One of the sinister residents of Eagleville was physician Dr. C.R. Heimark of Norwegian descent. He arrived in 1895 and soon made nightly treks to Nashville only to return at dawn. Two empty graves were soon discovered by hanging lanterns, yet the mystery and deceit of his foible was not solved for three years. It was determined he was selling bodies of Eagleville residents to medical schools for $45 per corpse. He marked the boxes as “books.” In the end, Heimark received a fine of $150 and six months in jail.
Another interesting resident was Madison Redd Hughes, who attempted to join Forrest’s Raiders at 13 years old. Gen. Forrest sent him home; nonetheless, Hughes served as a juvenile scout reporting any Union activity near Eagleville. He later became a renowned Civil War lecturer. Hughes also served in the state Legislature for three terms.
By the early 20 th century, the town was organized with trade. Frank and Joe Crosslin, two influential businessmen, owned the Eagleville Produce Co. in 1933. During World War II, the Crosslins added lumber for sale and ran a prospering business.
Richard Greenberry Hay, always wearing a derby hat, ran a livery stable that later developed into Little Green Hays Big Hardware Store and stood for 78 years.
In 1952, an enormous fire burned in a rampage through Eagleville resulting in $100,000 of damage. Lowe’s Hardware, Puckett’s Grocery, a pool room and a café were a total loss. At the time, there was no fire department to save the town.
Other disastrous events have occurred in the form of tornado. On Jam 24, 1997, an F4 tornado injured 18 and caused $5 million in damage just 8 miles from Eagleville.
On April 16, 1998, an F5 tornado tore through a region within 20 miles of Eagleville, killing three and injuring 36 and causing $13 million in damage.
The Good Friday EF-4 tornado of April, 2009 formed in Eagleville and ended in Lascassas. The tornado ripped through the woods of Eagleville and destroyed large, olden trees on Rocky Glade Road.
Eagleville was incorporated in 1949 with the signature of Gov. Gordon Browning.
Eagleville has marvelous significance and is flourishing today in a beautiful manner with a strong emphasis on preserving history.
This renowned hamlet within our county has been dynamic from the first day with incredible leadership and a legacy of integrity and preservation.