DNJ, Scott Broden, Sunday, February 10, 2013 — When it comes to local heritage, new Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker
Greg Tucker, the new Rutherford County historian, visits the replica of the classroom at the Rutherford County Historical Society headquarters on Academy Street. The Rutherford County Historical Society occupies the previous site of the Eliza Ransom School.
plans to visit schools to teach the next generation about the local people and events of past years.
“That’s what has shaped who we are and what we are today,” Tucker said during an interview at the Rutherford County Historical Society’s museum and meeting place in the old Ransom School at 717 N. Academy St. in Murfreesboro.
The museum is about a half mile northeast of the Civil War era County Courthouse where the County Commission unanimously appointed Tucker as the new county historian Thursday night.
A local historical columnist for The Daily News Journal on Sunday, Tucker replaces long-time County Historian Ernie Johns. The commission also named Johns as county historian emeritus.
“To succeed Ernie itself is a privilege and an honor,” Tucker said. “He has preserved and documented so much of our local history that would otherwise have been lost. He has a fantastic collection.”
The county commission announced the vacancy to the county historian job Jan. 17. The commission’s Steering, Legislative & Governmental Committee reviewed Tucker as the lone applicant Feb. 4 and recommended his appointment to a position that has no term limit to it, said Commissioner Adam Coggin, committee chairman.
“I’m excited about Mr. Tucker taking on this role as county historian,” Coggin said. “He has a wealth of knowledge and will be a great resource to the county in this position.”
Johns accepts the outcome.
“I’ve had my time, and I’m satisfied with my time,” Johns said. “I don’t own the position. I don’t own anything up there. That’s something that belongs to the county. I’m less than two years away from being 80. I guess it’s time for me.”
A former county commissioner from Smyrna, Johns plans to remain active with historic preservation.
“I’m not finished yet,” Johns said. “My idea is to keep the historical society going. We have a very good historical society in the county right now.”
Tucker is also passionate about the historical society. In addition to writing columns, Tucker has authored two books, “Remember Rutherford” and “Rutherford for Real,” and both are available for sale at the gift shops at Oaklands Historic House Museum, the Rutherford County Visitor’s Center and Chamber of Commerce building in Murfreesboro, and Gil’s Hardware in Smyrna.
Tucker is also writing, “Rutherford Rambling,” which is his third book on local history.
“I’m very fortunate that my favorite hobby, which is local history, is the type of thing you can share with other people,” said Tucker, who is a retired lawyer. “You not only can enjoy it you can learn things from it. The real benefit is you can see patterns that are still applicable. For instance, self-interests motivate most of the activity which becomes history.”
Tucker finds it curious that people are reluctant to acknowledge the role of self-interests.
“We have a tendency to romanticize our heroes and attribute to them pure charitable or humanistic motives,” he said. “Self-interests motivate the activity that becomes history. We shouldn’t be embarrassed about that because that’s what distinguishes the American experience from so many other cultures. Self-interest is a synonym for capitalism. If you work hard and come up with a better mouse trap from which others benefit, you benefit.”
The county seat in Murfreesboro started more than 200 years ago because of self-interest and not because William Lytle was a generous philanthropist who donated the needed land, Tucker added.
“William Lytle was a very shrewd businessman,” Tucker said. “He knew that locating a new town on his property would greatly enhance the value of his remaining property. That self-interest has to be there.”
Tucker also wants to preserve the history of many rural communities, such as where he lives on a farm in Donnells Chapel. The community is where his Aunt Ruby and Uncle W.O. Faulkner ran a general store by where Tucker’s farm is located.
“Every crossroad had a name at one time,” said Tucker, noting that early 20th century America had communities located at these intersections. “I am in particular fond of names and keeping the names on the map. Many have disappeared.”
Tucker hopes to share his perspective as the new county historian with many residents.
“It gives me a broader opportunity for me to bring to others in the county more interesting and useful information about our history,” said Tucker, who is especially eager to talk to students in the schools. “That kind of knowledge, I think, helps prepare the next generation for challenges they are going to face.”