‘The flag meant a lot’, WWI collection honors memory of veteran
The Daily News Journal, Nancy DeGennaro, November 11, 2018 Rummaging through the family attic proved memorable when 90-year-old Mary Baughman ran across World War I memorabilia of her father-in-law, Kenneth R. Baughman. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the attic. I like history, and I especially like family history,”…
2018 Awards Banquet
Carriage Lane Reception House, Saturday, November 10, 2018 Each year the president of the RCHS is tasked with selecting only five volunteers for recognition. I use the word ‘tasked’ because choosing ONLY five volunteers is a tough, tough task. This year’s recipients were: Award of Appreciation – Russell & Vicki…
Kingwood School, 1881-1946
KINGWOOD SCHOOL 1881-1946 was about eight miles from Murfreesboro on Kingwood Road which runs south off Franklin Road. The school was on the east side of the road just past the Williamson farm and a rock quarry. KINGWOOD was the successor to BLACK GNAT SCHOOL. In a deed dated July…
Blackman School, 1913-1939
BLACKMAN SCHOOL 1913-1939 was on the west side of Blackman Road, just north of the Baker Road intersection. On December 6, 1913, J. C. Batey and wife Mary A. deeded two acres to the Rutherford County Board of Education. The school was a frame building, weatherboarded and painted white, with…
Chuck Taylor remembered as great athlete
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, November 5, 2018 When I reflect on a current baseball success story from our county, I immediately think of Sonny Gray, pitcher for the New York Yankees, who attended Smyrna High with my children. Yet another sensation of the mid-20th century will rest in…
What stops are on the (Oaklands Mansion) Candlelight Tour in 2018?
Nancy DeGennaro, the Daily News Journal, November 4, 2018 The holidays are right around the corner, and so is the annual Oaklands Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes. Set for 4 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 1, the tour will take visitors to 10 locations, including the homes of five downtown…
National Register of Historic Places – Allen Chapel A.M.E. Church
November 1, 2018, National Register of Historic Places The ‘National Register’ is a phenomenal source of information regarding historic homes. Search their database and you will find 49 properties as of November 1, 2018. The following ‘Register’ entry is dated February 27, 1995: The Allen Chapel A.M.E. stands immediately east…
Harvest Days at Cannonsburg Pioneer Village
October 27, 2018 Fall was in the air Saturday with the 42nd Annual Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village on Front Street. The popular free community gather of crafts, art, music, food and a look at this community two centuries ago. Stroll this 1800’s village and watch broom makers, blacksmiths,…
Broad, Memorial not rebuilt until 2003
Frank Caperton, Rutherford County Historical Society, October 26, 2018, sort of… It is VERY cool being a volunteer at the Rutherford County Historical Society. We receive a constant stream of artifacts; artifacts that we enjoy digitizing. Artifacts such as this article in the Daily News Journal by Chris Shofner, dated…
Murfreesboro Female Institute, 1865-1899
MURFREESBORO FEMALE INSTITUTE 1875 – 1899 is shown on the 1878 Beers Map as located between High and Maney and bordering Burton Streets. The location of the building currently would be 421 East Bell Street. MURFREESBORO FEMALE INSTITUTE, also known as the SCOBEY SCHOOL, used the same property which the…
Fall into Fashion, September 19, 1973
The Daily News Journal, September 19, 1973 “Fashion Show Set Thursday” The third annual fashion show of the Alpha Delta Kappa sorority will be held at the Stones River Country Club on Thursday, September 20, at 7:30PM. “Fall into Fashion” will feature costumes from the Village Square modeled by members…
Joseph Palmer a compelling general in Civil War
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, October 22, 2018 The namesake Palmer originated with the Norman Conquest of 1066. This signature name was brought to England by the Normans and has a meaning of “pilgrim who carries palm branches back from the Holy Land.” The sobriquet of Palmer represented a…
Miss (Eliza) Ransom, 70, dies last night
(Published October 28, 2018) The Daily News Journal, September 20, 1935 (Ed. note: Miss Eliza Ransom and sister Belle Ransom operated the Ransom School at 717 North Academy Street, Murfreesboro, for more than 40 years. Today, the RCHS is honored to care and use the old Ransom School House as…
City negotiates $1.8 million sale of historic downtown block for brand hotel
City of Murfreesboro, October 18, 2018 The Murfreesboro City Council voted Thursday (Oct. 18) to approve a purchase and sale agreement with developer One East College, LLC for redevelopment of the City block known as the former First United Methodist Church location. The 2.48-acre City block bounded by Church, Lytle,…
Christiana School (Black)
CHRISTIANA SCHOOL BLACK 1890-1918 was in Christiana on the north side of the present Miller Street and across from the home of Joe McCrary. The land was given by Martha Miller for as long as it was used for school purposes. Parents of the school children constructed the one-room building.…
Historic church sale coming soon to council
October 11, 2018, Scott Broden, the Daily News Journal Investors seeking a $70 million mixed-use redevelopment of the historic former First United Methodist Church will enter into a $1.8 million purchase agreement with the Murfreesboro City Council, officials said. ‘They are ready to spend some money,’ Assistant City Manager Gary Whitaker told the council during a Wednesday…
Church redevelopment to return before council
October 9, 2018, Scott Broden, the Daily News Journal Updated efforts to redevelop downtown’s historic former First United Methodist Church into a restaurant, condos, hotel, parking garage, offices and shops will be part of Wednesday’s Murfreesboro City Council workshop. The meeting starts at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Council Chambers on…
Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker shares the origin of the name ‘Mink Slide’.
March 22, 2018
McFadden School, 1935-1939
McFADDEN SCHOOL 1935-1939 was built on the same site at 211 Bridge Avenue at a cost of $25,000. Additional land was sold for the school campus by Addie Smith and husband Jim on October 4, 1935 and by Sam Arnette and wife Josie on January 11, 1937. Mr. George Cranor,…
McFADDEN SCHOOL, 1927-1935
McFADDEN SCHOOL 1927-1935 was a county grammar school located on the southeast side of Bridge Ave. in Murfreesboro. It was named for Elvie McFadden “who ministered to the spiritual and physical needs of the underprivileged in Westvue.” Before her death in 1925, she was assured by B. B. Kerr, then…