Late pediatrician credited for child passenger safety
Jason Reynolds, The Murfreesboro Post, October 4, 2018 The widow of Dr. Robert Sanders, a Castle Heights Military Academy graduate who was known as “Doctor Seat Belt,” dedicated a historical marker in his memory last Monday to commemorate the doctor’s role in advocating for legislation that created the state’s – and…
The Gordon School at Cannonsburgh
The GORDON SCHOOL is a building in the pioneer village of Cannonsburgh on South Front Street in Murfreesboro. The one-room log school is named for J. P. Gordon. Mr. “Pet” Gordon was elected to represent Rutherford County in the Tennessee legislature in 1923. He had served as magistrate from the…
National Register of Historic Places – Williamson, Thomas, House
October 3, 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 October 1, 2018. The following ‘Register’ entry is dated May 20, 1996: Williamson, Thomas, House, aka ‘Burns Farmhouse’,…
Midland School, 1895-1949
MIDLAND SCHOOL 1895-1949 was first called MIDWAY ACADEMY because it was midway between the two schools which it consolidated, GRAVEL HILL and CAMPGROUND. It was located on the south side of the Midland-U.S. 231 Highway east of Midland, then called Middleton, and on the site of the present Baptist Church.…
Waste disposal is nothing new…
Birthplace for Sam Davis up for sale
Nancy Degennaro, The Daily News Journal, October 1, 2018 Although the Sam Davis Home at 1399 Sam Davis Road in Smyrna is a more identifiable site, Sherry Maraschiello lives on the property where the Civil War boy hero was born. And the property even has ties to ‘Wizard of Oz’…
Salem School, 1898-1932
SALEM SCHOOL before 1898-1932 was on the south side of State Road 99, west of the intersection of the present Armstrong Valley Road. William Rufus Jarratt, b. 1848, gave the land for this school before his son was born in 1898. SALEM SCHOOL was a frame building of two rooms…
Bethel Church marks 200 years
Jason Reynolds, The Murfreesboro Post, September 25, 2018 A congregation in the Bethel community is celebrating the church’s 200th anniversary and a connection to the foundations of the Methodist denomination in America. Bethel United Methodist Church was founded in 1818. The founder was evangelist Ebenezer MacGowan, a British native who…
Mud Flat School (District 15), 1890-?
MUD FLAT 1890- was on the present Dunnaway Chapel Road just north of the Jefferson Pike. On February 9, 1890, Sion D. Hall and wife Serena deeded one acre of land to School Directors William Lester, HiramLester, and T. E. Alsup. The school property was bordered by Sion D. Hall…
Economy Car stops in Murfreesboro (1940)
Daily News Journal, March 15, 1940 Thank you local historian Carol Robertson White for finding this jewel of a news article!
Dr. ‘Seatbelt’ Honored
WGNS Radio, September 24, 2018 The late Dr. Robert Sanders, local pediatrician, was honored at 1:30 Monday (9/24/2018) afternoon with a Tennessee Historical Marker unveiled at the Rutherford County Health Department, where he served as director for a quarter of a century. He became known as “Dr. Seat Belt”, as…
Illustrators of Civil War preserved chapter in time
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, September 24, 2018 My daughter Katherine is a terrific artist, and I have always been fascinated with the illustrative sketch artists of the Civil War. These creative individuals supplied a visual account of a battle by depicting the soldiers fighting, suffering, celebrating and most…
The Peddler
Sadie Fowler, VIP Murfreesboro, September 5, 2018 More than 45 years ago two local women put their heads together to talk business, and what unfolded has been a Murfreesboro icon ever since — it’s called The Peddler, for short. Jane Jones and Mary Ann Richardson, both Rutherford County natives, met…
The Story of Walter Hill
southernrootsandbranches.wordpress.com, by Billy Pittard, July 15, 2018 I grew up feeling that Walterhill, Tennessee was my true home: the place where my roots were deepest. My maternal grandparents Ruth and Blackburn Batey lived at the crossroads of Jefferson Pike and Lebanon Road – which is arguably the heart of Walterhill. …
Murfreesboro’s First Astronaut, Dr. Rhea Seddon
Susan Harber, September 13, 2018 Margaret Rhea Seddon of Murfreesboro made history as one of first six female astronauts to enter the NASA program. Having the ‘right stuff,’ she was a pioneer in space exploration and is both a maverick and exemplar in our county today. Rhea was born on…
Tennessee College of Women once jewel for Main Street
Susan Harber, The Daily News Journal, September 10, 2018 A jewel in Murfreesboro was birthed in 1905 on 15 lovely acres with the creation of a charter by our state legislature for Tennessee College for Women. The school was widely known for strong educational instruction and Christian values under the…
Antioch School (Black), 1889-1946
ANTIOCH SCHOOL BLACK 1889-1946 was on the north side of the present Joe Brown Road. On October 9, 1889, James E. Stockard deeded to School Directors James W. Hunt and John W. Putman the land for a school. The parcel was bounded on the east by the Antioch Church lot.…
Mt. Pleasant School (Black), 1883-1962
MT. PLEASANT SCHOOL BLACK 1883-1962 was on the north side of Elam Road between the present U.S. 41 and the Interstate 24. On September 1, 1883, J. A. and W. A. Ransom sold for a school .25 acre of land to School Directors of the 28th School District, T. J.…
The Buttercup Women’s Boutique
Becca George, VIP Murfreesboro, September 5, 2018 Women’s fashion has seen many changes over the years from blazers and shoulder pads to slip dresses and mary janes. The Buttercup, a highend women’s boutique, supplied Murfreesboro women with specialty clothing from 1977 to 2004. The Buttercup, started by Nancy Coleman and…
Billingsley’s Men’s Store
Becca George, VIP Murfreesboro, September 5, 2018 Many thanks to the VIP Murfreesboro (September 5, 2018 Suits have been a staple in men’s fashion since the 19th century. Styles and cuts have changed but a well-made suit has remained an integral part of a man’s wardrobe. Adron Billingsley, owner of…