Bill Allen, a World War II survivor story
Nancy DeGenarro, Daily News Journal, December 19, 2015 MURFREESBORO — At age 19, Bill Allen of Murfreesboro looked death in the face when his ship went down during the Invasion of Normandy, France, in June 1944. “The bow was going down, and I was on the bow, and I stayed…
Halliburton School, 1860s
HALLIBURTON SCHOOL 1860’s was in the Rucker Community. The 1878 Beers Map shows it to have been on the south side of the Rucker Road just east of the railroad. The school was held in a residence owned by the Halliburtons who had a spare room. The teacher was “a…
Versailles School, 1850’s-1886
VERSAILLES SCHOOL 1850’s-l885 or 1886 was the first school known in the area. It was in the southeast corner of the Nance property where the Nance farm joins the Bill Williams-Willie Floyd Williams land. It was on the 10th District 1/2 mile east of Versailles on the north side of…
Thompson led the way as pioneer Smyrna physician
Susan, Harber, Daily news Journal, December 15, 2015 One of the earliest physicians in Rutherford County was Dr. Nimrod Whitfield Thompson. He was born in 1811 in Hartsville, Tenn., to William and Anna Mullins Thompson originally of Albemarle County, Va. He had 14 siblings and learned at an early age…
McFadden space redone as one-room schoolhouse
Brian Wilson, Daily News Journal MURFREESBORO — Students in a McFadden School of Excellence schoolroom were preparing for a class on Thursday expected to throw them back more than a century. The class taught by fifth-grade history teacher Christy Moore will move to a “one-room classroom”-like space she and another teacher rediscovered at Rutherford…
Little church has a lot of history
Connie Esh, The Murfreesboro Post, October 27, 2015 Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, founded in 1885, is a small church with a long, rich history. One part of that history is that one of its former song leaders, Robert Fisher Boyce, wrote the first song in the church hymnal, “Beautiful Star…
Concord School (Eagleville), 1871-1910
CONCORD SCHOOL f 1. 1871-1910 was located on land given by Charles Blackman “Kit” Farris, a Methodist Circuit Rider, and by Dr. J. O. Sharber for building a church and a school. It was across from the present Concord Methodist Church. The 1878 Beers Map shows Concord Church on the…
American Sycamore Tree at Courthouse listed at Monumental Trees website
Rutherford County Assessor of Property took the initiative to measure the girth of the huge Sycamore tree on the east side of Rutherford county’s historic Courthouse. The tree was planted near the time the Courthouse opened – 1859. Rob Mitchell measured the girth at 16’9”. The height is 90.13′ and…
Rutherford County, TN Historic Cemetery Survey
by Bethany Hall, GISP Rutherford County Historic Cemetery Online Map and Search Rutherford Co. Historic Cemetery Survey Form: www.rutherfordcountytn.gov/archives/cemetery-form.htm “Forgotten Place, Living Traditions” story map tour www.rutherfordcountytn.gov/archives/cemetery.html In 2014, the Rutherford Co. Archives teamed with Rutherford Co.’s Office of Information Technology (OIT) and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) Departments, MTSU Center for Historic…
Local History with Truman Jones and Friends
December 8, 2015, WGNS Radio Today Truman visits with Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker. Bart Walker and the staff of Rutherford County’s WGNS Radio (1450AM, 101.9FM) have been supporters of our local history for a long, long time. Please click the WGNS icon and enjoy former Rutherford County Truman Jones…
3rd Annual Civil War talk topics including DeWitt Smith Jobe, Sampson Keeble
State Representative Mike Sparks is hosting the 3rd annual Civil War talk topics including Coleman Scout DeWitt Smith Jobe and Confederate Veteran and State Representative Sampson Keeble. WHEN: Saturday, December 5, 10AM till noon WHERE: Motlow College, 5002 Motlow College Blvd., Smyrna, Tennessee The Civil War Talk will…
Gladeview School (Black), Dilton, 1884-1958
GLADEVIEW SCHOOL BLACK 1884-1958 was first located on the west side of Mt. Herman Road at the intersection of Veals Road. F. G. Carney on September 13, 1884, deeded one-half acre to School Directors J. C. Coleman, W. J. Knox, and M. Frank Overall for “schoolhouse now standing on the…
Local History with Truman Jones and Friends
December 2, 2015, WGNS Radio Today Truman visits with local historian Toby Francis. Bart Walker and the staff of Rutherford County’s WGNS Radio (1450AM, 101.9FM) have been supporters of our local history for a long, long time. Please click the WGNS icon and enjoy former Rutherford County Truman Jones and…
Local History with Truman Jones and Friends
December 1, 2015, WGNS Radio Today Truman visits with Rutherford County Historian Greg Tucker. Bart Walker and the staff of Rutherford County’s WGNS Radio (1450AM, 101.9FM) have been supporters of our local history for a long, long time. Please click the WGNS icon and enjoy former Rutherford County Truman Jones…
Harber’s History: Idler’s Retreat served as gathering of famed writers
Susan Harber, Daily News Journal, November 29, 2015 Idler’s Retreat, a rare jewel on Oak Street, is situated in the Front Street Historic District in Smyrna. This beautiful home is also known as the Dillon-Tucker-Cheney House or “Cold Chimneys.” After the installation of central heating into the home in 1957,…
Pleasant Hill School, 1923-1939
PLEASANT HILL SCHOOL 1923-1939, sometimes called “CHIGGER RIDGE” and “PUMPKIN CENTER,” was located on Rocky Glade Road about four miles north of Highway 99. It was on the south side of the road just east of the intersection with Taylor Road. When the LITTLE ROCK SCHOOL closed, the building was…
Kelley Chapel School, 1886-?
KELLEY CHAPEL SCHOOL 1886- was on the west side of the Eagleville-Shelbyville Turnpike about three miles south of Eagleville. On August 16, 1886, Enoch Beale Kelley and Sarah Jane Kelley deeded one half acre of land to School Directors F. Oglivie, John B. Crichlow, and Anderson Wilson for twenty-five dollars.…
The Confederate Circle at Evergreen
November 26, 2015, Frank Caperton, Rutherford County Historical Society Within this circle lies the remains of over 2,000 gallant Confederate soldiers who gave their lives in the battles in and around Murfreesboro during The War Between the States, 1861-1865. They were first buried on the battlefield where they died defending…
Developers eye site of historic church
Sam Stockard, Murfreesboro Post, November 24, 2015 Franklin Synergy Bank is negotiating the sale of its East College Street property as it plans to move into a new Rutherford County corporate headquarters slated for Medical Center Parkway. The bank is discussing a potential sale to buyer groups for redevelopment of…
Ernie Johns Highway Dedication, November 21, 2015
State Representative Mike Sparks (R–Smyrna, 49th District) and State Senator Bill Ketron (R–Murfreesboro, 13th District) passed recently passed legislation to rename a portion of West Jefferson Pike in Smyrna in honor of lifelong Smyrna resident Ernie Johns, Saturday, November 21. Ernie Johns is a well-known member of the Smyrna community with…