Welcome to the Tullahoma History Trail, written and designed in the year 2000 by Jack Jennings, and sponsored by the Historic Preservation Society of Tullahoma and the Tullahoma City Government. The signs were produced by Frank and Donna Lee at Silver Lining Signs. The Tullahoma History Trail and its signs are designed to entertain and educate the youth and other residents of Tullahoma, and to help them take pride in many of the special efforts, events and people which have defined what is a Tullahoma, a city as unique as its name. Visitors to the city may also enjoy knowing the local history and heritage we have here.
The signs bring forth names of key people we wish to memorialize, as we have learned that individual people make everything happen in a city, good and bad. Tullahoma has been blessed with an abundance of citizens since 1851 who are creative, ingenius, hard-working, and eager to help others. It is the writerÍs goal and wish that that proud Tullahoma legacy be told and known by Tullahomans for generations to come, and that those future Tullahomans will continue to build that legacy, and to continue to move Tullahoma up a few notches every year in quality, appearance and quality of life.
| A. SOUTH LOOP | B. NORTH LOOP | C. EASTERN LOOP |
There are three loops in this trail, and all start near the intersection of South Jackson Street and West Lincoln Street, in the southwest quadrant. Look for the green sign in the corner of the First United Methodist Church parking lot, the one defined by the historic-looking wrought iron fencing, where you see this sign:
6. LIVERY STABLE
The Field and Reynolds Livery Stable was located here in the 1800Ís. During the time from 1863 to 1867 when Tullahoma was occupied by soldiers and under martial law, troops were often gathered at this site by their commanders for instructions and deployment.
Walk north to the end of the block, at Lincoln Street. Turn left and go down the hill to the bridge in front of the tannery building to see the following sign:
7. TANNERY SITE
Tannery operations were conducted at this site along Rock Creek for more than 100 years, beginning in the 1800Ís. During the 1920Ís it was Lannom Tannery, which later evolved into Worth Sports, Inc., a national leader in the production and design of baseball and softball balls and bats, led by Charles Parish, then his son John, then his grandsons Charles, Robert and John.Go back up the hill one-half block, turn right on Jefferson Street and go up the hill. Then go 1.5 blocks to see three signs:
3. BRAGG HEADQUARTERS
Here in 1863 stood a fine stone summer home built by a U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Catron. In January, 1863, it became the headquarters of CSA General Braxton Bragg and his Army of Tennessee for six months, following the battle of Murfreesboro and before the Battle of Chickamauga. The Union commanders here used it as their headquarters here from 1863 to 1867.4. JEFFERSON DAVIS
In 1863, Confederate President Jefferson Davis came here to visit his friend Braxton Bragg and the Army of Tennessee. Many generals serving under Bragg, including Hardee, Polk, Breckinridge, Cheatham and Cleburne, were most unhappy with BraggÍs battle decisions, leadership and retreats, and wanted him removed by Davis. Davis elected not to remove Bragg until after Murfreesboro, Tullahoma, Chattanooga and Tennessee as a whole were lost by BraggÍs army.5. MILITARY OCCUPATION
The Union Army of the Cumberland seized control of the city and railroad here without a battle around July 4, 1863, when Bragg retreated to Chattanooga. The next four years here were a period of martial law, brutality, devastation and terror for local families. All business ceased. Provost Marshal Milroy fostered punishments beyond legal, moral and humane bounds. Many suspected spies and bushwackers were executed without a trial.Go south a half block, turn left on Warren Street, go one block to Jackson Street, next to the Historic Harton House. Turn right and go one block to Decherd Street, cross over Jackson Street to the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center to the sign:
23. BAILLET HOME AND STUDIO
Now the cityÍs regional Fine Arts Center, sisters Jennie, Affa and Emma and their parents lived and worked here in the 1870Ís. All three girls were artists and the family operated a millinery store downtown. They watched much of what happened in Tullahoma during its prosperous years between 1875 and 1925.Recross Jackson Street, see the sign at South Jackson Civic Center:
1. PUBLIC SQUARE
This 13 acre site was laid out as the Public Square in the 1851 Town Plat for Tullahoma, intended as a park and town meeting area. Instead, the center of town followed the location of the depot built by the railroad. TullahomaÍs first public school was built here in 1886, and the auditorium was added in 1922. It was saved by volunteers in 1979. The rebuilt Bussell-Ganoe log cabin is likely the oldest structure in the city, perhaps as early as 1850. It was moved here from South Atlantic Street.Go south 3 blocks to C.D. Stamps Community Center and the sign:
24. DAVIDSON ACADEMY
In 1898, a three-room school for Negro children was built here. Mayor W.J. Davidson donated $1000 for chairs in the 1920Ís, so the school was named for him. It grew and became a high school in 1935, and the last class graduated in 1964. Integration of all city schools was effected that fall. Professor C.D. Stamps was principal from 1924 to 1966, so the new community center built in 2000 is named for him. The old building was razed in 1998. Go south 2 blocks to Waggoner Street. Turn right and go 3 blocks to Franklin Street.Go straight across Franklin to Maplewood Avenue, go up and around the curve to the Maplewood Cemetery and the sign:
2. CONFEDERATE CEMETERY
More than 400 Confederate soldiers of the Army of Tennessee were buried here in the first half of 1863, when that army was headquatered here. Most died of disease or of injuries sustained in the Battle of Stones River at the end of 1862. The land was donated by Colonel Matt Martin after that war. A private trust headed by Sons of Confederate Veterans members now maintains this area.Go north to the point of beginning. You can go up Maplewood, go left at Franklin. Go past West Middle School and turn right, go 2 blocks to Jackson Street. Then go left (north) to where you started.
From the First Methodist parking lot and sign number 6, go left (north) along Jackson Street 5 blocks to Blackwell Street, then turn left and go one-half block to:
8. HANGING TREE
In the first half of 1863, CSA General Braxton Bragg used a huge oak tree located at this high point on the Blackman farm to hang many of his own soldiers for violating his rules, especially for desertion. The Union Provost Marshal also used the tree for executions of bushwackers and other insurgents from mid-1863 until 1867. Fletcher Smotherman built this fine brick home in the 1930Ís, and the tree stood until the late 1960Ís.Go right down to Campbell Avenue, turn right and go one block to Wilson Avenue. Cross Wilson Avenue to the cemetery, then turn left and go two blocks to Big Springs Avenue and the Frazier McEwen Park and the start of the Rock Creek Greenway. Go into the park and see:
9. BIG SPRINGS
In 1851, when Tullahoma was founded, friendly Indians were still living near this large spring. Camps of the Confederate Army of Tennessee were made here in 1863. Other developments here before this park and high school were a fairgrounds with a harness track, and a golf course. The spring water goes into Rock Creek, and on into Elk River and Tims Ford Lake.Go back to Wilson Avenue and turn left to the main gate entry to the Oakwood Cemetery to the sign:
10. OAKWOOD CEMETERY
This land was donated to the city for use as a cemetery in 1875 by J. E. Hogain, a son-in-law of one of TullahomaÍs five founders, Dr. T.A. Anderson, a physician whose home was at Belmont. It is the burial site for many of TullahomaÍs leading families since then. Those family names include Campbell, Davis, Aydelott, Eoff, Muse, Wilkins and Harton. Cross Wilson Avenue, go back south along Jackson Street to the point of beginning.Cross Wilson Avenue, go back south along Jackson Street to the point of beginning.
From the First Methodist parking lot and sign number 6, go east across Jackson Street toward the downtown area along Lincoln Street. Go past the alley to the sign:
21. TOWN WELL
A Tullahoma city well was located within Lincoln Street for several decades. It was dug in 1871 and filled in 1908. For many years it was covered by a two-story bandstand, and was a center of attraction for various downtown social events. This part of the street is still subject to sinking.Go south and cross Lincoln Street to the entrance to the Veranda House to the sign:
20. LINCOLN HOTEL
The Lincoln Hotel was one of TullahomaÍs first structures, built in 1851 on this site by Mr. Pearson, a son-in-law of one of the cityÍs five founders,General William Moore of Mulberry. The railroad opened in 1854, and the trains stopped and let its passengers out here each evening, as they did not run at night until Union possession in1863. Go east a few yards to the corner at Atlantic Street, turn left and go north one-half block to three signs:18. CAMP FORREST BOOM
During World War II the city was a boom town, with up to 250,000 soldiers and others swarming stores, theaters and homes as troops trained at Camp Forrest before leaving for Europe. The boom was over in 1946, but many improvements had been made, including roads, water and sewer systems and an airport, named Northern Field. Senator McKellar from Memphis helped the city compete for the training camp location.19. AEDC DEDICATION
President Harry Truman came here on June 25, 1951 to dedicate the Arnold Engineering and Development Center, built to keep AmericaÍs airpower supreme after World War II. It brought hundreds of new families to live and work here, and changed Tullahoma forever. John W. Harton, Jr., Dr. Jack Farrar, and Senator McKellar of Memphis led the effort to win the competition to be the site.17. GREAT FIRES
Huge fires here in 1861, 1867, 1883, 1887 and 1896 caused downtown to be rebuilt several times. Business losses were immense, but the spirit of the people was unbroken. They rebuilt, and the city grew as a vacation spot and a hub for manufacturing and transportation. The growth was built by bright minds, strong wills, and the importance of the railroad.Go north 2 blocks along Atlantic Street to the rear of the large white building and the sign:
11. DAVIS FAMILY HOMES
This block contained three superb Victorian and Queen Anne homes built by Maclin Davis and his sons in the late 1800Ís. Maclin was a co-owner of Cascade Distillery. His son Ewin Davis was a congressman and national statesman, while Norman Davis was close to three presidents, and national chair of the Red Cross in World War II. His son, Paul, was president of a major Nashville bank, the American National Bank.Go north 1.5 blocks and turn right on Hogan Street. Cross the railroad and turn right (south) at the next corner, also called Atlantic Street. Go south 1.5 blocks to the signs in front of the Victorian homes and the sign:
14. HOMES OF LEADERS
Around 1880, two of these Victorian houses were built by powerful and wealthy L.D. Hickerson as wedding presents for his daughters, who married two Raht brothers. Railroad executives George W. Hicks and Archibald Yell Smith built two of the homes here, and industrialist Ben Wilkins built his home to face the railroad as well.Cross Atlantic to the railroad depot building and to two signs:
12. DEPOT BUILDING
This is TullahomaÍs third depot building, built in 1889, after fires destroyed the first two. The original brick depot was built in 1852 and burned in 1883. The railroad opened for traffic in 1854, connecting Nashville and Chattanooga. This depot has been moved one block north of its original location, and during the busy days of World War II and Camp Forrest it was doubled in size. The city also had a freight depot on the other side of the tracks for many years.13. RAILROADING
Because of its half-way location and its elevation at 1070 feet, the city was conceived, chartered and subdivided by five investors, starting as a labor and supply camp for the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, the first in the state. Construction was started in Cowan in 1848 and the route was opened in 1854. The city saw all the famous locomotives of the L & N Railway for several decades. Passenger service ceased in 1971, but was critical to the townÍs success since 1851.Recross Atlantic Street, turn right (south) and go 1.5 blocks to the front of the Sears store and the sign:
15. HEALTH RESORTS
A number of large wooden hotels in the city and at springs nearby were built in the 1880Ís by investors to serve families who came here, especially in the summer, to enjoy the healthy and healing air, climate and waters, and to avoid yellow fever. Families also built summer cottages here at that time. On this site stood the Hurricane Hotel and a pedestrian bridge over Grundy Street to the Park Hotel. F. Corzelius was a leading hotel operator here.Go on south one block in front of the yard of the church to the sign:
23. TULLAHOMA PEOPLE
Since 1851, TullahomaÍs people have been uniquely visionary, hard-working, intelligent and motivated. They have made all the difference in what Tullahoma has been and will be as a great place to grow up, raise a family, retire or to visit. There is much diversity here, and it is a strength. Brainpower has counted a lot here, and it is our heritage and hope for the future. Good people create a good quality of life in a community.Go south one-half block, cross Lincoln Street and turn left (east). Go east 4.5 blocks to the vacant land adjoining East Lincoln Elementary School to the sign:
16. COLLEGE SITE
Several private colleges and academies occupied a grand three-story building that was built of Sewanee stone on this site in 1892, until it burned in 1922, including the Jessie Mae Aydelott College, the University of Middle Tennessee and the Fitzgerald & Clark Academy, which boasted legendary athletes and athletic teams from 1910 to 1922.Turn around and go west, retracing your steps along Lincoln Street to the downtown business district. Return to the point of beginning.