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Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg's letter about Murfreesboro's Bicentennial celebration.
A timeline of how Murfreesboro was founded, detailing key developments from 1803 through 1818.
Contents
A history of mayors.
8 Postcard exhibit.
A Bicentennial quiz, 15.
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12
5
Storytellers revisit 'Boro's past, 10.
Welcome to the ‘Center of the Universe’ ‘Most Livable Town’ for 200 years, and counting
C
ongratulations and best wishes are in order as Murfreesboro completes it year-long Bicentennial celebration. The events, the Bicentennial recognition and fascination of who, what, when and where has made Murfreesboro almost the “Center of the Universe” for all our residents, businesses and visitors this past year. The hometown we know as Murfreesboro grew from 60 acres of land belonging to Capt. William Lytle, and named in memory of Lytle’s friend, Col. Hardy Murfree. In 1817, “Murfreesboro” was recognized as an official city by the state Legislature and, in 1818, was named the capital of Tennessee because of its central location. Nashville became state capital in 1826. Early settlers found mainly an agricultural community, with corn, cotton, and tobacco being the main crops. By 1853, the Murfreesboro area was home to three colleges and several academies, prompting it to be called the “Athens of Tennessee” by a visiting religious reporter. The Civil War brought trauma and Union occupation, and training soldiers filled the surround4 • THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL
ing hills before World War II. In 1911, Middle Tennessee State Normal School opened. Later known as Middle Tennessee State University, it is the home today to 26,000-plus students, which is the highest undergraduate enrollment in the state. After World War II, Murfreesboro and Rutherford County began to change from an agricultural-based economy to industrial and manufacturing. Industrial growth has been steady since that time, contributing to a stable economy and phenomenal growth. Murfreesboro now has, by special census, a population of 109,575. Named the Most Livable Town in Tennessee, Murfreesboro is the fastest growing city in the state and it’s not hard to see why. Murfreesboro provides the quality of life that attracts growth — plentiful housing, excellent schools, employment opportunities, outstanding services, recreational programs and regional medical facilities. It is exciting and has given a whole new perspective for where “The ’Boro” is going in years to come.
— Tommy Bragg, Murfreesboro mayor
Murfreesboro Mayor Tommy Bragg stands next to the city's bicentennial cake, while the Rutherford County Courthouse can be seen in the background. HELEN COMER/DNJ
ABOUT MAYOR TOMMY BRAGG » Tommy Bragg was first elected mayor on April 16, 2002, to a four-year term as Murfreesboro mayor on a platform of improving educational excellence in the city schools system, support for Middle Tennessee State University, an improved business climate and a focus on responsible growth to enhance Murfreesboro’s quality of life. » He was chosen 2005 Mayor of the Year by the Tennessee Municipal League, and served as League president in 2006 when he was reelected by the citizens of Murfreesboro to a second four-year term. The citizens elected Bragg to a third term in April 2010. He currently is in his second term as a member of the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations. » Mayor Bragg was born in Murfreesboro in 1947 and, along with his wife Jeanne, has three children, Beth (Alex) Jennings, Anne (Chris) Warren and John, III. They have one grandchild, Jeanne Warren. » He earned a degree in journalism from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and is a retired colonel in the Tennessee Air National Guard. He is former owner of Courier Printing in Smyrna and is a former president of the Printing Industry Association of the South and an inductee to the Benjamin Franklin Honor Society of the Printing Industry of America. He is a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. » He is currently a member of the MTSU Foundation Heritage Club, serves on the Board of Professional Advisers to the MTSU College of Mass Communications, and is a trustee of the MTSU Foundation. He attends St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church where he has served as Sunday School teacher and finance committee chairman.
Mayor Tommy Bragg, 2002- present.
Murfreesboro Mayors — Through the Years Murfreesboro’s mayors and dates of service: 1818 e Joshua Haskell 1819 e David Wendell 1820 e Robert Purdy 1821 e Dr. H. Holmes 1822-1823 e W. R. Rucker 1824 e John Jones 1825 e William Ledbetter 1826 e Samuel B. Rucker 1827 e William Ledbetter 1828 e John Smith 1829 e Edward Fisher 1830 e John Smith 1831 e James C. Moore 1832 e Charles Ready 1833 e Charles Niles 1834-1835 e Marman Spence 1836 e Edward Fisher 1837 e L. H. Carney 1838 e E. A. Keeble 1839 e Edward Fisher 1840 e G. A. Sublett 1841-1842 e B. W. Farmer 1843 e Henderson King Yoakum 1844 e Wilson Thomas 1845 e B. W. Farmer 1846 e B.W. Farmer 1847-1848 e John Leiper 1849-1853 e Charles Ready 1854 e F. Henry 1855 e E. A. Keeble 1856-1859 e Joseph B. Palmer 1860 e John W. Burton 1861 e John W. Burton and Alfred Miller 1862 e J. E. Dromgoole
1863-1864 e James Monroe Tompkins 1865-1866 e Robert D. Reed 1867 e Charles Ready 1868-1869 e E. L. Jordan 1870 e Thomas B. Darrah 1871 e J.A. January 1872-1873 e Ingram Blanks Collier 1874-1875 e Dr. J. B. Murfree 1876 e H. H. Kerr 1877 e H.H. Clayton 1878-1879 e Newton C. Collier 1880-1881 e James Clayton 1882-1883 e E. F. Burton 1884-1885 e John Marcy Overall, Sr. 1886- 1887 e H.E. Palmer 1888-1891 e T.H. Wood 1892-1895 e T.H. Wood 1896- 1897 e J. T. Wrather 1898 e T.B. Lytle, J. O. Oslin 1899 e James O. Oslin 1900-1910 e J. H. Crichlow 1910-1918 e Dr. G. B. Giltner 1919-1922 e N. C. Maney 1923-1931 e Al D. McKnight 1932-1934 e N. C. Maney 1935-1936 e W. T. Gerhardt 1937-1940 e W. A. Miles 1941-1942 e W. T. Gerhardt 1943-1946 e W. A. Miles 1946-1950 e John T. Holloway 1950-1954 e Jennings A. Jones 1955-1964 e A.L. (Jack) Todd 1965-1982 e Hollis Westbrooks 1982-1998 e Joe B. Jackson 1998-2002 e Richard Reeves 2002-Present e Tommy Bragg
I. B. Collier
Crichlow
Gerhardt
Giltner
Holloway
Jones
Jackson
Jordan
Kerr
Maney
McKnight
Miles
Miller
Murfree
N.C. Collier
Overall
Palmer
Reeves
Todd
Westbrooks
Tomkins
Wrather
THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • 5
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THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • 9
Marcus Delany of Murfreesboro CityTV operates a camera during a taping of “Murfreesboro Storytellers” at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. JOHN A. GILLIS/DNJ
Storytellers relive past
Year-long Murfreesboro cable TV series highlights Murfreesboro’s history, accomplishments 10 • THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL
By Doug Davis • dougdavis@dnj.com
M
URFREESBORO — As part of Murfrees-
boro’s 200th birthday, Mayor Tommy Bragg suggested that Murfreesboro enjoy a year-long (13-month) celebration for its bicentennial. “Parks and Recreation was really tasked with and came in to talk with me about ideas for the bicentennial,” Bragg said. “(Parks and RecSee STORIES, Page 11X
Stories Continued from Page 10X
reation Director) Lanny Goodwin and (Assistant Director) Angela Jackson get all the credit for, No. 1, taking over the responsibility and, No. 2, to look with me across the community and see what areas we needed to cover each month.” Most of time, events were already under way or planned for those months, so the committee didn’t have to reinvent the wheel to have ideas, Bragg said. “Our parks and recreation department really did a great job,” Bragg added. The idea for Storytellers on Murfreesboro City TV each month during the bicentennial observance came from series moderator John Hood. “John participated in an interview for a documentary,” said Michael Nevills, producer of the Murfreesboro Storytellers series. “Through our discussions, we felt like there was more to tell. From there, we decided on doing storytellers, more of a roundtable format to play off themes of each month, from ‘Our Beginnings,’ ‘Our Heritage’ and ‘Our Educators’ to this last show, which will be ‘Our Future.’ We found guests to work with each each of those themes.” The monthly themes and guests were:
Our Heritage “Our Heritage,” features local attorney Matt Murfree, a descendant of Col. Hardy Murfree; Pam Kious, community volunteer and a descendant of Capt. William Lytle, and Jock Rucker, local attorney, who is a descendant of Thomas Rucker. All three fam-
ilies played a part in the settlement of Murfreesboro.
Mayor Tommy Bragg, left, and Storytellers host John Hood discuss Murfreesboro’s rich history during an episode of “Murfreesboro Storytellers” at the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce.
Our Beginnings Murfreesboro businessman Ransom Jones, historian Greg Tucker and BG Jim Rich Roberts, retired Tennessee Air National Guard member, explain how the tiny community of Jefferson began as the county seat before it was moved to Murfreesboro.
JOHN A. GILLIS/DNJ
Our Teachers Mary Scales, a longtime civil rights advocate in the area, who formerly served on the Murfreesboro City Council and School Board, recounts the early days of desegregation in Murfreesboro City and Rutherford County Schools.
Our Healers Robert Adams, chairman and CEO of National Health Care Corp., tells how his father, Dr. Carl Adams, and Dr. S.C. Garrison, co-founded Murfreesboro Medical Clinic in 1949. This remains the largest group practice of accredited physicians headquartered in Rutherford County.
Our People Murfreesboro has stood as a melting pot for a diverse population of residents since its humble beginnings. In this episode, guests County Commissioner Chantho Sourinho, who is a leader in the Laotian community, and City Schools Outreach Coordinator Marisela Tapia talk about the people who have helped make Murfreesboro what it is today.
Our Military Guests Don Witherspoon, a Marine veteran and member of the Bi-
FYI Murfreesboro CityTV’s video journalist Michael Nevills produced “Storytellers,” with former state Rep. John Hood serving as series moderator. The show is cablecast at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. Sundays, at 7:30 p.m. Mondays, at 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays. All of the previous shows can be found at http://murfreesborotn.gov/ on the city’s web-streaming section under the Bicentennial Programs folder.
centennial Committee; Gib Backlund, Chief of Operations for Stones River National Battlefield; Lt. Col. Tharrel Kast, professor, Military Science at MTSU; and Derek Frisby, professor of history at MTSU, discuss the city’s roles in a number of wars, including the Civil War, World War II and present day conflicts.
Our Faith Bill Ledbetter, First Presbyterian Church; Nancy Vaughn, church historian, First Baptist church, Castle Street; and Madge Lewis, community activist, The Catholic Church in Murfreesboro are featured. Ledbetter talks about the beginnings of the First Presbyterian Church in Murfreesboro. The church was originally located at Murfree Spring and later in a
school house closer to town. They later moved to a location on Vine Street in a corner of what is now the old city cemetery.
Our Arts and Architecture Art has grown over the years in Murfreesboro, thanks to people such as Lewis Snyder, who came to Middle Tennessee State to teach in 1962, and taught there for 10 years.He credits the fine arts program at MTSU and local artists for the growth. He started the Tennessee Craft Artists Association in 1965.
Our Rivers, Roads, Rails and Trails Rail and the river were vital ingredients in Murfreesboro’s role in the Civil War, as North and South relied on both
to move supplies and even troops. Today, the river is not only the source for the city’s drinking water, but it is also a popular recreational attraction.
Our Music Known as the home of Grand Ole Opry star Uncle Dave Macon, Murfreesboro has had a long love affair with music. Today, it’s home to the Center for Popular Music at MTSU, as well as up and coming entertainers like country crooner Chris Young and American Idol finalist Colton Dixon.
Our Stories Guests Elma McKnight, a teacher at Erma Siegel School; John Lodl, director of the Rutherford County Archives; and newspaper columnist Dan Whittle
recount stories of how it used to be in Murfreesboro in this episode.
Our Work From farming to manufacturing, Murfreesboro boasts a long line of labor and workforce development. The community was basically agrarian (dairy farming , tobacco) had a weaving mill, but most worked and lived on a farm.
Our Future Mayor Bragg wraps up the Bicentennial celebration and speaks on the biggest challenges he sees for the city (examples: public safety and access (informational, transportation), while MTSU President Sidney McPhee reflects on the university’s success after 100 years. — Doug Davis, 615-278-5152
THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • 11
KEEPING THE PAST PRESENT
Historic postcards portray
Murfreesboro of By Doug Davis dougdavis@dnj.com
MURFREESBORO —
The images are everything. They are portraits of the past, preserved for present and future generations to enjoy. They are glimpses of Murfreesboro: where the city has been and who was there. Culled from W. Ridley Wills II’s collection of 281 postcards, the images provide a rare and invaluable look at the city’s past. Displayed on six panels, ranging in theme from progress to colleges, the postcards have been on display at The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County for the past year as part of Murfreesboro’s bicentennial celebration. MTSU graduate student Sara Beth Gideon created the exhibit, her second for The Heritage Center, with the help of her mentor and adviser Dr. Van West. “I narrowed my selection down to the 40 postcards featured on the exhibit panels, wrote the text and captions, and worked with MTSU’s Creative and Visual Services to create the design,” Gideon explains. According to one of the exhibit displays,
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“During the early 20th century, postcards were one of the most popular forms of communication. They were an easy and affordable method of keeping in touch, and they provided their recipients with glimpses of places or events that they might never see otherwise. Postcards today are treasured collector’s items and valuable historical documents since they show buildings and landscapes demolished decades earlier.” Panel one shows some key aspects of life in Murfreesboro, from the Rutherford County Courthouse in various stages to the downtown area, before and after automobiles came on the scene. The second panel promotes progress in Murfreesboro, from the old tollgate on Nashville Pike, to the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad; from a cotton gin to the old Carnation Milk Products Co.; from the York VA Medical Center to the former Rutherford County Health Department Building. The third panel traces development of highways in the area, from the Dixie Highway through Murfreesboro in
See POSTCARDS, Page 13X
The grounds of the Rutherford County Courthouse were originally designed to have a park-like atmosphere with a 290-square-foot yard surrounding the structure. SUBMITTED
In 1917, the first Central High School was erected on the old Soule College property on North Maple Street. In 1944, fire destroyed the building. SUBMITTED
The Carnation Milk Products Condensary was built in 1927 on the site of the old home of city founder William Lytle.
yesterday
SUBMITTED
This postcard depicts the old library at Middle Tennessee State Teacher’s College, which once stood where Peck Hall is now. SUBMITTED
Postcards Continued from Page 12X
the 1920s to construction of the four-lane U.S. 41, more popularly known as Broad Street. Hotels and motels that formerly stood in Murfreesboro, along with the Jackson Motel and Motel Murfreesboro, which still stand, are also featured. The fourth panel promotes the college town in postcards, from private colleges to the city’s public education institutions. The old Tennessee College for Women, Soule College and Murfreesboro School are shown in postcards along with the former Central High School, Chrichlow grammar school and the Murfreesboro School for Boys, also known as the Mooney School.
An MTSU panel shows the Cope Administration Building in its early days to the obelisk entrance from 1961. Panel 6 shows how Murfreesboro continued to make improvements over the years while still respecting its small-town atmosphere and respecting its history. The Heritage Center also features a glassenclosed display of actual postcards, showing everything from the old Nashville Highway bridge to the Elks Club and the home where Mrs. Douglas MacArthur once lived. The display remains open until Oct. 12 at the Heritage Center on West College Street in downtown Murfreesboro, after which new historic displays will be featured.
Sara Beth Gideon, a graduate student at MTSU, shows the postcard exhibit that she helped develop for The Heritage Center as part of Murfreesboro’s year-long bicentennial celebration. JOHN A. GILLIS/DNJ
A postcard of a cotton gin in Murfreesboro is among the postcards displayed at the Heritage Center. SUBMITTED
— Doug Davis, 615-278-5152
THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • 13
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“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” I CORINTHIANS 10:31 God is at work at Franklin Road Christian School! FRCS was founded for one purpose: to assist the Christian home in training children in a Christian environment. We strive to influence every child in three areas. First of all, we desire to influence students spiritually. We believe that spiritual decisions are the most important decisions any student can make. Our teachers work to integrate God’s Word into every subject, and our calendar events are geared toward spiritual growth. Secondly, we seek to influence students in the area of academics. FRCS has state-recognized accreditation through the Tennessee Association of Christian Schools. Following graduation, ninety-five percent of our graduates enroll in college for the upcoming fall semester. Every student who graduates from FRCS receives the minimum of a college prep diploma, and students who have attended FRCS from K5-12th grade have an average ACT score of twenty-four. Our faculty and staff take educating your child very seriously, and we realize that education is the key to a bright future.
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Lastly, we want to influence every child physically. We offer award-winning athletic and fine arts programs, which compete in the Tennessee Athletic Association of Christian Schools and Tennessee Association of Christian Schools (TACS), respectively. Your student will be trained to compete at a high level within a safe Christian environment. With God’s help, we plan to continue graduating young people who are well-prepared for their future spiritually, academically, and physically. I hope that you will prayerfully consider enrolling your child in Franklin Road Christian School.
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James K. Polk Hotel interior view, formerly located on East Main Street where SunTrust Bank stands now.
A MURFREESBOROUGH BICENTENNIAL QUIZ
3) The first place in Tennessee to bear the name “Cannonsburgh” was founded in— a) 1811 b) 1812
5) After William Lytle’s land was selected for the new county seat, he modestly declined the proposal to name the town in his honor and proposed the name “Murfreesborough.” True / False
7) Concerns regarding the diversion of travel patterns made allies of Charles Ready and Thomas Rucker during deliberations regarding the location of the new Rutherford County seat. True / False
6) The state Legisla-
8) The Murfreesboro
Bicentennial was recognized in 2011. The Murfreesboro Centennial was celebrated in 1912. The 125th Anniversary was noted in 1938. When did the City of Murfreesboro celebrate its Sesquicentennial (150 years)? a) 1961 b) 1962 c) 1963 d) 1967 e) None of the above 9) In what year did the Quarterly Court first convene in Murfreesborough? 1811 1812 1813 1817 10) The original seven
11) When did the Murfreesborough settlement become a city? 1812 1813 1817 1819 12) Name the first two developers to add subdivisions to Murfreesborough. — by Greg Tucker, Rutherford County Historical Society
ANSWERS:
2) Newton Cannon, an early Rutherford County resident and politician, introduced state legislation to replace Jefferson with a more centrally located county seat. True / False
4) William Lytle, a captain in the Revolutionary Army, received for his services a large grant of land, a part of which became the town of Murfreesboro. True / False
ture in October 1811 appointed seven “Town Commissioners” to select a site for the new “seat of justice.” Which two of the following were not among the seven? a) Thomas Rucker b) Charles Ready c) Hugh Robinson d) James L. Armstrong e) William Lytle f) Hance Hamilton
c) 1817 d) 1976 e) None of the above
7) True 8) d 9) 1813 10) e 11) 1817 12) Isaac Hilliard (son-inlaw of Hardy Murfree) and William Lytle.
1) Soon after establishment of Rutherford County in 1803, it was generally recognized that Jefferson, because of its location, was a poor choice for a county seat. True / False
Town Commissioners who chose the town site, sold town lots, and built the courthouse: a) Were honored and memorialized by early Murfreesborough residents; b) Are today officially recognized as the “Founding Fathers” of Murfreesboro; c) Were a cohesive group of local statesmen; d) All of the above; e) None of the above.
1) False 2) False 3) d 4) False 5) False 6) a and e
Test your knowledge
THE DAILY NEWS JOURNAL • 15
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