Other significant dates in Dickson County history MAY 10, 1864 The railroad was finished and the first train passed through Dickson County. The completion of the railroad through the southern part of the county brought about the development and growth of towns like White Bluff, Burns and Dickson. NOVEMBER 4, 1952 Frank G. Clement of Dickson was elected governor for the first time. He served as governor from 1953-1959 and again from 1963-1967. SEPTEMBER 24, 1966 Gov. Frank G. Clement cut the ribbon at the Tennessee River Bridge on the opening of the new Interstate 40, linking East and West Tennessee. The superhighway was started on Sept. 18, 1958 and took eight years to build. MAY 9, 1959 The first Old Timers Day as we now know it was held in Dickson on a vacant lot on Church Street across from Ragan & Hamilton, General Contractors. The day was organized by several people, including Warren G. Medley, Vernon “Red” Hamilton, Henry V. Ragan. JUNE 2, 1965 Hampton High School’s final graduation exercises were held. This event brought an end to segregation in the county’s schools. DECEMBER 9, 1968 An announcement was made by Dickson County School officials that 80 acres of land had been purchased to build the new Dickson County Senior High School, bringing about the consolidation of Dickson, White Bluff and Charlotte high schools in 1972. DECEMBER 19, 2003 The Water Authority of Dickson County opened the state’s most technologically advanced water treatment plant. It opened on the Cumberland River in northern Dickson County. The $29 million plant has the capacity to treat more than 20 million gallons of water per day. SOURCE: Heritage Book of Dickson County 1803-2006
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The former Hotel Halbrook now houses the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum in downtown Dickson. HERALD FILE PHOTO
Dickson County’s history museum The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum is a state-owned museum housed in the nearly 100-year-old former Hotel Halbrook that showcases Dickson County’s history in addition to exhibits on railroad history, the Civil War and former longtime state Gov. Frank G. Clement. Clement was born in the museum building when it was a hotel. For more information, go online to: www.clementrailroadmuseum.org.
THE DICKSON HERALD FACT BOOK