Jackson & Madison County

THOMAS L. AUD, a native of Daviess County, Kentucky, has degrees in Latin and Library Science, served in the U. S. Air Force as a Czech linguist, and as a public librarian in London, Kentucky and at the Jackson/Madison County Library for a total of 34 years. He has worked as a library consultant, an adjunct professor for Jackson State Community College, Local Office Manager for the Census Bureau, and currently is the Madison County Archivist while also serving on the Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board.

He has written a non-fiction book about a local murder and bank robbery and will soon be the editor of a genealogical quarterly. He has done extensive genealogical and historical research and enjoys local history and novels about the Roman Republic. He lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Celeste, and has two children and two grandchildren.

MARY REED, opened Reed and Associates Marketing Inc., in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1991, after working for newspapers for nearly 20 years.

Most of her newspaper work was at The Jackson Sun, a community newspaper, where she held several positions, including Senior Writer, City Editor, Lifestyles Editor, and a variety of reporting positions. During her career at the newspaper and later as a marketing company owner, she has led several media workshops on writing, design and how to work effectively with the media. Reed has won several state and national awards for her reporting and layout skills, including a Southern Journalism Award for Investigative Reporting, a finalist in the Penney-Missouri Awards, and a first place in the Tennessee Press Association contest.

$39.95

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON &

MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

T

his truly extraordinary new book showcases pairs of “yesterday and today” photographs of Jackson & Madison County that are sure

to capture your imagination and make you “remember when…” These period photographs of historical scenes were painstakingly reproduced in full, breathtaking color by acclaimed Jackson photographer Mitch Carter and accompanied by fascinating captions written by historian Thomas L. Aud. Jackson’s storyteller, Harbert Alexander, introduces us to Jackson and Madison County with colorful stories and insights.

Historians say a photograph and a brief caption can often convey more history than an extended narrative – and leave a much more indelible impression on the mind.

CELEBRATE JACKSON AND MADISON COUNTY WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY THROUGH

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow “Within the pages of this book, we see that the early photographers of Jackson and Madison County have left us valuable treasures allowing us to see the “yesterday” they captured in light of what we see “today”. Local Jackson photographer Mitch Carter has reproduced, as close as possible, these historic scenes as we see them now, offering us the experience of comparing and contrasting what is so drastically different and, yet still so familiar.”

— Perry Burrows, President, Friends of the Jackson Madison County Library

These photos are timeless treasures providing a unique

ALEXANDER | AUD | CARTER | REED | WILLIAMS

MITCH CARTER, a native Tennessean and a Jackson resident since 1959, has been a professional photographer for 56 years. His work at The Moore Studio began under the tutelage of Robert A. Moore and continued with Devon Dooley and today, Mitch is the owner of the studio. For many people who have lived in Jackson for any number of years, Mitch probably took their desired photographs for business, sports, education or wedding. When outdoor portraits gained in popularity, he developed a mini-park near his studio for just such occasions. He has been a member of various professional photography associations as well as the Jackson Jaycees and the Jackson Rotary Club. His two grown children live in Middle Tennessee and Oregon. His studio’s motto is: “Judge us by the quality of the work. Our photographs aren’t expensive; they are priceless.”

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

HARBERT ALEXANDER grew up in Jackson graduating from Jackson High School in 1957.

He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the Virginia Military Institute in 1961 and a graduate degree from Rutgers University. He served as an artillery officer in Schweinfurt, West Germany, returning from the army as a captain.

After his military service, Mr. Alexander was associated with the Jackson National Bank, now BancorpSouth, for twenty-four years, where he served as president of the bank and vice chairman of the holding company. He was appointed president and CEO of Union Planters Bank of Jackson, now Regions, in 1988 and then, in 1998, was promoted to the position of regional president of Union Planters Bank in West Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

In 2004, Mr. Alexander retired from Union Planters. He served as Madison County historian a trustee of Lambuth University and a member of the Jackson Energy Authority board.

Mr. Alexander is the author of four previous books including, Tales of Madison: Historical Sketches of Jackson & Madison County (2002), Old Trails and Tales of Tennessee (2004), Jackson Area Community: Portrait of Progress (2005) and Autumn Memories (2012). He is married to Nora Noe and has three children and three grandchildren.

window into yesterday and a new appreciation for today and are a perfect touchstone for family discussion and understanding what life was like in the “olden days.” Flip through the pages with those of an earlier generation and you will soon hear stories you have never heard from them before as they dig up memories long buried.

Accompanying the yesterday and today photos are architectural renderings of “tomorrow” that depict the buildings and places of tomorrow.

Fitting companions to this remarkable collection of photographs are the compelling stories of Jackson and Madison County businesses and organizations, stories

By Harbert Alexander and Thomas L. Aud Featuring the photography of Mitch Carter v Corporate Profiles by Mary Reed and Ginger Williams Sponsored by The Friends of the Library of Jackson & Madison County

from their early beginnings through today and their vision for tomorrow.

We hope you will enjoy your experience within these pages as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

PRINTED IN CANADA

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

By Harbert Alexander and Thomas L. Aud Featuring the photography of Mitch Carter v Corporate Profiles by Mary Reed and Ginger Williams Sponsored by The Friends of the Library of Jackson & Madison County

We would like to express our gratitude to the following companies and organizations that took time to meet with us and tell us their individual stories. The stories of the companies and organizations in color type are included in Part Two.

Pre-World War II 1821 • City of Jackson • 1823 • Union University • 1826 • First UMC • 1843 • University of Memphis – Lambuth Campus • Stanley Black & Decker • 1850 • City of Medon • 1855 • West Tennessee Fair Association • 1857 • YMCA • 1864 • First Tennessee Bank • 1866 • St. Mary’s Church and School • 1869 • Freed-Hardeman University • 1870 • The Cumberland House • 1875 • Jackson-Madison County School District • 1887 • Commercial Bank & Trust • 1882 • Lane College • 1888 • West Tennessee Business College • 1899 • Sonoco • 1903 • Jackson Madison County Library • Moore Studio • 1905 • Jackson Chamber • 1906 • Kellogg • 1910 • HFR Design • 1914 • Jackson Country Club • 1917 • S.M. Lawrence • Vineyard’s Gifts • CTP Transportation Products • 1923 • Miller Lumber Company • Poplar Heights Baptist Church • Spragins Barnett & Cobb • 1930 • George A. Smith & Sons • 1934 • Foundation Bank • 1937 • Stephenson-Shaw Funeral Home • 1938 • Boy Scouts of America West Tennessee • 1939 • French American Reeds Manufacturing Company

World War II – 1969 1942 • Jackson-Madison County Airport Authority • 1943 • Scates Auto Repair • 1945 • Englewood Baptist Church • 1946 • Roberts Jewelers • 1948 • Best One Time Tire of Jackson • 1950 • The Jackson Clinic •

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital • 1952 • Woman’s Clinic • 1953 • West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center • Ferguson Enterprises, Inc. • 1955 • Frankie Plunk Travel Service • Garretts Plumbing & Heating • Steel Fab, Inc. • WBBJ-TV • Jackson Energy Authority • 1960 • DSC Logistics, Inc. • 1961 • Construction Products of TN • 1963 • Eye Clinic PC • Resource Federal Credit Union • 1964 • TLM & Associates • Orthodontic Specialty Group • 1965 • Baudo’s Restaurant • Casey Jones Village • 1968 • The Friends of the Library • Allison Insurance Group • Land Office Realtors • Neil Huntspon Flower Box

1970 – Today 1970 • University School of Jackson • Wade Electric Company, Inc. • 1971 • Pinnacle Foods Inc. • 1972 • Turner/Prairie Farms Dairy • Tennessee Industrial Printing • Golden Circle Auto Group • 1973 • West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic • 1974 • Deaton’s Carpet One • University of Tennessee Family Medicine Center • 1975 • Central Distributors, Inc. • Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell • Regional Hospital of Jackson • 1976 • Jackson Christian School • American Health Companies • American Fire Protection Group • 1977 • Morton Moving & Storage • Dement Construction • 1978 • Lighthouse Church • 1979 • Elite Dental • 1980 • Gerdau Corporation • 1982 • Northside Medical Clinic • 1983 • Mighty Auto Parts • 1988 • Allegra Design • WorkCare Resources • 1989 • The Children’s Clinic • 1990 • Dermatology Clinic of Jackson • 1992 • UT Martin • Bancorp South • 1993 • WNWS News Talk 101.5 • Highland House Productions • 1994 • Packaging Corporation of America • 1995 • PC Paladins • Arrington Funeral Directors • Aeneas • 1996 • FirstBank • Sports Orthopedics & Spine • 1996 • Owens Corning • 1997 • TransSouth Health Care • NES Rentals • Jackson Die Casting • 1998 • City of Three Way • Jackson Generals Baseball Club • 1999 • Lentz Pediatrics • 2000 • Home Instead • Karnes Legal Services • Thomas Media • 2001 • Snappy Tomato Pizza • 2002 • UGN • Apex Cardiology • Forest Cove Nursing & Rehabilitation Center • 2004 • Hampton Inn • 2005 • Crown Winery • BlueScope Buildings North America • PPL Professional Services • Bethel University • 2007 • Portfolio Recovery • Thomas J. Turner & Associates • 2008 • Peaceful Oaks Bed Breakfast & Barn • 2010 • Regency Retirement Village • 2011 • Core Heart & Medical Center • Residence Inn • 2012 • Amen Clinic • Comfort Suites • 2013 • Life Mentoring & Tutoring Youth Center • Solace Skin and Laser • 2015 • Regency Retirement Village

JACKSON &

MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

By Harbert Alexander and Thomas L. Aud Featuring the photography of Mitch Carter Corporate Profiles by Mary Reed and Ginger Williams of Reed & Associates Sponsored by The Friends of the Library of Jackson & Madison County Ronald P. Beers, Publisher Editor: Rachel B. Fisher Designer: Scott Fuller Marketing Coordinator: John Tew

Ronald P. Beers, President Š2015 Beers & Associates LLC All Rights Reserved Published 2015 Printed by Friesens Printing in Canada First Edition ISBN 9780991353453 Library of Congress Control Number  2015954416 Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information herin. However, the authors and Beers & Associates are not responsible for any errors or omissions that might have occurred.

Photo credit: Tennessee Room of Jackson/Madison County Library

6 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Table of Contents Part One . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Yesterday and Today. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Tomorrow. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102 Part Two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108 Pre-World War II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110 World War II to 1969. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126 1970 to Today . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

v 7

Acknowledgements

B

eing only a 40-year resident of Jackson and

Thanks to Ginger Williams for diligently taking the

Madison County, I gratefully acknowledge

time to interview and write many of the business profiles in

the contributions of many others, especially

Part Two on tight deadlines. We were honored to work on

former and present county historians Emma Inman

this special book.

Williams, Harbert Alexander and Linda Higgins, also

— Mary Reed

Jack D. Wood and Evelyn Keele in the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library, and the many

I’d like to express thanks to the Jackson-Madison

other local authors and history contributors listed in the

County Library Foundation and Library Board of

Bibliography and on Facebook. Special thanks to friend

Directors for contributing to the growth and development

Mitch Carter, photographic historian for much of the past

of the library system.

55 years and my guide for current images.

Special thanks to Ron Beers and Rachel Fisher at Beers & Associates for assisting in the selection of the best

— Perry Burrows President, Friends of the Jackson-Madison County Library

available photographs from the rich history of the area and for their forbearance as we worked toward the completion

Thanks to Tom Aud for his time in helping to pick out the places for the current photos and to all the folks that

of this book.

Eternal gratitude to my wife, Celeste, for her patience and support which sustained me through the past several months of this new literary effort.

— Thomas L. Aud

helped with other photos in the city and county.

— Mitch Carter

8 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 9

Foreword

F

or centuries, artists have captured scenes of people and places with pens, paint and photographs with the hope of capturing the whos, whats and wheres of daily life. Their work, passed down through

generations, reflects the place, time and character of their communities and reminds us that though years may separate us and fashions may have changed we are still connected by our individual and collective pasts.

Within the pages of this book, we see that the early photographers of Jackson and Madison county have left us valuable treasures allowing us to see the “yesterday” they captured in light of what we see “today”. Local Jackson photographer Mitch Carter has reproduced, as close as possible, these historic scenes as we see them now, offering us the experience of comparing and contrasting what is so drastically different and, yet still so familiar.

Mitch’s goal was always to position his camera in the same location of the photographers of long ago and in most cases was successful in doing so. There are a few photographs that take a slightly different angle on the subject because new construction or new trees and shrubs have blocked a clear view from the original vantage point.

Some photographs that capture bustling street scenes or iconic buildings may arouse in us a longing for yesterday as we realize these places that existed onceupon-a-time have been replaced by parking lots or new, less attractive, modern structures. More comforting are the contemporary “today” photographs set next to “yesterday” photos that capture a familiar continuity that both connects us to the past and yet somehow provides a clearer view of “tomorrow.”

This book exists to remind us all that we are forever connected to the generations that traveled this way before us, despite our differences in where we live, how we dress and what we do. As you turn the pages of this book, take a look into the eyes of those pictured in these photographs. As you do you will not only see a reflection of yourself and your own story, but the threads that weave all of our stories together into a greater tapestry for generations to come.

— Perry Burrows Friends of the Library President

John Luther “Casey” Jones is seen here at the controls of his Engine 638 of the Illinois Central Railroad. His fame rose after he stayed on board as the engine crashed in April 1900 in Vaughan, Mississippi. “The Ballad of Casey Jones” memorialized him and made famous Sims Webb who jumped to safety at Casey’s urging before the crash. A museum celebrating him and other railroad history welcomes groups and visitors daily at the Casey Jones village near Interstate 40. (Photo courtesy of the Casey Jones Museum)

10 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Part One Jackson, as depicted by artist A. Kruger shortly after the Civil War, shows the development of streets, residences and businesses away from the city’s central area. While probably not precise, the general depiction of structures indicated the variety of styles. The indexes on either side of the main banner identify several locations of interest.

The former Courthouse is depicted on the left corner while West Tennessee College, with youth playing baseball, is on the right side. (Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress)

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JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 13

14 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 15

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY

Yesterday& Today Introduction by Harbert Alexander

N

ot long ago, a friend returned from a family vacation on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. He was anxious to tell me about visiting the site where the Wright

Brothers made their first flight. Little did he know that Jackson had two chances to be the birthplace of aviation, long before Kitty Hawk.

In 1858, three years before the Civil War, a professor from Spring Creek named Isham Walker tried to get a patent for a flying machine.

It was designed to fly at speeds up to three hundred miles an hour

Cars identified as early 1960s models and the existence and non-existence of several buildings date this aerial photo of downtown that was discovered at a yard sale and donated to the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library. The former First National Bank’s eight-story tower is positioned on the corner of Main Street and Highland Avenue across from the current Courthouse in the center. The Elks Building and the eight-story New Southern Hotel building are highlighted towards the lower right. The Carnegie Center for Arts and History (former public library) is hidden behind trees and the present home of Aeneas Internet and Telephone, formerly the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, on North Cumberland and East College streets are at the top. Main Street is the longest diagonal street from mid-left to top right and Highland Avenue runs from the bottom right to almost top left. (Courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library. Overlay of extant buildings in 2015 by Scott Reeves)

16 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 17

Photo credit: Ben Roberts

18 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

Court actions during the first year of Jackson’s incorporation were held in the office of surveyor Adam R. Alexander.

While no images exist for the original 30x40 - foot log structure, later courthouses have been depicted up to the current building. The second courthouse, built about 1840, was renovated several times and served all county offices and courts until 1936. The Federalist style edifice with its domed cupola is also depicted in this photo from the 1890s. The iron fence has its own local history. During the Federal occupation of Madison County from 1862-1863, troops were stationed on the courthouse lawn. Even in 1867, the County Court “respecfully requested the captain [of the soldiers] to move to quarters that will answer his purpose and the convenience of the citizens of Madison County” since the company of soldiers were interfering with daily business. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

right: After

several renovations to offices and other areas, the Courthouse still serves as the administrative center for Madison County government. Most of the elected officials, the Chancery Court, and the Tax Assessor share the building.

The holding jail is on the top floor. The base for the Confederate Monument has been replaced for stability. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

more than two miles above the earth’s surface. Congress refused his request for start up money and the project died. Three years before the Wright Brothers, another Jacksonian invented an airplane similar to the Wright Brothers, but it never got off the ground. Though very few people know about these two inventors and their failed experiments, what fun it is to think Jackson might have been Kitty Hawk. Our history is all around us if we only look!

When I was in high school, I didn’t care much for history. Though I had a great teacher, Emma Inman Williams who wrote Historic Madision, I had other things to worry about such as passing chemistry or who was trying to date my girlfriend. It would be years later that I began to appreciate Miss Williams. In 1988

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 19

left:The service of Confederate soldiers from Madison County is commemorated by a stately monument dedicated in 1888 on the northwest corner of the square. The cannons and cannon balls have since been removed and the base for the obelisk replaced. The building was razed in December 1935 to make room for the present courthouse--“the most elaborate and expensive courthouse to date�-- which was dedicated with a cornerstone in August 1936 and completed in 1937. (Postcard courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

20 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

she co-authored Jackson and Madison County: A Pictorial History. To promote the book, I began taking her to local civic clubs. I would make a speech on our early history, and she would answer questions about the book. One day, we gave a program at The Hut Restaurant. When I was through with my speech and everyone was gone, she looked up at me and said, “You know, you’ve got that part about Davy Crockett’s election all wrong. You’ve got Dr. Butler and Adam Huntsman backwards. You’ve got them all mixed up!” I was sick. She was still my history teacher, even after all those years, and to get it wrong in front of her was unthinkable. Then she gave me a hug and a big grin and said, “But oh, you tell it so good!” That’s when I realized I had become Jackson’s storyteller.

This happened more than 30 years ago and I have been telling Jackson’s story ever since. One day, there

right:

At the corner of Main and now Highland, this landmark building became the home of the First National Bank in 1928. The structure was originally erected for the People’s Savings Bank in 1920. First National Bank was relocated here from the opposite end of the block where it had been since 1912 with its vault in the basement. Upper floors were leased to or rented by doctors, lawyers and insurance companies. Room air conditioners and awnings can be seen in several windows. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

The implosion of the First National Bank building in August 1995

by Levy Wrecking Company was witnessed and photographed by hundreds. NewsTalk Radio, located directly across Highland, had a promotional banner displayed on the lower floors during

the event. Regions Bank, a successor to First National Bank, has a branch bank in the northwest side of the current City Hall with parking and service lanes. (Photo collage courtesy of Sherry Taylor)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 21

The west end of the City Hall occupies the former site of the bank tower at the corner of Highland and Main and has replaced all the

former buildings on the south half of the block. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

will be other storytellers who will follow me, keeping our

early as 8000 BC. By the time the first white settlers came

history alive for generations yet to come. Our history

to West Tennessee, the Indians were gone. This had been

grows and changes and they will be a part of it.

Chickasaw land until the Treaty of 1816 in which the

In many ways our history reminds me of a highway.

Prior to the building of the interstate, Highway 45 served as a passageway for people going north and south. For

United States agreed to pay $12,000 a year for 10 years to the Chickasaw Nation for 20 million acres of land!

The first three families moved into Madison County

years, people from the Chicago area would travel through

in 1819 settling east of Jackson near where Lake Graham

Jackson going to Florida and return north in the Spring.

sits today. The next year, four more families arrived and

Now that we have Interstate 40, even more traffic flows

settled near the Forked Deer River where the West Tennessee

through going east and west. It was that way when the

Experiment Station is currently located. One of the settlers

first people came through and continues so today. The

in this group was a land grant surveyor named Adam Rankin

first to appear were small nomadic groups of Indians as

Alexander. Thus, this settlement, Alexandria, was named

22 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 23

for him. Another Tennessee town was already named

have long been silent. There is a book entitled, Early Times

Alexandria, so the name was changed to honor Andrew

in West Tennessee about a family named Williams who

Jackson.

moved into West Tennessee in 1825. Leaving their home

Can you imagine how much courage it took to follow

near the Mississippi Gulf Coast, they traveled for 48 days

Indian or wild animal trails, moving your family through

covering over 300 miles. After going through the Choctaw

the wilderness to a new land? The urge to do so is what

and Chickasaw Nations, they entered West Tennessee

historians call Manifest Destiny: A restless desire to move

traveling through small settlements at Bolivar, Denmark

on, see what lies ahead and see what you have never seen

and Brownsville, eventually reaching their destination

before. It was this desire that moved the first settlers into

about twenty miles west of Brownsville near the little

West Tennessee and the first of a continuing movement of

settlement of Orysa on the Haywood, Lauderdale County

people who would follow them. Some would stop and stay,

line. The site was in a virgin forest near the Hatchie

while others would move on until the entire continent was

River. In addition to deer and turkey, the West Tennessee

settled.

bottom lands of the 1820’s contained a significant number

I wish I could talk to one of the early pioneers and have them tell me about this new land, but their voices

of bears, panthers and wolves. What a different life and environment from what we have today! opposite page:

One of the most continuously used buildings in downtown Jackson, the G. H. Robertson Company’s threestory structure, was on lot number 7 of the original plat for the city, northwest of Court Square. Former Kentuckians W. P. Robertson and his partner J. T. Botts constructed the “commodious brick” building of 4,000 square feet in the 1860s.

The business sold clothing and furniture to many generations.

Sons G. Harris and W. B. Robertson managed the business successfully for several years. This 1905 photo shows the possible owners at the front door. (Photo courtesy of the Business History Project in the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

left: Now the offices of the law firm of Gilbert, Russell, McWherter, Scott, Bobbitt, PLC, the building retains its lone position on the block facing North Highland Avenue and extends down West Main Street.

(Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

24 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: The

former Federal Courthouse’s stately edifice, built in 1888 with its entrance on West Baltimore Street until renovations moved it to face east toward the Madison County Courthouse, was the site of appeals and court actions until the present Ed Jones Building (left) was constructed in 1932 to house the Federal courts, the U. S. Post Office, the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, local offices for national representatives and senators and other uses. Years ago, a blind vendor sold items and relied on others to identify the paper money tendered for payment for his wares in the building’s lobby. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

Jackson is the largest town in Madison County.

merged. Under the leadership of Dr. William E. Butler,

Henderson used to be the second largest town before

54 acres were surveyed and divided into 104 lots. Twenty

Chester County was formed. For many years, Denmark

dollars was spent on whiskey to encourage potential

was a close second in size to Jackson. In August of 1822,

buyers. Within one week all of the lots were sold. Prices

the little settlements at Cotton Gin Grove and Alexandria

ranged from $31.00 to $503.00. The most expensive lots

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 25

were located closest to the center of the plot where the

In 1776, forty years before the treaty with the

courthouse would be located. Soon after the lots were

Chickasaws, a small hunting group passed just north

auctioned a courthouse and jail were constructed. The

of Jackson near Oakfield and carved their names and

cost of the new courthouse was $135.00 and the jail cost

initials on a large Beech tree. The name on the tree

$85.00. In January of 1823, the Board of Commissioners

was D. Boone and the initials were E.B. and M.C. for

passed a set of 15 laws. Though some of these laws are

Edward Boone, Daniels brother, and Micajah Callaway,

humorous today, they reflect what early days in Jackson

a brother of Boone’s son in law. For years, their carvings

were like. Racing a horse in town or shooting a gun would

were considered a hoax, but research shows that Daniel

cost you $20.00. Playing cards or dice was a $10.00 fine

Boone was once there. Other carvings on the tree indicate

and placing matches on a dogs tail would cost $5.00.

they had been there for two moons (four weeks) and also

Jackson was well on the way!

included signs for beaver, deer and bear. Core samples of

As I write or read about Jackson and the people who have lived here, or passed through, I feel like I am watching

the tree show it to be over 300 years old.

What other historical figures could compare with

a parade of historical characters and events. Take a seat

Daniel Boone? The answer would have to be Davy

with me and see what passes by!

Crockett! Crockett first entered West Tennessee politics

The Historic Ed Jones Courthouse serves for pre-trial and probation hearings and contains the office of the U. S. Attorney.

Its courtrooms have the same quality of electronic equipment

and services for judges, lawyers and juries as the more recently erected Federal Courthouse, which is to the south across the M. D. Anderson Plaza. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

26 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

Jackson’s first hospital for long-term care was established by Dr. Jere Crook at 110-112 West Baltimore and South Shannon streets. Seen here in a postcard from about 1912, a pediatric wing designed by Hart Freeland Roberts was added later. It became the Fitts-White Clinic before it was demolished after 1968 for the First Tennessee Bank Building, which has since been replaced by the Federal Courthouse. (Postcard courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: This

photo from the 1970s shows the Downtowner Motor Inn which opened in late 1960 on the former Jackson Sun site at South Highland and West Chester streets. The motel was known for its café, Mrs. Perky’s Pancake House (“Open round the clock”) where many enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner. The inn also hosted reunions, school events and other celebrations. With changing economic times, the building fell into misuse and disrepair and was demolished in December 1996 and the entire block became the present Federal Court House.

The building shown to the west right behind the inn was the First Tennessee Bank building, previously Jackson State Bank. (Postcard courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 27

The U. S. Federal Courthouse, at 111 South Highland Avenue and West Chester Street, replaced the Downtowner Motel, the Crook Sanatorium and other structures and was formally opened on December 14, 1998. The building is privately owned and leased to the Government Services Administration and was remodeled after damages caused by the May 2003 tornado. The 86,000

in 1823 when he came here from Middle Tennessee. His

square foot building reopened in February 2004 and houses four state-of-the-art court rooms for Federal cases and bankruptcies.

Since December 2008, Ed Bryant has presided as U.S. Magistrate Judge for the Western District of Tennessee. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

Walk downtown someday and stand on the

first political opponent was Dr. William E. Butler whom

Courthouse grass and imagine Crockett making his last

he defeated in 1823 to win a seat in the State Legislature.

remarks after losing the election. Close your eyes and listen

He continued to be a part of the state and nations politics

to him telling the crowds, “You can go to Hell for I am

until he was defeated by Adam Huntsman in 1835.

going to Texas!” Perhaps if he had not lost the election he

Huntsman was an attorney in Jackson known as “Old Peg

might never had gone to The Alamo!

Leg” after he lost a leg in the Creek Indian War. Crockett

The third of Jackson’s early “superstars” was Andrew

ridiculed him but Huntsman defeated him and sent Davy

Jackson. Though Jackson is named for him, he only came

to Texas.

to Jackson two times, in 1825 and again in 1840. Go

28 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

East Main Street from Liberty Street about 1918 captured from the south side, across from the Courthouse, with trolley cars in view. Looking right to left: the former First National Bank office and O. J. Nance Drug Store, Smith’s Ice Cream Parlor, and F. W. Woolworth’s, which would later occupy the eastern half of the block to North Liberty Street, are in view. Today, this is the site of Jackson City Hall. The Robertson Building is across Market and Highland at the far left. (Photo from the Business History Project at the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

left: The current City Hall houses the administrative offices of the Mayor, City Council, Personnel, Planning, Recorder and others. The building replaced several businesses and occupies about half of the block north of Main Street between Highland Avenue and North Liberty Street. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

down North Royal Street – history awaits you at every

If you listen closely you can hear the footsteps of

footstep. A sick and old Jackson came here on October 8th,

soldiers marching and going off to war. On May 23rd,

1840 for his last visit. Long a West Tennessee favorite, a

1861, 1,200 Confederate soldiers from West Tennessee,

tremendous crowd gathers around him. Listen to him say,

the 6th Tennessee Infantry, marched down Royal Street and

“It is probably the last time that I shall have it in my power

boarded trains afraid the war would be over before they

to exchange salutations with you.”

got there. Two hundred and fifty of them would be killed

North Royal Street used to be the street where Jackson’s most wealthy families, our early “blue bloods” lived. Hence its name Royal Street. Listen to the footsteps

at Shiloh and by war’s end less than one hundred of them would return.

A front page picture in The Jackson Sun shows the

and voices around you. In 1870, Jefferson Davis, former

117th Infantry Regiment (Tennessee National Guard)

president of the Confederacy spoke here at the corner

marching down Royal Street in September of 1940, bound

of Preston and Royal. It was his first speech after being

for Fort Jackson, South Carolina for one year of training.

released from Federal prison.

Before they could even finish their training, the Japanese

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 29

above: This

photo from the early 1900s shows the remodeled Courthouse opposite the East Main Street block, which does not yet have the eight-story bank tower opposite the Robertson building (the white three-story structure past the right side of the streetcars). The two-story structure to the right housed the First National Bank’s location as it fronted North Liberty. Power lines remained above ground until the 1950s. The Nance Drug Store is seen with canopies over upper windows, but not over

entrance. Today, this is the site of Jackson’s City Hall. (Postcard image courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library) below: The

current view of Main Street from Liberty Street displays many beautiful trees and shrubs, which enhance, but block, views of the City Hall on the right and the Madison County Courthouse on the left. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above:

Many travelers and salesmen took respite in this grand hotel owned by Mrs. J. A. Day on East Baltimore Street opposite the south side of the Courthouse. Built in the 1890s on the site of the former boarding house and a branch of the Union Bank of Tennessee, it stood as a signature hotel in Jackson for several years. (A more detailed history was in the Jan. 4, 1928 issue of the Jackson Sun.) (Postcard from 1906 courtesy of the the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below:

In 1924, former manager Albert D. Noe from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, purchased The Southern Hotel and rebuilt it as the eight-story New Southern Hotel (“modern in every way�) where he lived with his family on the top floor. It hosted statewide conventions, weekly civic and other club meetings, weddings, receptions and other events in its elegant Gold Room. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 31

Damages to the Southern Hotel caused by the May 2003 tornado were repaired by the Hal Crocker Company, which converted the upper levels of the building into the New Southern Apartments.

The Madison County Assessor’s Office leased the second floor for several years before returning in November 2011 to the County

Courthouse directly across Baltimore Street. In 2015, the main floor housed a printing company, a sandwich shop, a coffee shop and a used bookstore, along with the lobby which is used for large meetings and meals. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

attacked Pearl Harbor. It would be five and a half years

Southern Engine and Boiler Words Company. In 1906

before they came home.

they manufactured the first automobile made in the South.

If you are near the 300 block of Royal Street you

All parts for the car, named the Marathon, were made in

will hear the sounds of 400 people making boilers, steam

Jackson as well as 600 of the cars. If you could find one

engines, and sawmills. The name of the business was the

today, you might be very rich!

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above:

Located on East Baltimore and South Highland Street (formerly Market Street) and opposite the south side of the Courthouse, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Building housed the fraternal organization in Jackson whose records dated back to the first decade of the county, with W. T. Harris as the Exalted Ruler. The cornerstone for Jackson Lodge No. 192, B. P. O. Elks (dedicated on August 23, 1905) remains. The building at times housed the West Tennessee Gas Company, later a part of the Jackson Utility Division, now the Jackson Energy Authority, an automobile dealership and the Department of Highway and Public

Works. It served as the Elks Lodge until the organization relocated to north Jackson by 1996. (Photo from the Business History Project and courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library) below: The

former Elks Building’s exterior has recovered from the May 2003 tornado damages and the current owner is marketing the facility for lease spaces to various governmental and private businesses. Its third floor’s most spacious areas were the meeting rooms for the Elks Lodge. The New Southern building is to its east on Baltimore Street. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 33

below:

Market Street, north from Main Street, is shown here in 1918.

McGee Hardware, which sold Ajax tires and other automobile supplies, is the middle building on the right. Christian Drugs (Kodaks) is on left side. The white building, Cochran Drug Store, later was the Standard Drug Store. Joe’s Café and Pool Room was at 108 North Market/Highland for many years before relocating across the street and later closing. (Photo courtesy of the Business History Project of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

above: The

northeast corner of North Highland and East Lafayette is now a parking lot and drive-through teller for a branch bank at City Hall with the Jackson City Court on the opposite corner to the north. Lawyers occupy the Robertson Company building with canopies on the left side of the street. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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As you stand near the old train station, close your eyes for a moment and let your imagination take hold. The year is 1866 and the Civil War is finally over. Walking toward the train station is a most unusual figure. A young man walks by with his head turned down. He says nothing. He is wearing an old slouch hat, a linen coat with ink splattered on it, and old shapeless shoes. His name is Thomas Alva Edison, the greatest inventor in history. He was here for only a few months working his way through West Tennessee with stops in Bolivar, Grand Junction, Jackson and Memphis as a telegraph operator. Did you know that the man who patented over 1100 inventions once lived in Jackson?

That old train station holds memories for me, too. As a small boy, my Godfather used to bring me here at first light when the Ringling Brothers Circus came to town. The lions and tigers were in cages pulled by teams of horses with the elephants marching behind as the circus moved to the show grounds. It was a wonderful experience. Years later I went off to college from that station and five years later I boarded a train to New York and a troop ship headed to an army base in West Germany. For me, and for many of us, North Royal Street and the old train station holds a lot of memories.

above:

Situated opposite the Court Square on the corner of South Liberty and East Main Streets, the Pythian Building housed several businesses in addition to the functions of the Knights of Pythians. The Second National Bank, Western Union Telegraph and the Agricultural Extension Division all operated out of the building.

Buddie’s Place (a pool hall and tavern) is on the center of the block. The Paramount Theatre was showing a Western movie, Vengeance Valley, starring Burt Lancaster and Robert Walker on East Baltimore. The stately and ornate structure was built in 1890 and occupied by Lancelot Lodge Number 13 who petitioned for tax relief from the county court in the early 1910s because it donated its revenue to charities.

(Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

right: The

preservation of the historic building has allowed various businesses to have a convenient downtown location: lawyers, a book publisher and even a detective agency.

The other buildings to the south of the Pythian Building continue to provide spaces for similar uses and temporary space for a political campaign. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 35

For a city there are good times and bad times. All cities

In February of 1864, Fielding Hurst, a Yankee colonel

go through these cycles and some are worse than others.

from nearby McNairy county rode into Jackson with his

The little town of Denmark is a good example. In its early

troops and demanded $5,000 in cash or else he would

years, Denmark was once as large as Jackson. However,

burn the town. Though the ransom was paid much of

the railroad came through Jackson instead of Denmark.

the downtown area was set on fire after the ropes of the

Through the years, 36 Denmark storefronts have been

downtown wells had been cut so it could not be put

destroyed by fire followed by two tornados. Rather than

out. Before the fires were finally extinguished, fourteen

growing, as Jackson did, Denmark began to grow smaller.

buildings were destroyed. It wouldn’t be until long after the

Today, less than a dozen people call Denmark home.

war that Downtown Jackson was restored. Ten years after

In the summer of 1862, Federal soldiers occupied

the war, the courthouse was described as being in shambles

Jackson for one full year. The number of soldiers ebbed

- with a herd of goats living in it! Through all of our

and flowed, but Jackson was a hub for the Union Army.

history Fielding Hurst is our least favorite historical figure!

At one time as many as 10,000 soldiers were camped

If you walk through one of our historic cemeteries,

here, far more than Jackson’s remaining citizens. Times

such as Riverside and Hollywood, you will find numerous

would grow even harder as casualty numbers came in

tombstones of children and young adults. Smallpox and

with names of Jackson family members who would not be

measles were the culprits of this trend. Two epidemics

coming home.

swept through the South. The first was yellow fever, or

36 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

South Liberty Street as seen from East Baltimore Street about 1910. The Elite Theatre still occupied its space in 1929 at 114 South Liberty. The building also housed the Smith’s Business College, the Met Theatre, Buddie’s Pool Hall (upstairs) and even campaign headquarters for local elections. The Pythian Building’s three-storied structure is at the northern end of the block. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

right: The

owners of the older buildings along the east side of Court Square provide proper maintenance and usability for lawyers, architects and physical therapists.

Employees often dine at the sandwich or coffee shops nearby and enjoy the daily excursions around the Courthouse to the west. The Pythian Building is on the north end of the block. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

“yellow jack” as it was called. It appeared in West Tennessee in 1825 and again in 1855 and 1867. All of these epidemics were small until August 1873 when it hit Memphis and all of West Tennessee and again in 1878. It was most severe in Memphis where seventy percent of the white population contracted the disease and ninety percent of those died. Jackson was more fortunate.

Not knowing what caused the disease, the city burned piles of wet pinecones to drive the evil spirits away, which instead helped to keep mosquitos away.

Armed groups of citizens guarded the roads into Jackson to keep out outsiders.

It was not until 1937 that a vaccine became available to prevent it.

In 1918, following the end of World War I, an influenza epidemic swept through much of the world. Over fifty million people were killed. In Tennessee, 8,000 people died. A tragic reminder of this disease can be found

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 37

where a father and son were buried together in Hollywood

do this. Some don’t. With that in mind, let’s look at some

Cemetery. They are but two of the hundreds of Jacksonians

of the historic bright spots. Jackson has always been a

who died of this dreaded disease.

city that loved sports. For 60 years, Union University had

A different type of epidemic struck Jackson in May

championship football teams, even playing SEC teams like

1925. This time it was a financial crisis. The People’s

Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Bear Bryant coached football at

Savings Bank was Jackson’s most prominent bank. Located

Union in 1936, Wallace Wade, a legendary football coach

at the corner of Highland and Main it was located in

at Alabama and Duke University was from nearby Trenton.

Jackson’s only skyscraper (where City Hall is now located).

Baseball has been in Jackson for more than a hundred

When state bank examiners discovered a large shortage the

years. Its first professional team were the Red Railroaders.

bank was closed. This was prior to the days of the Federal

Ellis Kinder, legendary pitcher with the Boston Red Sox,

Deposit Insurance Corporation and many depositors lost

is from Jackson. In 1926 and 1927 the Toledo Mud Hens

their life savings.

used Jackson as a spring training base. Their manager was

Despite the setbacks, Jackson has continued to grow and prosper. Good cities and communities find ways to

Casey Stengel, soon to become the beloved manager of the New York Yankees. Today, Jackson has an affiliate of the

38 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

Dixie Castle and its five-cent hamburgers began at 111 South Church Street. In 1948, owner Levert Thicksten advertised that they had “Served Jackson for Two Decades.” (Photo courtesy of the Tennesee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

former Dixie Castle location at 111 Church Street is now the Man Cave Barber Shop. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 39

above: The

present location of Dixie Castle is at 215 East Baltimore Street, just down the street and around the corner from its Church Street location. Legendary cook, “lefty,” held court here for many years. Still a staple for downtown diners, it also has a location on Airways Boulevard. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

Seattle Mariners with the name of a team from long ago, The Jackson Generals!

Jackson has a rich and complex history. Though names

below: The

site of the present location of Dixie Castle has housed a variety of businesses through the years including the Hot L Baltimore restaurant, a bicycle shop and a florist. For several years automotive centers operated from this location including the 333 Tire and Vulcanizing Company pictured here. (Photo courtesy of the Tennesee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

Tom Gaston was police chief as well as fire chief in the 1890s. It was a rough time in Jackson and Gaston was involved in so many gunfights the local newspaper once

of Boone, Crockett and Edison are familiar to all of us,

reported, “Gaston Shot Again!” Two of America’s most

dozens of other historical figures have either been born in

notorious criminals have come through Jackson. “Machine

Jackson or lived here.

Gun Kelly” was here in September of 1922 and spent sixty

40 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: Hayley’s Cotton Warehouse, at 105-107

North Church Street, was renovated for municipal purposes in 1884 and housed City Hall (until 1915), police station (until 1924) and the Central Fire Station for several more years. The City Court and the Planning Department used the building later. The Herb Juice Medicine Company (cure-all patent medicine) is seen at 109 North Church, which became the Hub City Bakery and later the Madison County Archives. (Photo courtesy of retired Jackson Fireman Ricky Long) left: Henry Harrison and the International Rocka-Billy Hall of Fame, Inc. acquired the former city building in November 2006 and developed it as a tourist attraction and as a tribute to local and international musicians. Note the corresponding large openings for fire trucks and large windows in the current structure. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 41

days in jail for transporting bonded whiskey across state

first man to fly around the world solo and non-stop in a

lines. Al Capone came through Jackson in 1947 on the

balloon. Joe Rogers was born here in 1919. He was the co-

Sun Chaser, the Illinois Central’s train from Florida to

founder and CEO of Waffle House. Today there are over

Chicago, headed for burial in Chicago. The train stopped

250,000 locations!

long enough for excited citizens to see his casket.

M.D. Anderson was born, grew up and is buried in

Jackson, sitting on the highway between Nashville and Memphis, has been home to hundreds of singers and

Jackson. Working as a banker for ten years, he moved

songwriters. Three of them: Carl Perkins, Eddie Arnold,

to Houston in 1904 to join his brother Frank and Will

and Sonny Boy Williamson are world famous. Sonny Boy

Clayton in Anderson Clayton and Company. The M.D.

and Carl Perkins lived here and Eddie Arnold went to

Anderson Hospital that carries his name is synonymous

school in Pinson. The last on the list is John Burton Tigrett

with the treatment of cancer.

who made a fortune in children’s toys. His son, Isacc,

Billy Graham came to Jackson on June 15th, 1951 and preached to a capacity crowd at Rothrock Stadium (the

started the Hard Rock Café and later The House of Blues.

Jackson is an amazing place. How could so much

stadium was part of the Union University campus before

happen here? How could so many famous people have

they moved to North Jackson). Steve Fossett was born in

lived here? How lucky I am to be Jackson’s storyteller for

Jackson in 1944 before moving to California. During his

so many years! Walk around Jackson. Listen to the voices

lifetime he set 116 world records for speed and distance

around you. Make our history come alive as it has for me.

racing in balloons, airplanes, gliders and boats. He was the

I wish you well on your journey.

Rockabilly innovator and major music influence, Carl Perkins is shown between his brothers and fellow band members J. B. and Clayton (left to right) in this autographed photo from 1956. His down-home and humble personality made him a local favorite and his generous spirit advocated for the prevention of child abuse. At

his encouragements, other musicians joined him at performances to raise funds at telethons for the prevention of child abuse centers named in his honor. The local civic center has also been renamed to memorialize him. (Photo courtesy of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and Museum)

42 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

Duke and Wisdom Company, North Liberty Street, ca. 1900.

In 1865, John H. Duke and his brother-in-law, John L. Wisdom, opened the dry goods store, pictured here, which continued into the twentieth century. Duke, a prominent and highly respected businessman, died of pneumonia in 1910, and Wisdom, a banker, died in 1926. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

below: Today

the building, which has retained its original façade, houses the Downtown Tavern and a medical group practice. It is sandwiched between the former locations of the West Tennessee Business College and Holland’s Department Store and opposite the street from Moore’s Studio and Mitch Carter’s mini-park. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 43

above:

Howard Transfer Company is shown here at 208 North Church Street. Several members of the Charles F. Howard family operated the Howard Transfer Company for many years, at least from 1900 to 1935, when Mrs. Lena H. Howard managed it. The lower two-story building past the trucks was the Library Hotel. The office for the Transfer Company was the intermediate building. In the trees at the end of the street was the Jackson Free Library (1903-1968).

(Photo by Wootton Studios courtesy of Mitch Carter, Moore Studio)

left: An insurance company remodeled the former building and it also served as a store for Western Auto with their entrances on East Lafayette Street. The Carnegie Center for Arts and History with its music history museum faces the North Church Street’s intersection.

(Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

44 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 45

opposite page:

Civic League Hospital is pictured on this postcard from 1913 and depicts the hospital, which served as the city’s main hospital from 1909, with additions within a few years, through a name change to Memorial Hospital (shown in the postcard below), until 1950 when Jackson-Madison County General Hospital opened and welcomed doctors from this facility and others. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

above:

After many years as a vacant site, the property became the site for a Dollar General Store. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

46 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

opposite page, top and bottom: William Holland Dry Goods and Clothing Company at 203 East Lafayette and North Liberty Streets opened in 1871 and became a staple store in Jackson where thousands shopped for many celebrations, birthdays and anniversaries. In later years, the upper floors were leased or rented to lawyers and others. Founded by Confederate veteran William Holland, the store was remodeled in 1939 as the family tradition passed to new generations. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

above: The

building is now owned by the John H. Allen Company with Liberty Square apartments on upper floors and businesses on the street level, which include The Baker’s Rack Restaurant, a favorite dining experience for many, and offices of the Jackson Symphony Association. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 47

48 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

left: This stately building located at 410-412 East Main Street served many functions before being razed in the 1950’s. Initially built for the Rochelle Sanatorium, it became the City High School from 1903-1906 and then the Walton Hotel from 1949 to its demise. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 49

above: Today,

the space is used for parking and as the site of the Ned McWherter West Tennessee Cultural Arts Center (known locally as The Ned) adjoining the former City Hall to its west. The Ned’s stage for live musical and theatrical performances is clearly visible

from the 440-seat theatre. The building also has dressing rooms, art galleries and other amenities, which allow the facility to host receptions, weddings, seminars and dinners. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

50 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: The YMCA,

at 401-405 East Lafayette Street, is shown on this postcard from the mid-1930s as a large facility of the Young Men’s Christian Association located directly across from the former First Baptist Church. Fred DeLay served as Secretary for some time. Many Boy and Girl Scouts earned merit badges there.

The Jackson YMCA relocated to 1515 Campbell Street before its closing in mid-2015. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

right:

A bank-owned mini-park with local art sculptures adjoins parking lots on the former YMCA site. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 51

52 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

left: The Greyhound Bus Station, located at 401407 East Main and North Cumberland Street, was built in 1938 and still in use today. This classic Greyhound Bus Station succeeded a smaller one which was on Chester and Market Streets. For a brief time in 1987, the business relocated to an area nearer Interstate 40 and even served as a station for the Gulf Transport Company. The yellow island was the location of the former gas pumps that fueled the buses. The cupola and the educational building of the former First Baptist Church were visible to the north. James O. Hollowell and his wife, Doris, bought the station from First National Bank in 1980. It survived the devastating tornado in 2003 and the 2012 fire that destroyed the neighboring former First Baptist Church. (Postcard image courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

above:

Fewer customers are using the Greyhound Bus Station today, but still countless residents and visitors make use of the way station as a destination or to change buses for other locales. Others take advantage of its varied services: shipping and receiving packages,

lottery tickets, and a small engine repair shop on the east end of building occupies the former bus repair shop. The Suites of Larue can be seen behind the Greyhound Bus Station. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 53

above: This classic building is located at East Lafayette and North

Church Street and has a storied history that begins when it was built by B.C. Cantrell, who was the officer of the Jackson Woolen Mills. By the 1920s it became the McCowat-Mercer Publishing Company. The four-story structure, plus basement, underwent many transformations and uses including Hudson’s Radio and Record Shop, lawyers, banking, and Tom Lawler’s Office Supplies for many years before Lawler’s relocated to the U. S. 45 By-Pass. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

former McCowat-Mercer building is now owned by a bank and has leased offices for the Jackson and Madison County chapter of the NAACP on the main floor and a drug treatment court, a bail bondsman and some attorneys on the upper levels.

It remains a well-maintained and utilized historic building in downtown Jackson. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

54 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: The

Jackson Fire Department (and a furry friend!) pose with their 1912 American LaFrance 750 GPM pumper, the first in the state, in front of former First National Bank and O. J. Nance Drugs on East Main Street opposite the Courthouse. This image has

been reproduced and is displayed in a local restaurant to promote area history. (Also published in The History of the Jackson Fire Department by Mike Morgan, copy courtesy of the Tennessee Room, Jackson/Madison County Library)

left: The Marathon automobile was designed by an engineer at and manufactured by Southern Motor Works on North Royal Street from 1907 to 1914 and was the first motorized vehicle manufactured in the South. It had its display and sales building across the street. The company relocated to Nashville and Jacksonian Barry Walker is still restoring the former Marathon Building. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 55

above: The

Hut Restaurant was a long-time favorite dining venue in Jackson and famous for tangy barbeque, delicious pies and friendly staff. Located on the corner of what is now Highland Avenue and Campbell Street, The Hut is shown in this photograph from the 1940s located outside of the city limits on Highway 45 North in the unincorporated area of Hicksville. The Jackson staple was operated

by J. T. Hamilton, Sr. and his sons, Steve and Tommy, from the late 1930s to 1958. (Same image reproduced for the 1986 Historic

Calendar produced by Emma Inman Williams for the Jackson/Madison County Library) below: The Walgreens’ Company

now has one of its four Jackson drug stores at the location that once housed The Hut and is the only store with 24-hour operating hours. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

56 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: The

Jackson Golf and Country Club began on Prince Drive and later became the home of Judge Whit LaFon, uncle to former Vice-President Al Gore. The total acreage for the nine-hole golf course limited its potential. Much of the property became single residences while the main building remains a private residence.

The Country Club relocated to 31 Jackson Country Club Lane off of North Highland Avenue. In 2004, members and the board changed the name to the Jackson Country Club for its 18-hole

course, swimming pool, tennis courts and other recreational and social facilities. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library) below: Now

a private residence, but larger than most homes which dot the former acreage of the private country club, the house sits elevated above the cul-de-sac of Prince Drive. (Photo by Thomas L. Aud)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 57

left: The Cabana Theatre offered movie goers a cutting edge experience with its separate viewing rooms arranged in one or more rows curving about the screen area. The theater was developed by Jacksonian Earl F. Bankston. With six partners, he created the unique venue on land adjoining the property of Fred Hunt on the northern end of the Hamilton Hills Shopping Center. The individual cabanas allowed patrons privacy (some parents thought too much) while they also enjoyed the movie, popcorn and other treats from the snack bar. Its demise may have been the result of too much wasted space, difficulty to heat and cool, or a legal dispute regarding the lease of the property. A more traditional movie theatre, Phase II, was later built next to it. (Photo courtesy of Bob Bankston)

below: Today,

O’Charley’s Restaurant welcomes diners to the former Cabana Theatre location on Carriage House Drive.

58 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above: The

Southern Engine and Boiler Works, shown in this drawing from the Library of Congress, was located in the 300 block of North Royal Street and manufactured major parts for railroads which crisscrossed the city for many years. By the early 1900s, it employed 400 people manufacturing steam engines, high pressure boilers, grist mills and cotton gins, and other equipment. With changes to oil and electric engines, the business folded by 1926. The property was subdivided and various sections used for manufacturing folding attic steps, etc, and is now the site of Steel Fabricators, Inc. (Drawing courtesy of the Library of Congress. Photo courtesy of Charlie Mueller, Steel Fab Inc. Current image courtesy of Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 59

60 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

A favorite “hang-out” for teenagers in South Jackson for many years was the Chat ‘N Chew. Located beside South Side High School, the former hot spot is seen here in an ad from South Side High’s 1965-66 yearbook. The owner, Barton Webb, held a naming contest that was won by Sandra Morgan, a South Side student, with her entry of “Chat Chew.” Students from the high school were often spotted here after classes (or even during school hours, if rumors are true). Teenagers would drive around the parking lot several times to see who else was there before parking. Often, the same customers would drive to Skeeter’s, Shoney’s, or Burger Chef for the same purposes. Manager O. D. Holifield later operated O.D.’s

Restaurant on Hollywood Drive for several years. (Photo courtesy of Kathy Haney Williams and the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library) below:

One of Jackson’s three Wendy’s restaurants sits in front of the South Side High School (a small section can be seen in background), which may have the same encircling traffic by teens as before (as dramatized by tire marks on the main street between the driveways for the site) when the Chat ‘N Chew was at that location. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 61

left: Ruth Ann Barker (now Mrs. Jerry Smith) won the title in 1953 as Miss Tennessee. It was the first year the event was held in Jackson and in this photo Ruth Ann is seen in the Parade of States at the Miss America Pageant that same year. Two Tennessee women have won the title as Miss America: Barbara Jo Walker in 1947 and Kelly Cash, daughter of Johnny Cash in 1986. Only Kelly won her state title at the Jackson Civic Center. (Photo courtesy of Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Smith) below: The

Miss Tennessee pageant draws thousands to Jackson the third week of June. Today, the pageant is streamed online and in HD over Jackson Energy Authority’s ePlusTV6 channel with local production staff.

Hannah Robison is the reigning Miss Tennessee and is a spokesperson for Governor Haslam’s platform on character education. Hannah also lends her voice and position to her platform, the Arthritis Foundation and assisting with the Children’s Miracle Network. Hannah finished in the top seven at the 2015 Miss America Pageant. (Current photos courtesy of Darren Lykes and the Miss Tennessee Pageant, Jackson, Tennessee)

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Dewey Walker owned and operated an automobile Service Center at 222 West Main Street adjoining West Alley until 1978 when a former employee, Jim Upchurch, bought and later converted the business into AutoTech. To its west was a City of Jackson Parking Lot, which was being renovated in 1985 when workers unearthed multiple gold coins which pre-dated the Civil War when the

property belonged to the heirs of James Elrod. The ensuing “Gold Rush” created nationwide attention and the efforts to account for the thousands of dollars of collectible treasure. The service station’s lot is often filled with vehicles needing various repairs. (Copy of older image, owned by and courtesy of Jim Upchurch ; new photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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On five acres of the larger property formerly used by city founder Dr. William E. Butler as a race track on East Chester Street, the Memphis Conference Female Institute (MCFI) educated young ladies from Jackson and other locales beginning in the 1840s. By 1924, it was expanded as a co-educational institution and became Lambuth College and re-located to Long Street (renamed Lambuth

Boulevard). The college grew to a university status but closed due to financial issues in June 2011. Within a few months the campus became an extension of the University of Memphis due to the efforts of many Jackson residents and others in Tennessee government. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

The site of the former Institute is now occupied by the Jackson Fire Department’s Main Station. A historical marker indicating the value

of the Memphis Conference Female Institute is placed on the edge of the property near Auditorium Drive.

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top: In 1965, Brooks Shaw began his collection of antique tools, household and farm items and soon opened what he called The Old Country Store on Airways Boulevard. In 1978, Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store developed the Casey Jones Village, and in 1980, the store partnered with the Casey Jones Museum to create one of the most popular family-travel destinations in the region. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

bottom: The Old Country Auto Sales on Airways Boulevard retained the overall appearance of the Old Country Store and even has many unique and antique farming and household items both inside and on its porch area where owner Bobby Greene and his sales staff are poised in their rocking chairs as they monitor the array of used vehicles and attend to customers. The company’s motto promotes, “We don’t wanna be the biggest. We just wanna be the best.” (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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The Casey Jones Home and Museum is shown above at its original location on West Chester Street in the mid-1950s where the famous railroad engineer John Luther “Casey� Jones and his family were living at the time of his tragic death in 1900. Today, many groups and individuals regularly tour the famous facility, which was transported by a flatbed truck via the Highway 45 By-Pass to its present location in Casey Jones Village, as seen below. Onlookers marveled as they witnessed the precarious and difficult journey

as it maneuvered under power lines and around overpasses.

Relocation to Casey Jones Village may have saved the house from the destructive May 2003 tornado, which ripped through downtown and destroyed or severely damaged many buildings near its former location. The original site is now used by nearby Mt. Zion Baptist Church for additional parking. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

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opposite page, top: The First Methodist Church’s presence on South Church and East Chester Streets dates from 1831. The church has survived through various disasters, including a fire in 1912. Due to the growth of their congregation the current facility expanded to include the entire block to East Baltimore Street and provided meeting spaces for local events. The fleet from Roberts’ Taxi Company, with stylishly attired chauffeurs, is seen here lining East Chester on the south side of the church in this photo from the 1920s.

Whether they are waiting for fares from the church or promoting the company’s fleet we do not know. An advertisement in the 1925 Union University Yearbook listed the fares at 25 cents to all parts of the city for the company’s five and seven passenger cars for “business trips, joy rides, weddings, and funerals.” left: East Chester Street is now a one-way street only by the church, which has expanded with more meeting rooms and other ancillary areas to the east

and north to Baltimore Street, with a large parking lot for its congregation and visitors. It hosts regular First Friday Forums and other events for the benefit of the community. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio) above: The

United Daughters of the Confederacy pose on the steps of the former First Methodist Church building in the photo in 1900. The ladies and young girls are touting the high fashions at the beginning of the 20th Century. The number of women in this photograph may indicate this was a statewide meeting held in Jackson. Other large groups similarly posed on these steps for a photograph. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee State Library and Archives)

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above: First Presbyterian Church needed more space for its growing

congregation, so after the donation in 1951 of a home known as “Chevy Chase” on North Highland Avenue by the widow of newspaper publisher, attorney and businessman Clarence E. Pigford, the congregation erected its new church nearby. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

stately residence, built in 1915, has retained its Greek revival grandeur and has been renamed as Memorial Hall. Today, it is used for church offices, wedding receptions and other events.

The carillon tower adjoins the church to the south. The narrow driveway weaves through a variety of trees, which grace the grounds. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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left: First Presbyterian Church, on North Church and East Main Streets, as seen in the 1930s, was built in 1912. The stately Corinthian structure had Indiana limestone, mahogany doors, and leaded art glass windows. Legend has it that one reason for the congregation relocating to North Highland Avenue was the noises from the City Fire Department across Church Street during Sunday services.

(Photo courtesy of Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library) above:

In 1984, this building was remodeled for the use of Jackson National Bank and now houses BancorpSouth.

(Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore Studio)

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left: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church dates back to 1832 and has occupied the same location on Church and Baltimore Streets for over 180 years. The church’s original wooden structure was replaced by the first brick edifice in 1845 and later revised and extended in 1883. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/ Madison County Library) below:After

the damages from the May 2003 tornado, the remodeled nave of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church was re-dedicated in 2006. Its beautiful stained glass windows and stately sanctuary have been preserved and the church has added educational and meeting room spaces for its uses and for the benefit of the community.

It is directly across Baltimore Street from the complex of the First United Methodist Church. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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left: The historic Mother Liberty CME Church was among several structures heavily damaged by the devastating tornado in May 2003 and eventually replaced. Organized in 1870 for the former slaves of members of First Methodist Church, it was known as “Liberty Station (due to its location on South Liberty) Colored Methodist Episcopal”. It later became “Mother Liberty Christian Methodist Episcopal Church” in 1954 and now fronts on 456 South Highland Avenue. (Drawing of church by Van Beard, used by persmission of Mother Liberty CME Church) below:

After the May 2003 tornado destroyed the earlier stately structure, the faith and the determination of the congregation overcame many obstacles to erect the present edifice. The Lowell Thomas State Office Building can be seen in the background to the east. The Carl Perkins Civic and Convention Center is opposite Auditorium Street to the north.

(Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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Catholics have been a growing segment of the local population since the county’s early days. Early church records, dating from the 1830s and 1840s, tell of when traveling priests provided religious rites and services in private homes before dedicated buildings were leased or constructed. St. Mary’s Catholic Church was located at the corner of East Baltimore and South Royal Streets on land bought from Casey Jones’ father-in-law.

Built by 1877, the church was expanded in 1950 and the congregation increased over the years, creating the need for a larger worship center. The previous priest’s rectory and elementary school were razed several years before the congregation moved to the current church on the Highway 45 By-Pass.

The former St. Mary’s property now serves the Grace and Mercy Church of God in Christ. The stained glass windows were transferred to the present St. Mary’s Church and other

modifications were made to the interior. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above and left: St. Josephs church and school for African-American Catholics opened in 1916 and closed in 1962 when students began attending St. Mary’s Catholic School at Baltimore and Royal streets. This school photo from about 1932 depicts many students who rose to prominence such as Anna Lee (Mrs. James A. Cooke, former teacher, principal, Lane College Librarian, author).

(Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library) top: In May 1975, the abandoned and dilapidated St. Joseph’s Church was razed to make room for the current Tennessee Supreme Court building off of West Chester Street and South Highland Avenue. The state’s courts of appeal and other judicial and legal functions for the Western District of Tennessee are held in the Tennessee Supreme Court Building just off the Highway 45 By-Pass and South 45. A law library for the use of judges, attorneys and their staff also was in the building. The Tennessee flag is unfurled by a breeze and not by the passing motorcyclist. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above: Baptists have had a strong religious history in Jackson

and Madison County since 1837 and First Baptist Church was incorporated in late 1875. Its locations were briefly on the corner of College and Market Streets and for many years on the corner of East Lafayette and North Cumberland Streets before building its present complex on North Highland Avenue. This colorized postcard from 1911 shows the former structure on East Lafayette Street. It was later used by a congregation of Pentecostals before being purchased by John H. Allen Company. The main sanctuary burned in 2012 while

the building was being renovated for other uses. The destruction was witnessed and photographed by hundreds. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library) below: The

site of the former First Baptist Church has been converted to a mini-park next to the previous Educational Building, which became the Suites of Larue (apartments, reception spaces) by the John H. Allen Company. The Greyhound Bus Station sign can be seen on the far right. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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The small but significant Jewish community worshipped in private homes and other locations before its charter in 1885 and the purchase of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church building on East College Street (on the site of a parking lot for the public library) and the repurposing of it as the College Street Temple. The Jewish congregation worshiped there until 1941 when the present Temple B’Nai Israel at West Grand and Campbell Streets (shown here) was dedicated. Visiting rabbis were called to provide services and local members saved the Torahs from fire damages in 1976.

Members have contributed continuously and greatly to the temple’s heritage and preservation.

An associated cemetery for its faithful adjoins Hollywood Cemetery. (Older photo courtesy of the Temple B’Nai Israel from its dedication booklet and current photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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B

eginning in August 1857 when thousands

by automobile more desirable by families. The city had

witnessed the arrival of the first train,

major shops and roundhouses that employed hundreds

Jackson and Madison County had the

in hard and often dangerous work. Thousands of people

luxury of rail travel. Over the many miles of track, the

witnessed the daily comings and goings of engines and

“Iron Horse” transported crops, goods, merchants,

rail cars that created memories shared in legendary

salesmen, soldiers and other people to cities and towns

songs and books. Today, only freight trains traverse the

throughout America. Throughout the early 20th Century,

railroad lines to local industrial sites for delivery and

most commercial freight and passenger travel was by

transportation of goods.

train until the interstate system of highways made travel

above: Workers

pause from their labor to pose on a locomotive at the old Mobile and Ohio Railroad Round House and Back Shop on Chester Street in 1908. The railroad line formed in 1849 and merged with the Gulf, Mobile and Northern to become the Gulf, Mobile and Ohio. Local records documented payments for injuries and lost wages of various workers at this and other heavy equipment

shops. “GM&O Blues” by local music legend John Lee “Sonny Boy” Williamson in 1945 noted “… that G. M. & O./runs right by my do’/ Taken’ my baby up the country, Lord…” (Photo from the Jim Driver Collection and part of the Jackson Business History Project at the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library) left: Baltimore, Mobile and Northwestern Railroad Engine #59 is pictured here in 1912 at the Poplar Street crossing. Sold by the United States military railroad to the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad in 1865, it became part of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad in 1890, and later was sold to the Birmingham and Northwestern Railroad Company in 1911. It operated daily from Jackson to Dyersburg, Tennessee. (Photo from the Jim Driver Collection and notes from former railroad historian, Mr. Maurice “Molly” Stansell, and courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/ Madison County Library)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 77

above: The

Illinois Central Railroad’s Division Office Building housed the main administrative areas for the railroad’s local lines. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

Illinois Central Building has been renovated and now serves as law offices for a public defender and another local attorney. It is just west of the building housing the Jackson Boxing Club and below the overpass of the 45 By-Pass. The railroad tracks, formerly running past it, are no more. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above: The Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railroad Depot, built

in 1907, is shown here in on South Royal Street. Cars and people anxiously awaited the train’s arrival, perhaps to transport them to the nearby Lancaster Park with its many attractions and activities, to visit friends and family, or for transfers to other trains. It served briefly as a terminal for the Trailways Bus Company until it closed in 1970. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

structure was purchased by the City of Jackson and through efforts of several dedicated people was restored and is now a railroad museum, tourist attraction and an educational facility on local railroad history. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 79

left: The Neely House, located at 575 South Royal Street, served railroad workers, passengers and salesmen from the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Depot. Built in 1911-1912 as a brick Modern-Classical hotel, it had running water in each of its 22 rooms, along with other guest amenities. After 30 years, the Neely family sold it to Robert J. Murphy and it became known as the Murphy Hotel for the next 50 years. The City of Jackson bought the house in 1997 and planned to repurpose it as a children’s museum, but the May 2003 tornado severely damaged the building and plans were halted. Developer Hal Crocker bought the home in 2005 and restored it to its original state. It is the only railroad hotel still intact in Jackson and now houses various small businesses.

(Photo of the Murphy House courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

above: Tenants

now include a restaurant, an attorney, beauty salons and other small businesses. Parking lots bracket the building just

north of the railroad track and depot. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above: The

Frankland’s Carriage Company, established in 1901 at Johnson and Poplar (now Airways Boulevard) streets, relocated to South Market Street (now South Highland Avenue) in 1913 to build and repair horse drawn carriages, including hearses. As the times changed, it became famous for its automobile services and wholesale parts business and association with various gas

companies, including Gulf as shown here. The business evolved and for many years sold furniture, appliances, clothes, house and garden equipment and sporting goods, while continuing to sell tires and accessories. Its freight elevator would transport cars for guests of the New Southern Hotel to its upper floors. (Photo courtesy of descendant Bob Frankland III) left: The May 2003 tornado did irreparable damage to the building and it was razed. A mini-park, with appropriate marker honoring the military service of World War II General Robert Ernest Frankland, who commanded a unit at D-Day, now occupies the site just south of the Elks Building. The New Southern building is in the background. (Photo by Thomas L. Aud)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 81

left: In the early 1900s, the electro-chalybeate well with its mineral waters attracted hundreds and fueled dreams of major tourism and city growth. Located near the entertaining Lancaster Park off of South Royal Street, many used the well as a place to meet and socialize with friends. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library) below: Tall

crepe myrtles bracket the former attraction and an historical marker details the features of the landmark on South Royal Street. The gazebo-covered fountain has remained while the adjoining park and other structures have been replaced or razed. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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above: World War

I soldiers proudly marched west on East Lafayette Street (Holland’s and other stores are decked out with patriotic bunting) in this undated photograph. They exemplified the honor and service provided to the nation by many local citizens. Young boys also walked in groups toward the photographer in support of the troops. Lists of the veterans, including those killed or wounded, have been published in Historic Madison by Emma Inman Williams.

(Photo courtesy of Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

below: The

first block of East Lafayette Street, where the soldiers marched a hundred years ago, now has landscaped sidewalks and storefronts with changes from earlier years. The Jackson City Court (white building on left) is the destination for many with minor infractions of local laws. At the end of the block on the left, the white facade of TLM Associates is visible. Note the squared windows that have since replaced the former arched ones in the tallest building. The entrance to the underground parking to the City Hall is directly across the street. (Photo by Ron Beers)

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above: The historic Farrar House, built by H. P. Farrar, at 161 West

Orleans Street is shown with Mrs. Farrar and the family dog about 1900. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has passed through several owners including Mrs. Rose Johnsey who bought it from the original family and restored much of it. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below: The

1,700 square foot house is northeast of the Jackson Walk development and remains a private residence with its long heritage and local interest. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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OTHER CO MMU N IT IES IN MA D IS ON COU N T Y

W

hile the City of Jackson is the largest city

minor blips on the interlacing county roads after suffering

and county seat of Madison County,

from the ravages of time, economy, fires, and storms. But

other communities also date back to its

some continue their rich heritages through legends, art work

earliest days. Most formed around stage coach stops, post

displayed in businesses and museums, and stories told by

offices, churches and then schools and businesses developed

their elders to the younger generations.

around them. Most have devolved into mere cross roads or left: Old Beech Bluff High School from the Beech Bluff 1938 yearbook (Reproduction of photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

Beech Bluff Class of 1975 (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

below:

opposite page:

Beech Bluff Elementary School’s Principal Pam Carter Betler is seen in the center behind the entire Fifth Grade in September 2015. The facility remains an anchor for the community as it educates students in grades kindergarten through grade 5.

(Current group photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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The image of the Bemis Auditorium, as designed in 1922 (above), stands in close contrast to the repurposed Bemis Museum today (below). The Auditorium had seats for 850-1,000 people with movie projection from above onto a curtain-covered screen.

The Bemis Historical Society, formed in 1998, received the building as a donation from nearby Jackson Storm Window

and Door Company and the group’s many volunteers have steadfastly worked to restore it to its former glory with funds from private and public entities and grants. The Museum is open by appointments as work continues on its various areas. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room at the Jackson/Madison County Library. Current photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 87

The Denmark Post Office is shown above in the mid-1940s. It was replaced by the Robert Hardee’s General Store and attached post office, which were in front of the home of the unofficial town

mayor and longest serving county commissioner. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

The current Denmark Post Office, built about 1999, replaced the former building only a few hundred feet away. Area citizens have been served by the “oldest operating post office in West Tennessee”

since 1820 to the present. The present facility is directly across the road from the historic Denmark Presbyterian Church. (photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

88 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

above:

Denmark Presbyterian Church’s large bell called members to worship and the community to attention for major news and events. The church was organized in 1821 and became the “mother church” for all early Presbyterian churches in West Tennessee. The two-story structure, the third on that site, was erected in 1854. It also served various non-religious functions during the Civil War, including being the recruiting site for 104 Denmark Danes and held

captured soldiers on the second floor (many of whom wrote their names on the lower walls and are still visible today). The second floor housed the Odd Fellows Hall and the Masonic Lodge since 1847 and a ritualistic Masonic chamber between the two floors.

(Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

left: The church building has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983 and is being faithfully restored by the Big Black Creek Historical Association with Billy King as President and funding coming from Madison County and several grants and donations. Structural issues have hampered the time frame for completion, but religious services and other programs are still held regularly in the sanctuary on the first floor.

(Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 89

above:

Andrews Chapel United Methodist Church and Cemetery are located in the Huntersville Community, on Highway 70 west.

It namesake, Bishop Andrews, along with Dr. Harvey Crittenden, Francis Meriwether and others organized the religious community early in the first decade of the county. The church’s cemetery is well maintained and has a very large number of American Legion and DAR flag holders, with a decorative fence of brick and cast iron.

Most of the brick posts and the north gate have bronze memorial

markers. For several years, the U. S. Post Office referred to the nearby town as “Andrews Chapel” versus “Huntersville.” (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library) below:

The small but faithful congregation of Methodists maintains the church and adjoining historic cemetery on Highway 70 west of Jackson. Additional meetings and classrooms have been attached to the left of the sanctuary. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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Originally called Harrisburg, Malesus developed around the Ebenezer Methodist and the Old Cane Creek Baptist Churches. The surrounding farming community built up around places of worship and their children were educated at the community’s schools. The First Baptist churches in Malesus and Jackson trace their lineage to the Old Cane Creek Church. Since 1878, with the opening of “Harris

School” and through several expansions and replacements, the educational building on the Bolivar Highway became the Malesus High School. It burned in 1956 and the top floor was removed.

(Photo courtesy of Malesus Elementary School as published in the 1948 yearbook)

The present Malesus Elementary School retains the first floor of the former building but now is bracketed by the sections, which extend closer to the street. The majority of the present structure

is not visible from the street, but has been well maintained and houses hundreds of eager Pre-K to fifth grade students. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 91

right: The

community known today as Medon began as Frozen Oak in 1825, then became Clover Creek (which name still is preserved by the Baptist Church there) and was incorporated as Medon in 1852 after a fabled story of an Irishman who returned from a hard day’s work and bragged “me done.” The small but incorporated city of 178 people survives with city limits extending north and south along Highway 18 (Bolivar Highway) and east along Parkburg Road. Pictured here is the former Medon School from the 1950s. (Photo from the 1950s displayed in Medon City Hall and copied by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio ; current photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

below: The

former Medon School has been replaced by the current City Hall, adjoining Fire Station and mini-park on College Street. The flag pole from the school still proudly flies the American flag. A large community room extends behind the City Hall’s entrance.

left: The historic Stage House, which dates to 1840 as a stagecoach stop (the first in West Tennessee) and tavern, has been renovated by present owners Bob and Leola Upton Cummings. The tavern was built by Peter Swink whose store was nearby. The property also boasted the only windmill in the small city. Much of the house retains original wooden flooring, nine fireplaces and mantles, multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. The house was a duplex and had other uses before the current owners stripped away the less authentic “add-ons” and went back to the basics. The Society of Colonial Dames honored the house with a plaque affixed near its front door. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

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Pinson School served as the community school from the 1920s until the early 1990s when students transferred to South Side High School in Jackson. Only its rear section survived the years and has been renovated to resemble the front entrance. It is maintained and used by Pinson Ruritan Club for its club meetings, town hall meetings and other community events. Inside, the club has

honored many military veterans with a display of their photos.

Country music legend Eddie Arnold is a famous alumnus and is depicted in a mural with others from the community. (Copy of photo on display inside the former school building by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio ; Current photo by Thomas L. Aud)

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 93

above:

Formed at the intersection of Highways 45E and 45W (now Three Way Lane) which merged to become the 45 By-Pass just south of the northern county line, the community of Fairview became the county’s most recent incorporated area as the City of Three Way in 1998 with a current population of about 2,000 and is managed by a Mayor and two aldermen. The former Fairview School, opened in 1926 as a K-12 facility, in the center of the photo above from the 1930s, is perhaps the oldest structure still intact but not presently being used. The high school closed in 1962 and students transferred to North Side High School in Jackson. The building served as an antique mall, a wholesale furniture store, and as a site for a flea market over the past years. Attempts by the nearby city of Humboldt in Gibson County to annex, or at least gain

revenue from taxes from its residents, were thwarted by legal issues and resistance by the citizens who voted to incorporate the small but independent city. (Photo by Lavern Turner Allen and courtesy of Mayor Larry Sanders) below:

A city park and several businesses, including branch banks, distribution warehouses and amusement venues are spread about the city with its growing residential neighborhoods. Efforts are being made by city officials to attract other national companies to locate within the city limits, especially along the heavily travelled Highway 45 corridors. The former school, privately owned, still awaits new purposes. (Photo by Mitch Carter, Moore’s Studio)

94 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

The first automobile float in Jackson is pictured here with the First United Methodist Church in the background, which burned in

1912. Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room Jackson/Madison County Library

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 95

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Street cars traversed many of the avenues of Jackson until June 1939. The summer cars (open and boarded on either side) had

reversible seats which were flipped over and the motorman changed his perspective for the return trips. The group photo is at

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 97

the Union Station where the passengers awaited the arrival of the Illinois Central or the Mobile and Ohio trains.Today, remnants of the

tracks are still buried under the pavement. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

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JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 99

left: Entrepreneur “Popcorn Johnny� Hudson operated his wagon-mounted popcorn popper in downtown Jackson before building his stand near the mineral-filled well on South Royal Street in Lancaster Park to the delight of the thousands who visited the entertainment venue in the early years of the Twentieth Century. The young boys in the photo (opposite page, below) from the early 1960s are identified as William B. McCommon, Jr. and his friend, Freddie Austin, to his left. (Photos courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

The first car in Jackson was this 1903 Model A Runabout by Cadillac in its first year of manufacture and owned by Samuel W. Payne, father of George Payne and his younger sister Daisy who are proudly displayed in the four-seater car. Within a few years,

many citizens traded their horse-drawn carriages for the modern mode of transportation. (Photo owned by Mrs. Franklin Bain and courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

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JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 101

On June 7, 1862, General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union Army marched into southwest Tennessee, during the American Civil War. They established a headquarters at Jackson, and experimented with a pilot program for sheltering, employing, and enlisting large numbers of African Americans by the federal government. The former slaves aided the Union Army in various ways, serving as cooks, laborers, blacksmiths, nurses, and spies.

The Union Army set up camps throughout Jackson including at the courthouse, Royal Street, Whitehall Street, Lambuth area, and along the Hatchie River Waterways. Their arrival was a “Great Gettin’ up Mornin’ ” for the enslaved African Americans in West Tennessee.

The Union Army represented hope, change and freedom. Word had spread that if you made it to the Union Army camps you would be a free person. Black men, women, children and extended families from Madison and the surrounding counties came in droves to the union camp sites. A contraband camp of former slaves was established in what is known as East Jackson. Some local residents believe, the camp was named “Hay City,” because hay was used as a building material for shelter. People arrived at the contraband camp homeless, penniless, starving, and illiterate, they were more naked than clothed, and almost to a person they were bare feet. Initially, conditions in the camp were similar to other contraband camps. Squalor at best, the camps were insanitary and sickness and death were prevalent. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was issued.

The Proclamation allowed African American men to join the Union Army. Them answering the call to arms came from the contraband camp and other areas. More than two hundred men including brothers of the Hurt and Greer families from Madison County enlisted at the recruiting center in Jackson. These men helped to make up Companies A and B of the 61st Regiment United States Colored Infantry. The 61st Regiment mustered in at LaGrange, Tennessee in June 1863 and distinguished themselves on the battlefield. They were one of the first USCT Regiments to perform under fire, and engaged in action at Moscow TN, Tupelo, MS, and Memphis, TN and were stationed as far south as Florida and Louisiana. The 61st Regiment mustered out in Baton Rouge, LA in December 1865. Regimental losses were one officer and 37 enlisted men killed in battle, and two officers and 316 enlisted men died of disease. After the war some of the men returned to Jackson. With the aid of the Freeman’s Bureau they began the transition to become American citizens. Photo courtesy of Library of Congress.

by Michael Cherry

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Tomorrow

Photo courtesy of the City of Jackson

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left: Stakeholders gather in visioning session for Jackson’s future. Photo courtesy of the City of Jackson right:

Future infrastructure plans include the addition of a roundabout on Highland Avenue. Photo courtesy of City of Jackson

below: Urban

neighborhoods offer modern housing options such as the Jackson Walk Apartments, pictured here. Photo courtesy of the City of Jackson

The Depot at Jackson Walk (Photo courtesy of the City of Jackson)

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above:

After 16 months of construction and 90,000 hours of labor, Union University dedicated its new library, “The Logos,� in 2015.

The three-story, 53,000-square-foot facility is a state-of-the-art academic resource center for the university featuring expanded

space for library holdings, study and meeting rooms, the Modero coffee shop, administration offices and archives. Photo courtesy of Union University

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above, below and bottom left: This $11 million library project on the grounds of Freed-Hardeman University includes the renovation of the existing Loden-Daniel Library, demolition of Lawhorn Library and the construction of a new three-story building connected to Loden-Daniel, which will be called the Hope Barber Shull Library in memory of FHU’s much loved librarian, Hope Barber Shull. The

entire complex will be called the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center. The 29,000 square foot. addition will more than double the size of the existing library and features a learning commons, a teaching and learning center, private study areas, an art gallery, training rooms, a multi-purpose room, and a cafĂŠ. Photo courtesy of Earl Swensson Associates

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This photo taken at the front window of the Gem Café at 112 East Liberty Street from about 1910 reflects the east side of the County Courthouse (and the photographer!) and demonstrated the site as a popular location in downtown Jackson. Adjoining were differentnamed theaters, a news stand and a soda shop. Buddie’s Tavern (a Pool Hall) operated out of this building and was a favorite gathering place for many years before relocating to East Lafayette Street. For five years in the early 1990s, The Old Country Store on the Square occupied the building. Now the building has several tenants: an architectural firm, a massage therapy business, a temporary place for a restaurant (Soup du Jour) and lawyers’ offices.

(Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library).

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Part Two

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Pre-World War II

Piles of new tires occupy (and clutter) the sidewalk in front of the Frank Brothers Tire Company and the Kisber Clothing Company in the early 1920s at 107-109 North Market Street, now Highland Avenue. The three Frank brothers died in the late 1920s and Kisber’s (Clothing Store) relocated to East Lafayette Street for many years

before opening another location in the Old Hickory Mall, although both stores have since closed. The original location on North Market Street is now a parking lot west of Jackson City Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Tennessee Room of the Jackson/Madison County Library)

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C ITY OF JACKS ON

T

hroughout its history, Jackson, Tennessee, has always been a place where people connect. Whether it was to ship cotton or timber almost 200 years ago, or to work at one of the many industries or receive quality medical care today, people continue to connect here.

Located halfway between Memphis and Nashville, Jackson is the place where West Tennessee gathers to play, shop, dine, learn, work and get healthy.

Once a Chickasaw hunting ground, Jackson was settled in the 1820s on the banks of the Forked Deer River after Native Americans signed a treaty in 1818. The first settlers named the city Alexandria, but the name was quickly changed to Jackson in honor of Andrew Jackson, who was an uncle to several of the early residents.

Jackson grew during the subsequent decades as it thrived as a cotton port and because of a growing hardwood industry.

In the 1850s, railroads came to town, bringing new employment opportunities, serving agricultural transportation needs and developing the labor base for future industry.

In the 1920s, with the growth of the local railroad industry, Jackson became a financial and industrial hub for the region. The city was beginning to look like the Jackson people know today.

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital opened in 1950 with 123 beds, setting the stage for today’s largest employer — West Tennessee Healthcare — to expand the region’s health care industry. Hundreds of physicians and other providers offer

quality medical care with some of the most advanced technology available.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Jackson’s economy continued to diversify; local banks flourished. With the completion of Interstate 40 in the mid 1960s, Jackson cemented itself as a transportation hub. Major highways crisscross the city; they include Interstate 40 and U.S. routes 70, 45 and 412.

In 1967, Old Hickory Mall opened with Sears as an anchor, marking a transition away from downtown and to bigger retailers.

An emphasis on industrial growth in the 1970s started the influx of major industries with thousands of good-paying jobs.

Owens Corning, Rockwell International, Procter and Gamble/ Kellogg’s, Quaker Oats/Pinnacle Foods, Maytag, Delta Faucet, Toyota Bodine Aluminum, Kirkland’s, Gerdau and Pacific Manufacturing have all called Jackson home.

Two developments in the 1980s impacted the city’s future.

The passage of liquor-by-the-drink in 1986 attracted many restaurants and spurred commercial and economic growth. In 1988, in response to a lawsuit filed by three citizens, a U.S. District Court judge ruled the city’s at-large form of government unconstitutional. The city’s government changed to a mayor and a council elected by district, giving all segments of the community a voice in local government.

Jackson expanded its boundaries with most of the growth occurring north, beyond Interstate 40. After the turn of the 21st century, new and existing manufacturing and distribution

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industries invested more than $1 billion in the community and added 7,000 new jobs. As automobile manufacturers looked South, many of their supporting industries opened shop in Jackson.

A center for higher education, Jackson’s colleges today include Jackson State Community College, Lane College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Jackson, Union University, West Tennessee Business College and the University of Memphis, Lambuth Campus.

Jackson has been home to famous people and philanthropists.

Notable residents included legendary railroad engineer, John Luther “Casey” Jones; harmonica blues player Sonny Boy Williamson; rockabilly music pioneer Carl Perkins; philanthropist M.D. Anderson; and House of Blues and Hard Rock Café founder Isaac Tigrett. David Crockett is thought to have given his infamous “I’m going to Texas” speech on the Madison County Court steps when he lost a re-election bid to Congress. Former slaves founded the Colored Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church here in 1870.

In more recent years, Jackson has re-invested in its downtown, drawing people back to its center. Jackson has gained national recognition as a “Gig City” because of its community-wide, highspeed broadband infrastructure. In 2013, the U.S. Conference of Mayors named Jackson “The Most Livable Small City.” Two years later, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency honored Jackson with its “Smart Growth” award.

As the 21st century unfurls, Jackson has rebranded its image and put new meaning in “connect here.” A gig-a-bit broadband infrastructure connects Jackson to the world’s economy at the speed of light. Tourists are discovering its many attractions, including a Double A minor league baseball team, the Jackson Generals, sports complexes and the city’s music heritage.

Industries continue to discover the area’s strong work ethic.

Most importantly, Jackson — home to more than 40 different cultures — knows its future lies in the faith and resilience of its citizens, who have always come together in good times to celebrate successes and in challenging times to provide support.

Jackson is a place where the entrepreneurial spirit thrives, hospitality beckons and healthy living is emphasized. It’s a place where families can raise their children in a safe, small town environment with plenty of big-city amenities. It’s a place nearly 70,000 people call home and another 500,000 come to work, shop, play, attend school and receive healthcare.

Jackson — Connect Here!

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A recent spring commencement ceremony on the Great Lawn of Union University

U N ION U N IV ER S IT Y

U

nion University, located on a 300-acre campus in north Jackson, has for nearly 200 years been an integral piece in the life of Madison County and is the oldest educational institution in the county. Affiliated with the Tennessee Baptist Convention, Union has a national reputation for integrating top-tier academics with the Christian

intellectual tradition as it promotes excellence and character development in its students, with the goal of serving the church and society. Union achieves its mission by setting goals that adhere to the school’s four core values: excellence-driven, Christcentered, people-focused and future-directed.

History Founded in 1823, Union University is an heir of three antebellum Tennessee schools – West Tennessee College and its predecessor, Jackson Male Academy, both located at Jackson, and of Union University, located at Murfreesboro – and it is the inheritor of another college in 1927, Hall-Moody Junior College of Martin, Tennessee.

Because of an aging and landlocked campus, Union moved in 1975 from near downtown to a new campus located along Highway 45-Bypass in north Jackson. Since then, the campus has steadily expanded, both in enrollment and physical size.

Union’s campus now features state-of-the-art buildings for science, nursing and pharmacy, contemporary residence life apartments and modern athletic facilities, among other features.

Faculty and the graduating class of Southwestern Baptist University (later to become Union University) in 1887. Back Row: Faculty (L to R) George W. Jarman, T. J. Deupree, H.C. Irby, A. P. Bourland. Front Row: 1887 Graduating Class (L to R) John W. Anderson, T.W. Young, M.A. Cathcart

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The university also operates extension campuses in Germantown and Hendersonville, Tennessee.

“Union is a comprehensive university that is known here in Tennessee, across the country and around the world because of the excellent education Union provides students and because of the outstanding service and contributions of Union alumni,” Union President Samuel W. “Dub” Oliver said. “As one of a small number of Christ-centered universities remaining, Union has a special role in higher education – a place where learning is integrated with faith, infused with hope and transformed by love.”

Union physics professor Fonsie Guilaran teaching a lesson in the classroom.

Serving the community Educating with excellence Grounded in the liberal arts, Union also offers a vast array of educational and professional options in a variety of fields – including business, education, nursing, pharmacy and theology and missions – at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

U.S.News & World Report, in its annual rankings of college and universities, ranked Union 12th among regional universities in the South for 2014. It was the highest ranking ever for Union, the fifth straight year for the university to be listed in the top 15 schools in its category and the 18th straight year for Union to be categorized as one of the South’s best universities.

In addition, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance ranked Union 48th among the best private university values in the nation in 2015, and Institutional Research and Evaluation Inc. has named Union one of America’s 100 Best College Buys for 10 straight years.

Promoting social and spiritual growth But Union is more than just an academically rigorous school. Committed to developing the entire person socially and spiritually as well, Union offers a variety of campus life experiences that foster a strong sense of community among students, faculty and staff.

Union’s residential facilities are among the best available anywhere, with an apartment-style design that combines the benefits of fellowship and community with the opportunity for privacy. Each four-bedroom apartment features a private bedroom for every student, a living room, kitchen, one or two bathrooms and washer and dryer. Student commons buildings provide facilities for recreation, relaxation and group gatherings.

Union’s Office of University Ministries assists students in their relationship to God by providing worship experiences, small group ministries, discipleship, community serving and mission opportunities both locally and around the world.

Union’s community is closely involved with the broader communities of Jackson and Madison County in multiple ways. One of the university’s most important events each year is “Campus and Community: A Day of Remembrance and Service,” in which hundreds of Union volunteers complete dozens of community service projects at churches, schools and nonprofit organizations. The event was designed as a way for Union to express its gratitude to the local community for the ways residents helped the university following tornadoes that damaged the Union campus in 2002, 2003 and 2008.

The university also hosts a variety of events to benefit the West Tennessee region, including its annual Scholarship Banquet, an event that has introduced several world leaders to the Jackson community. Over the past several years, keynote speakers such as George H.W. Bush, Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair, Mikhail Gorbachev, Condoleezza Rice, Ben Carson and Laura Bush have addressed local residents at the event, which has raised millions of dollars for student scholarships.

Looking to the future Rooted in almost 200 years of history, Union is beginning to look forward to its third century of educating students and preparing them to make a tremendous impact on their world.

A new state-of-the-art library was completed in the fall of 2015 and will be the intellectual center of the university for decades to come. All the while, Union will continue to pursue the same priorities that have guided it for two centuries.

“In the years ahead, by God’s grace and with His help, Union will continue to grow and expand in every way,” Oliver said.

“Union will be a stack pole for Christian higher education; Union will produce meaningful research and engage in projects that become models for community development and transformation; and Unionites will be ever committed to bear witness to the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

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JACKS ON - MA D IS ON COU N T Y LIB R A RY

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he Jackson-Madison County Library has long been the place to go in Madison County to find interesting reading material and information. As times have changed, formats of reading material and the ways to access information has changed. However, one thing that has not changed is that the public library is still the place individuals come when they have a need to know and to become part of a community. The exchange of information is accomplished not only through technology and printed materials, but through the verbal exchange of information as well. As the Jackson-Madison County Library’s logo states, this 21st century library focuses on these three essential needs: technology, literacy, and community.

The Jackson-Madison County Library is currently one of the most technologically advanced libraries in the region. Making copies and sending faxes have long been services offered by the library. Wireless printing, video conferencing, and scanning to USB drives are a few of our modern offerings. Since the library has staff dedicated to assisting guests with technology, computer classes are held on a weekly basis, and one-on-one assistance with electronic devices is available upon request. This includes computers, tablets, and smartphones. The main library has a computer lab with thirty computers, and the North Branch has eight. Wi-Fi is accessible at both locations 24/7. The teen library and children’s library also have computers designated for each age group. Self-checkout stations are available to make borrowing materials as easy and as fast as possible. A virtual library can be accessed on the library’s website and includes e-books and databases. The future of the library will see technology being used in an even greater capacity. Gigabit Internet service will greatly enhance the library’s ability to add computer applications for guests to expand their knowledge and capabilities. No doubt, the future will also see the expansion of their Virtual Library Branch to make the library more accessible to as many residents as possible.

As the library moves further into the 21st century, literacy will continue to be one of their primary roles, and the library will make reading material available in whichever format the public chooses to use. The library promotes literacy through an extensive collection containing all genres and reading levels.

Residents still check out thousands of printed books each

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month and are encouraged to request items to be added to the collection. In addition to the library’s print book collection usage, electronic book usage has doubled over the last two years.

Thousands of e-books are checked out each month. The library works closely with the school system to provide e-book content for students; this content is accessible at home and at school.

Programs such as preschool story time, library book club and summer reading programs are held at the library to encourage children, teens, and adults to read. The gathering of these groups accomplishes more than one purpose; it encourages reading, and it builds community.

The library builds community in several ways: by offering newcomers a place to meet people, by offering programming to expand the mind, and by hosting groups in meeting rooms.

Tables and chairs scattered throughout the library provide individuals a place to meet with others for conversation or space to work on projects. In an age where social media seems to have taken over, people still need connections with real people. The public library provides that for many people. A warm smile and a kind hello are offerings freely given to all who visit. Community game days and holiday celebrations are held at the library so that guests can come together and celebrate. Jackson-Madison County residents with special collections are encouraged to share through displays at the library. People with specialized knowledge are inspired to share with others through special programming.

Trained library staff is also on hand to share knowledge and point residents in the direction of much needed information. The end result is a community brought together through the sharing of a common space and the joy of having each person’s knowledge and contribution to the community respected and appreciated.

Because of that, the library will continue to be a cornerstone of community in the coming years.

As time moves forward, there will certainly be changes in the library. As new technological advances are developed, the library will consider their usefulness and adapt any that will be of service to library guests. As e-books become more the norm than the exception, the e-book collection will grow to a sizeable amount. As Jackson-Madison County becomes increasingly more diversified, the library will search for new ways to build community and bring harmony. The use of this timeless space will also change to make accommodations for needed study rooms and additional meeting rooms. The one thing that will remain the same is that the library will still be the place people come to for help with technology, material for literacy, and becoming a part of the community.

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S . M. LAWR EN CE

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onor, integrity and dependability: these are the principles instilled by Samuel Matthews Lawrence, Sr., the founder of the S.M. Lawrence Company, nearly a century ago. “The satisfaction that comes from having done the best we can is a sweet reward,” Lawrence would tell his family. “Those who cultivated these values have an asset that offsets current losses in the market places.”

The year was 1917 and the coal business was booming in West Tennessee. Residential heating and air conditioning was not available at this time, so people were using coal to heat their homes. Lawrence decided to start his own coal company. He strategically located his business on Chester Street, next to the railroad tracks, so the coal could be easily transported to the company.

In the 1940s, as residential air conditioning came to Jackson, Lawrence turned the direction of the company from coal to indoor heating and air. At the time, only two buildings in Jackson had air conditioning, but his decision was a long-term investment for his company and his family.

With decades of experience in the heating and airconditioning industry, S.M. Lawrence began to sell and service HVAC units in the 1950s. The company also added sheet metal work to its repertoire of skills to fabricate the HVAC ductwork.

Sam had two sons, Sam Jr. and Bill, who eventually became co-owners of S.M. Lawrence. Sam Jr. was responsible for the coal

business and air-conditioning service. Bill was responsible for overseeing HVAC construction operations and sales. They were each instrumental in the continued growth and success of the company.

Sam Jr. had four sons, Bo, Frank, Charles and Ernest, who all worked for the company and remained invested in the continued success of the company throughout the years.

In the early 1970s, the design-and-build movement emerged in the construction industry. Once again, S.M. Lawrence adapted, in order to offer its customers a well-designed, economical system that would meet their needs.

At the same time, the company expanded and moved from the 30,000-square-foot facility on Chester St. to a 50,000-squarefoot facility on Preston Street. The company is still located next to the railroad tracks where trains roar by every afternoon.

“Every time I hear the train go by, it reminds me of how this company started and the legacy my great-grandfather leaves behind,” said Leila Lawrence Rookstool, Marketing Director.

The electrical department was added in the 1980s to work in conjunction with the mechanical team making S.M. Lawrence a truly, unique contracting company.

S.M. Lawrence now maintains four divisions: service, mechanical, electrical and sheet metal. The company has grown its team to more than 200 employees and is grossing nearly $50 million in revenue a year.

Remaining family-owned until 1996, S.M. Lawrence made the decision to join forces with 11 other businesses to create Comfort Systems U.S.A. “Developing a key partnership with Comfort Systems U.S.A. was a major turning point for our company,” said Bo Lawrence, Executive Consultant. “It extended our capabilities and resources

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Three generations: (l–r) Ernest Lawrence, Bo Lawrence, Bill Lawrence, Sam Lawrence, and Bobby Lawrence

and has allowed us to develop strategic relationships with other sister companies.”

Since S.M. Lawrence went public, Comfort Systems U.S.A. has grown from 11 companies to a network of 36 sister companies that are spread across the United States.

In 2004, S.M. Lawrence extended it operations by opening a service branch in Memphis. The Memphis branch serves major facilities such as the FedEx Forum and the Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis.

Four generations after its creation, the S.M. Lawrence Company still holds to the same value systems that Sam Lawrence Sr. imparted nearly 100 years ago. Their motto, “Doing it Right Since 1917,” still rings true today.

Over the years, S.M. Lawrence has built long-lasting relationships: gaining the trust of customers that continue to use their services again and again. Those relationships have been part of the foundation of S.M. Lawrence’s success over the years.

“I am excited about what the future holds for this company,” said Sam Lawrence, Executive Vice President of S.M. Lawrence. “We are proud to have served the Jackson community for nearly a century and are hopeful our strong foundation of uncompromising integrity and unequaled service will keep our business moving forward for years to come.”

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THE UNI V ERS IT Y OF MEMPH IS LA MB U T H CA MPU S

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ocated in Jackson, Tennessee on a beautiful, tree-lined 57-acre campus graced with stately historic buildings, the University of Memphis Lambuth is one of West Tennessee’s greatest assets.

Founded in 1843 by the Memphis Annual Conference of the Methodist Church, it was originally known as the Memphis Conference Female Institute. By 1923, the school had decided to admit its first male students and changed its name to Lambuth College in honor of the Reverend Walter R. Lambuth, M.D., a Methodist missionary bishop. By 1991, Lambuth had achieved a national reputation as a premier liberal arts university, but financial difficulties forced its closure. In the summer of 2011, Lambuth became part of the University of Memphis system and is now the most comprehensive four-year public university in Jackson. It offers a small college lifestyle with all the resources of a major institution, like access to groundbreaking research and being nationally ranked in areas including education and internship programs.

Nationally Distinguished with Strong Local Roots The Lambuth founders would be pleased to see how the University of Memphis has honored the heritage of the past.

They would recognize all the landmark buildings and be amazed by campus-wide renovations, including modernized residence halls. UofM Lambuth offers unique points of pride, like an Olympic-sized pool, a new Wellness, Health & Fitness complex with state-of-the-art facilities, free shows open to the public at the MD Anderson Planetarium, and a walking tour of over 70 indigenous and rare species of woody plants and trees on campus. Lambuth’s gorgeous grounds are designated a Level II Accredited Arboretum by the State of Tennessee, an extraordinary distinction.

But most important of all, the University of Memphis Lambuth Campus remains an intimate setting where excellence is personal. Close scholar-mentor relationships thrive in classes that are small and engaging. This is an affordable top choice for area residents seeking a world-class education close to home.

UofM’s presence in Jackson is shaping the next generation of West Tennessee’s workforce and leaders.

Opening More Doors In addition to undergraduate degree programs, plus prestigious master’s and doctoral degree programs, enrolled students can also take classes online or at any other UofM location, opening up endless opportunities for nationally distinguished studies. With the University of Memphis at Lambuth, the future of Jackson has never looked brighter.

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Freed-Hardeman College faculty, staff and students gather for a photograph for the 1922-23 school year. The administration building, now called Old Main, and Oakland Hall, a dormitory for women now referred to as Hall-Roland Hall, stand in the background.

FREE D - H A R D EMA N U N IV ER S IT Y

F

reed-Hardeman University, with locations in Henderson, Memphis and Dickson, offers an education from a Christian perspective to approximately 1,850 students. FHU offers baccalaureate degrees in 44 undergraduate majors and 66 programs of study. It also offers master’s degrees, as well as a specialist and a doctoral degree. For almost a century and a half, Freed-Hardeman has combined character and career education to produce graduates prepared to lead in the marketplace, community and church.

The university traces its origins to the 1869 charter of a private high school and college in Henderson. Predecessor institutions include Henderson Masonic Male and Female Institute, West Tennessee Christian College and Georgie Robertson Christian College. In 1907 A.G. Freed and N.B. Hardeman, both of whom had been associated with Georgie Robertson Christian College, came together to construct what is now known as Old Main. They opened National Teachers Normal and Business College in 1908. The school was renamed Freed-Hardeman College in their honor in 1919. It became Freed-Hardeman University in 1990 when graduate programs were added.

With roots reaching back to the 1800s and a vision for 21st century educational excellence, Freed-Hardeman seeks to provide an exceptional academic experience permeated by Christian values and principles. The vision for the future is reflected by the construction of the Hope Barber Shull Academic Resource Center.

The 29,000 square foot addition to the current library is scheduled to open during the 2015-16 school year. It will more than double current library space. It will, however, be more than that.

“This building will be much more than a book repository,” FHU President Joe Wiley said. “It will be a place for experiential learning and social activity.” It will feature a learning commons, a teaching and learning center, private study areas, an art gallery, training rooms, a multi-purpose room and a café.

The university’s commitment to the future also includes providing the latest and best technology for its students.

Freshmen are issued an iPad when they arrive on campus. The IT staff and computer science students design applications for

campus use. Teachers test innovative ways to improve instruction as a part of the iLearn program, a five-year plan to enhance the integration of student learning and collaborative technology.

Two years ago, Wiley had promised, “The face of the university is about to change.” That change, while not yet complete, is evident. The campus is becoming a greener, more inviting place.

Bader Green welcomes students looking for a place to relax, socialize or meet for devotionals. A clock tower erected at the south end of the oval pays homage to the school’s heritage.

Granite stones with engraved scriptures encircle a larger stone featuring the university’s promise: “Where faith and reason create Christian leaders.” That promise and those scriptures, set in stone, form the university’s bedrock.

Bucy Tower, completed in 2015, pays homage to the university’s heritage.

The bell in the tower once rang from Georgie Robertson Christian College’s tower. The tower is encircled by quotations from five of the school’s former presidents.

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LA N E COLLEG E

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n the years after the end of the Civil War, The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was formed, committing itself to the education of newly freed slaves. Out of that initiative, Lane College was born in 1882.

During the CME Tennessee Annual Conference, Reverend J.K. Daniels stood and presented a resolution to establish a school in West Tennessee; the resolution was eagerly adopted.

Though the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 hindered the committee’s work, Bishop Isaac Lane, a former slave, reinitiated the proposal and inspired the committee to move forward with the CME High School in Jackson, Tennessee.

The mission of Lane College in the early days was to teach newly freed slaves to read, write and speak correctly.

In 1884, the school’s name was changed to Lane Institute in acknowledgment of Bishop Lane’s work to establish the school.

Emphasizing the education of teachers and preachers, the college department was added in 1896. The name of the school was changed to Lane College.

In 1907, the founder’s son, Dr. James Franklin Lane, began his service as president for 37 years, during which time the school improved its education facilities.

Lane College was given partial accreditation, the only level of accreditation that was allowed for Negro schools in the 1930s.

Finally, in December 1961, Lane College was admitted into

full membership in the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools.

Over the years, Lane College expanded and renovated its campus, always with a focus to enhance each student’s intellectual and spiritual growth.

An extensive campus beautification initiative was undertaken in 1998 and included a new football practice field, recreational center, student center, bookstore, study lounge, spiritual life center, and the crown jewel of the campus, the Bray Administration building.

In the 2000s, Lane College had a dramatic increase in enrollment of more than 200 percent. In order to accommodate growth in student enrollment, the college’s administration established an aggressive, strategic plan to meet the needs of the increased student population.

Lane has now extended its curriculum and offers bachelors degrees in the arts and sciences. It recently established a goal of being recognized as a major producer of graduates in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) program, and preparing students to be competitive in business and global marketing careers.

Standing on a 133-year tradition of training young leaders, Lane College is poised to continue providing a Christian education to students of all faiths, creeds, colors and nationalities.

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M OORE S TUDIO

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he last 100 years of Jackson’s history has been captured by one photography studio. Moore Studio opened in the early 1900s and, though time has changed the landscape, Moore Studio remains a timeless tribute to Jackson.

Robert A. and Patti H. Moore were experts in the field of photography when they opened Moore Studio in 1903.

The quality of their photography was recognized as the best in Jackson. Their philosophy of photography was handed down to three generations of owners, including Devon Dooley and Mitch Carter.

Carter, who fell in love with photography at an early age, came to Moore Studio in 1959. He studied under some of the finest photographers in the country and soon was sought out for his own photography expertise. Carter believed that there was nothing more magical than a camera.

He expanded the business to employ more than 35 people and launched Moore Studio into business success, winning

numerous awards. He also added the Liberty Street Garden next to the studio in order to provide a nearby location for outdoor photography.

Moore Studio has photographed most of the mayors, college presidents, bank presidents and businesses in Jackson. Beginning in the 1960s, Moore Studio was the official photographer for the Miss Tennessee Scholarship Pageant for 47 years.

Moore Studio has also been the only school photographer for Jackson High School (now called Jackson Central-Merry) in the last 100 years. The studio’s photographers have also worked with numerous other schools across West Tennessee.

“Judge us by the quality of the work,” said Carter. “Our photographs aren’t expensive; they are priceless.”

Numerous publications, businesses and individuals have depended on the presence of Moore Studio and its catalog of antique photographs, preserving the visual history of Jackson’s past. One such publication includes this historical book, Jackson & Madison County: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

“I am honored that I have been chosen as the photographer of this book,” said Carter. “For 100 years, Moore Studio has been taking photographs of the families, buildings and businesses of Jackson, and we intend on continuing to be a part of the history of Jackson for many years to come.”

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left: Kyle Spurgeon speaks to Business @ 212 attendees.

Business @ 212 is a Jackson Chamber program offering networking, learning and results oriented programming for members. below: BJ

Arnold, Judy Renshaw and Conrad Delaney network at a chamber function.

JAC KS ON C HAM BE R

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he Jackson Chamber works to expand the local economy through three main initiatives: working with local and prospective employers to create new jobs and investments in the community, strengthening partnerships and opportunities for Chamber members, and helping to improve the community’s quality of life. The organization is a cheerleader of Jackson-Madison County as a great place to work, live and do business.

The Chamber was ahead of its time when it held its first meeting in 1905 at the Madison County Courthouse, seven years before the creation of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. In 110 years, the chamber has grown from 125 initial members to more than 1,200.

“The Jackson Chamber has grown in terms of membership, staff size and budget,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle Spurgeon. “Most importantly, we have grown in terms of the positive influence the chamber has upon the growth and direction of the community and region.”

The chamber recently spearheaded a community rebranding initiative. Jackson’s new brand identity, “Jackson: Connect Here,” features a new logo and website that highlight the community’s position as a regional center, an attraction for visitors and an excellent place to open a business or locate an industry.

The chamber’s membership includes companies of varying sizes from each business sector. Members cite different reasons for joining, but the most common are corporate citizenship, networking opportunities and contributing to the community.

One of the biggest changes the chamber has faced has been the way site-selection consultants evaluate communities for industry.

Communities are eliminated from new projects without ever knowing they were being considered.

“The impact the Internet has had upon site selection has caused an unprecedented change in how economic development right: Lisa

Cothran conducts Member Orientation, helping members get the most out of their membership.

business is conducted,” Spurgeon said. “Site selection has become site elimination. Companies and consultants now have access to information that 20 years ago could only be gathered by visiting a community and meeting face-to-face with community leadership. Now, the initial phases of site selection are done online, and in most cases, without the community’s knowledge.”

However, site-selection consultants continue to give Jackson high marks. And Spurgeon said the Chamber must continue to be innovative and provide a vision for the community.

Thanks in part to the Chamber’s economic development efforts, Jackson has a healthy and extremely diverse business climate.

“Our business climate is built around many different business sectors, including manufacturing, medical, retail, tourism, entertainment, housing, banking and the service industry,” Spurgeon said. “Jackson is an excellent place to do business.”

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S T. M ARY ’ S CH U R CH A N D S CH OOL

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he history of St. Mary’s Church and School can be traced back to 1839. Mass was commonly held in private homes until St. Mary’s formally became a parish of the Diocese of Nashville in 1866, a year after the Civil War ended.

In 1869, St. Mary’s bought property with a 20- by 30-foot building and converted it into a church. Fire destroyed the building in 1875.

The church rented Stoddert Hall until a new building was built on the corner of Baltimore and Royal streets in 1877. The men returning from World War II saw the need for expanding the church and added 50 feet to the building in 1951.

St. Mary’s added a boarding school in 1871. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia’s Convent in Nashville took over the school

in 1889 and continue to operate the school today.

In 1965, the parish bought property on U.S. 45 Bypass for future expansion. By 1970, St. Mary’s school, convent and parish office/rectory were completed at the new site. The following year, Pope Paul VI established the Diocese of Memphis, which included all the parishes of West Tennessee.

St. Mary’s School added seventh and eighth grades in 1989; and the new St. Mary’s Church was dedicated on September 22, 1991.

In 2014, St. Mary’s School changed to a more classical tradition of teaching, adding a literature-based curriculum that reinstated the instruction of Latin. The school continues to be dedicated to the formation of children and their faith in order to live a life of success both now and in eternity.

V IN EYA R D ’ S G IF T S

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early 100 years old, Vineyard’s Gifts began as a local floral shop and has grown to become a whimsical gift shop with elegant gifts, friendly customer service and a long history of great customers. With only three owners since 1917, Vineyard’s reputation of charming gifts and excellent service continues.

Vineyard’s is proud to offer bridal and baby registries, stationery, pottery, baby gifts, Vera Bradley and Spartina, said Owner Joy Meriwether. “We also carry unique gifts, such as Blenko glass products and pottery made by local artists.”

Daily, Meriwether sees mothers, who have shopped at Vineyard’s for 20 years, walk through the door to shop with their grown daughters.

“I love the customers,” said Meriwether. “We have customers who have shopped here their whole lives.”

Vineyard’s opened in 1917 when floral designer, Lyde Tomlin Vineyard, had the dream to create a floral shop in downtown Jackson. Mrs. Vineyard’s son, Carl DeBanque Vineyard, soon joined her, and they added gifts to their store.

“I have always loved the store,” said Meriwether, who is a native Jacksonian. Meriwether said that she owes the success of Vineyard’s to faithful customers, committed employees, great products and an unfailing desire to achieve that perfect balance of elegance and whimsy.

“Vineyard’s is the perfect balance of elegance and fun.”

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World War II – 1969

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Grand Opening of Brooks Shaw and Son Old Country Store, in 1965. Brooks Shaw is pictured on the far right. Next to Brooks is Mayor George A. Smith. Judge H. Leroy Pope is at center, and store manager, Norwood Jones is second from left. Photo courtesy of Clark Shaw.

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and urgent care services, Disease Management, and Physician Referral Medical Fitness Services. Physicians can refer patients requiring exercise as the first line of treatment for many medical conditions. The LIFT also provides employee health and wellness programs to local businesses.

Alice and Carl Kirkland Cancer Center Jackson-Madison County General Hospital is the flagship of West Tennessee Healthcare.

JACKS ON-M ADI S ON COUN T Y GENE RAL HOS PITAL

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ackson-Madison County General Hospital is the flagship of West Tennessee Healthcare, one of the largest and most comprehensive public, not-forprofit healthcare systems in the country. Serving 17 counties and more than 500,000 people, it is the only tertiary care hospital between Memphis and Nashville providing a wide range of services so that residents do not have to travel outside the region.

The following programs and services exemplify the hospital’s commitment to meeting the needs of its patients.

The LIFT Wellness Center - Downtown Jackson The 84,000 square foot LIFT Wellness Center houses a fitness facility, indoor climbing wall, full size basketball court, medical clinic, two indoor pools and a whole-food based café. The Center also includes Lift Therapy providing physical, occupational and speech therapy services, LIFT Health Clinic offering physician

The vision for the Alice and Carl Kirkland Cancer Center began in 2010 with a gift from Alice and Carl Kirkland. Today the Center offers a highly patient-focused approach to cancer care. Its staff provides holistic care for newly-diagnosed patients, as well as long-term survivors. The 82,000 square foot center includes three linear accelerators, a spacious well-equipped chemotherapy administration area, physician offices, outdoor healing garden, chapel, café, resource library, boutique services, oncology pharmacy services, lab services and more.

West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center Jackson-Madison County General Hospital offers the only open heart surgery program in rural West Tennessee where cardiothoracic surgeons have performed tens of thousands of procedures.

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital received the highest award offered by the American College of Cardiology for high-risk heart attack patient treatment. West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital has received Chest Pain Center with PCI Accreditation, the highest level of accreditation awarded by the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. Commonly known as angioplasty, PCI is a procedure that helps to open narrowed arteries in the heart either with balloons or stents.

The hospital has also earned the prestigious Joint Commission Advanced Primary Stroke Center certification, recognizing dedication to foster better outcomes for stroke patients.

Hybrid Surgical Suite

The LIFT Wellness Center is a fully integrated medical fitness facility in downtown Jackson.

Building on its extensive surgical services, including robotics and minimally invasive surgery, Jackson-Madison County General Hospital opened a 1,500 square foot hybrid operating room. The surgical suite is specifically designed for vascular and cardiothoracic patients; however it can be used for nearly any surgical procedure.

The surgical suite is twice the size of a typical operating room, allowing for up to 25 medical personnel. It can be transformed rapidly to accommodate patients’ needs so they do not have to be moved to another room mid-surgery.

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The staff of the Kirkland Cancer Center provides a holistic and patientfocused approach to cancer care for newly diagnosed patients, as well as long-term survivors.

The Hybrid Surgical Suite at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital includes the latest imaging and surgical equipment for a wide range of complex procedures.

Ayers Children’s Medical Center Founded in 2005 with a generous donation from West Tennessean Jim Ayers, Ayers Children’s Medical Center at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital offers a full range of pediatric services for the children in West Tennessee.

The Therapy and Learning Center helps families with all types of disabilities. Neonatal intensive care, child life services, pediatric therapy services, as well as follow-up clinics, focus solely on the unique needs of children.

Since partnering with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Ayers Children’s Medical Center now brings the expertise from one of the nation’s top pediatric specialists to our area, reducing the need for families to travel for many specialized pediatric services.

Continuing the Vision Jackson-Madison County General Hospital is a vital part of Jackson and West Tennessee, providing critical healthcare services and contributing to the economic well-being of the region. It faces the future guided by a powerful vision shared by Bobby Arnold, West Tennessee Healthcare President and CEO. “Our vision is to be chosen by our staff, our physicians and our community as the best place to work, the best place to practice and the best place to receive comprehensive care,” he says. This vision has driven Jackson-Madison County General Hospital to grow from a small community hospital into a comprehensive regional medical center, and it will continue to shape the organization for years to come.

Orthopedics Jackson-Madison County General Hospital provides orthopedic services ranging from sports medicine to complex joint replacement surgery. In addition to a specialized orthopedic nursing unit, the program offers state-of-the-art orthopedic surgery, including 6 dedicated operating suites, specialized surgery staff, a dedicated team approach to total joint care, the area’s only CARF accredited inpatient rehabilitation center, and the convenience of 14 Sports Plus locations offering outpatient physical therapy and sports medicine services.

Ayers Children’s Medical Center offers a full range of pediatric services for West Tennessee children and their families.

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FRI ENDS OF THE LIB R A RY: A N IN CLU S IV E PER S PECT IV E he year was 1886. A cluster of future-conscious thinkers proposed the formation of the Jackson Free Library Association. The library had some difficulty finding a home until 1899 when a Presbyterian minister, Dr. Mark Matthews, started a campaign to fund a permanent new library with the help of Andrew Carnegie and the town’s City Council. The cornerstone was laid in 1901 and the new Jackson Free Library opened March 3, 1903.

Fortunately, the economics and social strata of the Jackson and Madison County area did not stagnate, and the city and county developed. Eventually the city and county libraries merged in 1960 and established a seven member library board. The existing downtown library’s present building was built and the library moved from the Carnegie building.

The Friends of the Library was formed in 1968 by a group of library supporters. The friends have continued to promote the library’s growth and importance in the region through the work of hundreds of volunteers under the leadership of dozens of Boards of Directors; the names of many of those members

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still resonate in the written histories and records of Jackson and Madison County. These impassioned visionaries were promoters of a larger world than this small region and that is what Friends of the Library continues to do: To promote and expand the visions and interests of Jacksonians to topics, artists, options, opportunities, living histories and futures that expand the intellectual growth in West Tennessee.

Just a few names of former Friends of the Library leaders can be reintroduced and readers can reflect while attempting to recall some of their contributions: Jerry Cullen; Katherine Dancy; Walter Townsend; Pat Craig; Dr. Anna L. Cooke; Janice Rosenbloom Riddler; Gary Boutwell, and earlier Mrs. D. W. Bond (who almost single-handedly positioned the Madison County Library to be a part of the West Tennessee Regional Library System). Ordinary people every one, but people who used the programs of Friends of the Library or its predecessor to help to grow the library and the region in which it thrived.

Programming is the key to generating this expanded growth.

From the early years of Friends of the Library, success has

The Friends of the Library Board of Directors. Seated left to right are Audrey Glenn, Perry Burrows, Dr. Andrew Kelley, and Gloria Hester; standing left to right are Sue Davis, James E. Cherry, Dinah Harris, and Lan Wang.

Unpictured are Dorcas Davis, Gwenda Anthony, Annette Cooley, Dr. Ken Newman, and Eduardo Morales.

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been excelled through inclusion (before that word became a hot-button for so many discussions). Just like any other city, Jackson’s society and growth incorporates an increasing variety of interests and sub-cultures all of which contribute uniquely to the larger vision of the area. Jackson’s culture has been influenced by Bluegrass music. The origins of Bluegrass were first reflected in the songs, temperaments, and souls of African slaves, themselves remote from the more familiar mountainsides of Bluegrass music. Even that hill country influence mimics sounds and cultures of Ireland and Scotland as do the Gullah dialects off the North American east coast influence the African American and Caucasian dialects heard today. Just as language is fluid and inclusive of many dialects and meanings so is the rest of a regional culture. Through programming, Friends of the Library offers a venue for the integration of cultures and experiences … linking local citizens with an increasingly small world of vast differences and unique opportunities. Programming remains the latch onto which a learner can grab hold and be transported far beyond a medium-sized West Tennessee city while being the magnate that draws readers and researchers into the library as a source for information and services.

What can continue to help the people of the region to respect, admire, and use the Libraries of Jackson and Madison County? Answers and suggestions: Summer Reading Programs; Cultural Diversity Days and Literary Workshops; a grades 4 through 12 “Letters About Literature” annual writing contest in cooperation with local private and public schools; a “Know It

By Heart” annual poetry memorization program; and, working to expand Twenty-first Century Literacy education by providing locations and sources for learning throughout the surrounding communities.

Friends of the Jackson Madison County Library is working to grow and enrich the daily learning of our citizens. We sponsor free First Thursday noon presentations where writers, speakers, readers, and guests can present books, research, music, or art to a receptive audiences. Our Writers at Dusk program early

Pictured left to right is James E. Cherry, novelist/poet/culturalist, and Friends board member; Dr. Chris Abani, internationally noted NigerianAmerican novelist/poet/essayist/screen writer and Friends’ 2015 Guest Artist for the Spring Annual Literary Symposium; and Perry Burrows, President of Friends.

evening venue offers much of the same to those who cannot attend a lunch-time program, but can stop by on the way home from work. Our Spring Literary Symposium brings in an artist from outside the region to represent one of our regional subcultures, featuring literature and interests common to the group to expand and use that knowledge and appreciation to enrich the community at large. Through collaborating with an area college Friends of the Library is participating and co-hosting poet Allison Joseph, February, 2016, in a short term artist residency program.

The Friends of the Jackson Madison County Library system is not just a cream cheese and crumpet tea time activity. The organization is dynamic and idea-centered. Join the Friends of the Library for personal fulfillment and growth. Who knows, your name may someday appear in an essay a hundred years from now!

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THE JACKS ON CLINIC

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he Jackson Clinic is a multi-specialty group practice of more than 130 physicians providing care in 25 specialties and subspecialties. Working together as a team, they provide the highest quality medical care and offer comprehensive care for patients of all ages.

In 1950, five medical and surgical specialists founded the clinic: Dr. Paul E. Wylie, Dr. Henry H. Herron, Dr. Leland Johnston, Dr. John Hughes Chandler and Dr. G. Baker Hubbard. This collaboration was the first multi-specialty group of its kind in Tennessee and featured a Johns Hopkins-trained internist, two Vanderbilt-trained general surgeons and a Duketrained urologist.

Today, The Jackson Clinic has more than 500 employees and is one of the largest group practices in Tennessee. The physicians are supported by state-of-the-art technology including: Labs, Ultrasound, CatScan, Dexascan, Bone Densitometry, Nuclear Medicine, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Mammography, Pulmonary Function Analysis, Arterial Blood Gases, Electrocardiography and Vascular Ultrasound. Combining all of these services within the Clinic yields convenient, prompt and accurate diagnostic results for patients.

The Jackson Clinic continuously works to recruit top medical professionals. Their reputation for high-quality healthcare and the breadth of medical specialties they provide attracts patients from a large area beyond that of West Tennessee to southern Kentucky and northern Mississippi. More than 65% of The Jackson Clinic’s patients travel from outside of Madison County where Jackson is located.

The Jackson Clinic has offices on the Highway 45 Bypass, South Highland Avenue, West Forest Avenue and Murray Guard Drive in Jackson. The Clinic also has locations in Humboldt, Huntingdon, Milan and Selmer with a total of 13 offices in West Tennessee. The Jackson Clinic also offers a full-service pharmacy and an optical dispensary.

Always at the forefront of medical advances, The Jackson Clinic was among the first medical groups in the nation to participate in a Collaborative Accountable Care (CAC) program.

Their early participation and ensuing success with the program was due in part to The Jackson Clinic’s early adoption of electronic medical records systems.

Managed Care magazine recently cited The Jackson Clinic as one of the highest performing CAC’s in the U.S. Cigna has named The Jackson Clinic among their top three CAC programs

with higher performance in diabetes management and breast cancer screening, and an ER usage rate among its patients that is 31% lower than the national rate.

But this is nothing new; The Jackson Clinic has always achieved good outcomes for their patients because of the collaborative team approach they use to coordinate the work of primary care and specialist physicians to provide comprehensive care. It is this team approach that gives them the ability to truly specialize in each and every patient.

An oil portrait of the founders of The Jackson Clinic, a multi-specialty group practice that has grown from five physicians to more than 130 over the course of 65 years. Standing left to right: Dr. Paul E. Wylie, Dr. Henry H. Herron, Dr. Leland Johnston and Dr. John Hughes Chandler. Seated: Dr. G. Baker Hubbard.

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W OMA N ’ S CLIN IC, P. A .

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n the early 1950s, Dr. Swan Burrus Sr. and his son, Swan Burrus Jr., had a vision of a clinic that offered quality medical care with compassion. Dr. Burrus Sr. established the Woman’s Clinic in 1952. The Burrusses were joined by Dr. Donald Lewis in 1966, Dr. Jimmy Webb in 1971 and Dr. J. Tyler Swindle in 1974.

Whether the staff is serving expectant mothers, performing in-clinic procedures, or yearly checkups, the Woman’s Clinic is committed to treating each patient with respect and kindness.

The Woman’s Clinic has pioneered many firsts in West Tennessee, such as being the first clinic to perform a laparoscopically-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) and the first to provide in-office Essure permanent sterilization. The clinic also performs urogynecological procedures, densitometry and ultrasounds.

A full service lab was added in 1981 so that the clinic could make test results available before the patient left the office.

In 1998, the Woman’s Clinic moved to 244 Coatsland Drive because it had outgrown the facility on Roland Avenue at Lambuth Boulevard. The new facility sits at the apex of land where Coatsland Drive and Summar Drive intersect. It remains a state-of-the-art facility with nearly 20,000 square feet dedicated to the care of women.

Serving the busy women of the modern age, the Woman’s Clinic began offering extended services, such as a mammography, heart disease prevention, a cosmetic boutique, weight management and fertility care.

The current physicians at the Woman’s Clinic include Dr. J. Michael Epps and Dr. Molly M. Rheney, who practice only gynecology. The physicians practicing both obstetrics and gynecology are Dr. J. Paul Gray, Dr. W. Brad Adkins, Dr. Madhav Boyapati, Dr. David Soll, Dr. Ryan Roy and Dr. Andrea Harper.

Whether a woman needs a specialized surgical procedure, an annual visit to ensure all is well, or prenatal care, the clinic’s American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology board-certified physicians are qualified to provide the best in patient care, while also serving as primary care physicians.

The Woman’s Clinic’s mission is to be the clinic of choice for women by providing exceptional and compassionate care for each woman – with personalized attention, tailored to all stages of her life: “One woman at a time.”

The Woman’s Clinic has written a story of compassion with each doctor visit for more than 60 years.

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JAC KS ON E NERGY AUTHO R IT Y

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lectric power, manufactured gas and a public water and wastewater system were first provided in Jackson in the late 19th century.

In order to gain efficiency and keep costs low for residents, three separate utility departments joined together in 1959 to create Jackson Utility Division (JUD). The merger of the natural gas, electricity and water/wastewater companies was accomplished by a private act of the Tennessee Legislature.

“Most utilities are not combined,” said Jim Ferrell, JEA President and CEO. “All systems under one roof is unique, and it is a huge convenience for the customers to keep costs down and create value.”

In 2001, JUD beseeched the Tennessee Legislature to approve another private act that would modernize the corporate structure and allow it to offer broadband services to the community. The name was changed to Jackson Energy Authority (JEA).

In 2004, JEA committed to building one of the country’s most advanced fiber-optic broadband networks, which has boosted Jackson to being one of the few “gig-cities,” offering speeds as fast as one gigabit per second.

“The demand for more information is becoming greater and greater,” Ferrell said. “The internet has the most long-term growth potential. We have upgraded to a one gigabit speed which is 100 times faster than what most people need right now.”

Today, JEA provides cable television, high speed internet and telephone service, along with its traditional utility services of electricity, gas, water and wastewater.

As Jackson experiences economic and industrial growth, the community has turned to JEA as a dependable partner in economic development. JEA’s affordable and reliable utility services are attractive to new industries that visit the area, and

Jackson Energy Authority Customer Center North Credits: Kerrie Jones top:

Jackson Energy Authority Control Center Credits: Kerrie Jones

JEA is eager to act as a catalyst in the recruitment of those industries.

JEA has continued to grow by adding services and convenient locations to meet the needs of the community. The facilities include a customer center in downtown Jackson at 351 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, and a customer center in The Columns in north Jackson at 2030 Pleasant Plains Ext. JEA has received numerous awards for its fiber-optic system, the Reliable Public Power Award for its Electric Division and the prestigious APGA System Operational Achievement Recognition for its Gas Division. JEA’s Water Division continues to receive top scores on annual state water quality inspections.”

“At JEA, we want to stay ahead of the demand,” said Ferrell.

“Communication and information needs are growing, and we have prepared ourselves to take care of both the present needs of our customers and their needs in the future.”

Fiber Optic Network Connection Credits: Cassandra Fuller

Photo by Paul Jackson Photography

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CA S EY JON ES V ILLA G E greenhouse, vegetable garden and more. Everyday, produce from the garden will be served on the restaurant’s buffet promoting its motto “Farm Fresh Doesn’t Get Anymore Local Than This.”

The Old Country Store celebrated 50 years of business in 2015. It has come a long way from its beginning as an antique museum to now being one of Tennessee’s best-known family attractions.

“For 50 years, we’ve had the great privilege of serving millions of guests as Jackson’s ambassador of hospitality. As exciting as the journey has been, we think the best is yet to come,” said W. Brooks Shaw, third generation owner.

Photo by Megan Shaw

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uring the late 1800s, the roar of train engines echoed across the white-headed fields of cotton around Jackson. Thousands of railroad workers hailed from this area, but the legendary story of one railroad engineer is remembered above them all.

The life of Casey Jones, who died at the throttle to save his passengers, is honored in the Casey Jones Village.

Every year, visitors stream into Jackson from across the country and around the world to visit the historic Casey Jones Home & Railroad Museum, which showcases Jackson’s rich railroad heritage in an 8,000-square-foot train station.

In 1978, Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store developed the Casey Jones Village, and in 1980, the store partnered with the Casey Jones Museum to create one of the most popular familytravel destinations in the region.

The Old Country Store, which began as an antique museum, was started by Brooks Shaw in 1965. The store’s award-winning restaurant is now known for its Southern buffets, 1890s ice cream parlor, nostalgic gift and confectionary shop, and thousands of Southern antiques.

Inside the Old Country Store, the Village Baker creates homemade cakes and sweet treats, and the Dixie Café offers takeout or dine-in blue plate specials.

Visitors also stroll through the Shoppes of Casey Jones Village to visit the specialty boutiques and the woodcarvers studio.

Families enjoy the Casey Jones Mini-Golf, the 1948 Judge Milton Brown Pullman Railcar and the century-old Village Chapel. The outdoor amphitheatre is a popular concert venue, and the 1925 Wellwood Country Store is where Brooks Shaw worked as a boy.

The 1837 Providence House was rescued by the Shaws and relocated to Casey Jones Village where it provides a unique location for special events in a beautiful antebellum setting.

The newest attraction is called The Farm At Casey Jones Village. It will feature a century old barn and cotton gin,

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WEST TENNESSEE HEARING & SPEECH CENTER

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he West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center opened in 1953 when a group of compassionate doctors and concerned citizens recognized the lack of care for those with hearing and speech problems in West Tennessee.

With a necessary push by the Jackson Service League, the West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center was able to begin offering speech evaluations and therapy, hearing evaluations and treatment options and support for individuals.

Serving a variety of clients from infants with difficulty swallowing to the elderly experiencing hearing loss or language deficits after a stroke, the West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center offers comprehensive services.

The highly qualified staff is licensed by the state and now includes an autism consultant. Every patient is completely evaluated and given strategies and treatment to help them communicate better.

“We believe that, with proper treatment, most people with communication and hearing disorders can lead full and productive lives,” said Kimberli Moore, executive director of the West Tennessee Hearing and Speech Center.

YESTERDAY: WTHSC speech pathologist providing auditory processing therapy to 2 clients.

TODAY: Eli Britt, age 4, with Kimberli Moore, speech pathologist developing alternative communication skills using a speech generating device.

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BBJ signed on in 1955, as WDXI, owned

by Aarron Robinson, owner of several West Tennesse area radio stations, known as “The Dixie Network”. At that time, WDXI was a CBS affiliate

broadcasting on channel 7, and was the only station in the Jackson Tennessee television market. The studios were located in downtown Jackson.

In 1967, the Robinson family sold the station to Bahakel Communications and the operations and studios were moved to the present location at 346 Muse Street. Shortly after acquiring the station, Bahakel changed the call letters to WBBJ and switched affiliation to ABC. The station became a constant top five rated ABC affiliate in the small market category.

With America’s change from analog television to digital, came the opportunity to expand operations, and in 2012, WBBJ added CBS to its broadcasting lineup on a secondary digital channel. WBBJ produces 8 newscasts on weekdays and continues to be the only television station in Jackson to air local newscasts. As delivery of television content continues to change, WBBJ adopts and adds new platforms. Whether viewers receive WBBJ over the air, on cable, satellite or, in the future, Internet, WBBJ will continue to live up to their mantra as “West Tennessee’s News Channel”.

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S TE EL FAB INC.

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n 1884, two mechanics established Southern Engine and Boiler Works and began manufacturing a line of small engines and boilers. By the turn of the century, it was the largest steam engine industry in the South, building high-pressure boilers, steam engines and sawmills.

The historic building, in downtown Jackson, is now the location of Steel Fab Inc., which began as a small fabrication shop in the early 1990s.

Over the years, the business has evolved and become a major supplier for fabricated steel in the Southeastern United States.

Steel Fab Inc. is an AISC Certified Fabricator licensed in Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi.

The company specializes in the construction of industrial and commercial steel structures. Some larger projects include

the Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego, Pringles Park AA Baseball Stadium in Jackson and Caterpillar’s 540,000-squarefoot distribution center in Corinth, Mississippi.

Steel Fab Inc. strives to furnish the best quality products and service available in the steel industry.

“Through technology we continue to grow with increased production, while achieving better quality standards. We try to treat every customer as our only customer and every job as our only job.”

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Photo courtesy of Mitch Carter’s Moore Studio

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1970 – Today

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ARR IN G T ON F U N ER A L D IR ECT OR S or 20 years, Arrington Funeral Directors has carried the weight of burying and honoring loved ones in Jackson.

“Families who come to us have deep peace of mind because they know that we have helped them to do their best in honoring their loved one,” said Bob Arrington, president. In the 1990s, Arrington watched as North Jackson grew exponentially, but the only option for funeral services remained downtown in older facilities. Being involved with funeral services since his grandfather’s death in 1963, Arrington recognized an urgent

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need and began to form plans to create a funeral home on West University Parkway. With a matchless amount of support from the community, Arrington Funeral Directors was able to succeed because the community supported the new endeavor and provided the foundation from which it would grow.

Today, Arrington Funeral Directors serves the families of Jackson and the surrounding communities with a complete, comprehensive selection of funeral services grounded in a profound responsibility of caring for families. Arrington Funeral Directors built the largest chapel in Jackson and included two

Bob Arrington in 1963 Milan, Tennessee.

Bob Arrington 2015 Milan, Tennessee

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visitation rooms and a minister’s study. The staff took great care to furnish the area to be comfortable and tasteful, in order to better serve the families. The goal was to create a memorial or funeral service that would meet the needs of each person now — and in the future, Arrington said.

Soon afterward, in 1997, Arrington Funeral Directors installed an on-site crematory and expanded its services to the community. At the time only a few people requested to be cremated; it is projected by the year 2020, 50 percent will desire cremation. Arrington Funeral Directors has set itself apart by offering compassionate service that proves the staff cares. “We listen more than we talk,” Arrington said. “We listen to each person carefully.”

Although they offer practical services, Arrington said, the focus is on the emotional support they offer, not the physical services.

“We all have only one mother, and the day that she dies, people call us to help them honor her because she only gets one funeral.

That is a heavy responsibility, and we consider it an honor to be trusted with that service.”

“When we sit down with a family,” Arrington added, “we have just one goal — to create a fitting, memorable and affordable service for their loved one. Together, we explore the wide variety of services and products available, as well as a wealth of creative ideas and suggestions.”

One November, the staff carefully assembled and decorated Christmas trees in the chapel, as a family gathered to honor the passing of their mother. Her daughters noted they would miss their mother decorating her Christmas trees that year. It is that type of personal attention that has set Arrington Funeral Directors apart from the others.

“Every family is different, so we don’t offer cookie cutter services. It isn’t uncommon to see a Christmas tree in July or a

motorcycle in the chapel.” “When you pick up that phone to call us, you don’t have to worry anymore,” he said. “We won’t let you forget anything. From the visitation to casket selection or cremation, we take care of everything.”

Drawing on 60 years of funeral service experience, Arrington Funeral Directors has assembled an experienced team that cares for families. Arrington said that Arrington Funeral Directors prides itself in selecting local citizens with deep roots in the community. Bob Arrington has served as the president of Arrington Funeral Directors since the beginning of the business.

His brother, Dick Arrington, has served as the Director of Family services along with Bobby Elam. Charles Rahm, the funeral home manager, has served in the profession for 34 years, and Scott Kolwyck, the crematory manager, has had his funeral directors license for 21 years. Dr. Jerry N. Tidwell, Director of Community Outreach, is their newest staff member.

Over the years, funeral services have changed. Bob Arrington pointed out that in 1995, no one even discussed creating a video tribute. Today, the chapel has several high quality televisions and a software system to help produce a video tribute for the family that will honor their loved one.

“In the 1990s there weren’t very many people who wanted to be cremated either, but we built a room for it, because we wanted to always have whatever services were needed to meet people’s needs.”

Arrington said. Arrington Funeral Director’s foresight made it possible for them to have the first and only crematory in Jackson.

From the crematory to the motorcycles next to the casket, Arrington Funeral Directors has made serving families its top priority. “For 20 years, local Jackson citizens have continued to put their confidence and faith in Arrington Funeral Directors because they know that we care,” Arrington said. “It’s not just what we do, it’s how and why we do it.”

This photo shows the lot on West University Parkway where the funeral home now stands. West University Parkway was an undeveloped area prior

to construction of Arrington Funeral Directors. This photo shows the lot before construction began.

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UNIV ERS ITY OF T EN N ES S EE FA MILY MED ICIN E CEN T ER

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n the late 1970s, family practice physicians were rare in the rural areas around Jackson, and many communities didn’t have easy access to medical care.

As the epicenter of West Tennessee, Jackson was the optimum location to train new physicians. The hope was that many of those physicians would stay to practice in West Tennessee.

In 1979, Dr. Oscar McCallum and Dr. Thomas Ballard partnered with Jackson-Madison County General Hospital and the University of Tennessee Medical School in Memphis to create a training facility for resident physicians: the University of Tennessee Family Medicine Residency Program in Jackson. They also went before the state legislature to receive funding for their initiative.

“They were great leaders, and they had a vision,” said Dr. Gregg Mitchell, program director.

Over the years, hundreds of doctors have been trained in family medicine at the UT Family Medicine Center; 50 percent of those residents chose to remain in West Tennessee.

The program started with two residents. They were taught by program director, Dr. George Shannon.

Joan Porter, who began working at the UT Family Medicine Center as a front desk receptionist nearly 40 years ago, remembers that there were only six exam rooms and a handful of employees.

Eventually, the center expanded to 19,000 square feet and later added a third floor with another 10,000 square feet. Today, the UT Family Medicine Center has 26 exam rooms, x-ray facilities, procedure suites and labs.

Dr. Gregg Mitchell, a graduate of the program himself, is the fourth program director since the center started. He practiced in Memphis before Dr. David Roberts asked him to come back to teach. The first three program directors were Dr. George Shannon, Dr. James Donnell and Dr. David Roberts.

“I am absolutely passionate about teaching and healthcare,” said Dr. Gregg Mitchell. “There’s no other program like ours because of the volume of patients and the complexity of their problems. The scope of our practice is extensive.”

Implementing both a didactic and hands-on approach to training, the resident physicians receive experience in the emergency room, labor and delivery, well baby, ICU, nursing home, home visits, and more. Many graduates choose to continue their careers in ER, women’s health, geriatrics, sports medicine, hospice and other specialties.

“When we first started, doctors used penicillin to treat nearly everything, but now medicine has become more specialized, and ambulatory and emergency room training are essential,” said Dr. Gregg Mitchell. “In the future, as we understand more about behavioral and mental health, family medicine will require an integrated team of health care physicians.”

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M IG H T Y A U T O PA RT S

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ince 1963, Mighty Auto Parts has operated on the belief that people still want to do business with people. The company is committed to providing the highest quality auto parts with personalized local service at competitive prices to the automotive maintenance and repair industry.

Mighty chose Jackson for its distribution center because of its ideal location between Nashville and Memphis, central to its nationwide distribution network. It opened a 5,000-square-foot distribution center in 1983 and began distributing automotive belts.

Mighty innovated the two-step distribution process by building relationships with Original Equipment manufacturers that would build Mighty-branded products and ship them directly to Mighty franchisees, and the franchisees would then distribute them to professional installers. In fact, that’s how Mighty got its name. The original name, MTY, stood for “Manufacturer To You.” In 1987, the company moved to a larger location, adding 65,000-square-feet of warehouse space to accommodate additional product lines, including brakes, filters and tuneup parts. In 1992, Mighty built a new distribution facility at 2495 F.E. Wright Drive and expanded that facility by 50 percent in 2000 to reach a total of 136,000 square feet. They invested in fully heating and cooling the facility to underscore their commitment to providing a safe and comfortable work environment for their employees.

In 2001, Mighty implemented a new information system and became paperless. Radio frequency scanners were introduced to improve efficiency and reduce errors.

“Order turn-around is completed in one to two days with an average fill rate of 97 percent plus,” said Keith Wilson, Director of Operations.

In 2009, Grupo Gonher, an Original Equipment manufacturer based in Monterrey, Mexico, acquired Mighty. This cross-border relationship has spawned incremental growth, and Mighty has enjoyed back-to-back record sales years.

Today, Mighty Auto Parts distributes brakes, batteries, lubricants, oil and air filters and wiper blades to more than 100 Mighty franchises throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It also has reached beyond U.S. borders to include exporting to Saudi Arabia and Mexico.

Mighty Auto Parts’ 60 employees in Jackson have an average tenure of 12 years.

“Our employees are involved and know what the targets and goals are,” said Wilson.

Mighty Auto Parts plans to continue expanding and offering its model of Original Equipment quality products delivered with personalized local service at competitive prices.

“Professional automotive service providers know that if they are using a Mighty product, there is a long history of unassailable product quality standing behind them,” said Wilson.

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Owners Joe & Lesa Grace with VP Amy Dove

WOR K CA R E R ES OU R CES

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hen R.B. Wolf opened WorkCare Resources in 1993, the clinic primarily provided physical therapy then moved to drug screenings. In 1999, WorkCare Resources opened a satellite clinic in Dyersburg, known as RapidCare.

For Lesa Grace, the current owner of WorkCare Resources, it wasn’t enough to simply serve businesses in the Jackson area with a 24-hour occupational health clinic. Grace was determined to expand the service area. WorkCare Resources now serves industries within 50 miles of Jackson including rural areas that have limited resources. She also expanded the urgent care clinic to meet the needs of the broader community.

Grace began as a front desk receptionist at WorkCare Resources in 2000. She had previous experience in manufacturing management roles but after a tragic accident took the life of her daughter Crystal (16) in 1999, Grace left the industry to spend time with her family.

A year later, Grace started at an entry level position at WorkCare Resources. With her natural-born leadership abilities and strong work ethic, it was inevitable that Grace would move up in the company. In 2012, Grace and her husband, Joe, became the owners.

As a family-owned business, WorkCare Resources understands the importance of employer to employee relationships.

“Employers call us when an employee is hurt and then we bring our clinic to them,” said Amy Dove, vice-president of

WorkCare Resources and Grace’s daughter.

This mother-daughter duo is dedicated to building a team with expertise in occupational services for West Tennessee industry leaders.

“We’re proud to have added five new positions within our company since 2000,” said Grace. “WorkCare Resources is successful, because we have been blessed with dedicated, professional team members.”

WorkCare Resources offers 24-hour on-site service for drug screenings, work injury and first-aid response. They also offer DOT physicals and drug screens, work physicals, hearing conservation programs, first aid CPR certifications, facilitation in the state’s Tennessee Drug Free Workplace Program, respirator fit testing, DNA testing and more.

“We wanted to create a company where everyone loves their job,” said Grace. “We support our clients, community and do all we can to meet industry expectations.”

WorkCare Resources supports community non-profits with a primary focus on the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson. They have sponsored numerous fundraisers and have served on the board for many years.

“The best part of giving back to the community is seeing our team at WorkCare Resources participating,” said Dove. “They know what’s important in life and it’s not what we have, it’s what we give.”

REE D & A S S OCIAT ES IN C.

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ith 45 years of combined experience, the employees of Reed & Associates Inc. have been providing marketing solutions for local companies since 1991.

After 18 years as a reporter and editor for The Jackson Sun, Mary S. Reed launched the company out of a desire to use her newspaper experience to start her own business. She began offering design, branding, content marketing and public relations services, drawing on her extensive connections throughout Jackson and West Tennessee.

“We tell the story of the business,” said Reed, who has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and has won many awards in the communications industry during her career. “People don’t want to just hear a sales pitch; they love stories, and good marketing tells a compelling story.”

Her clients have included city governments, chambers, utility providers, medical clinics, retail stories, magazines, authors and schools.

Using state-of-the-art technology and software, Reed & Associates creates employee newsletters, press releases, logos, magazines and ads that convey a clear message.

In 2012, Reed’s son, Mike Reed, joined the marketing team to help meet the needs of a growing client base and to expand the digital branding facet of the company. He has a communications degree from the University of Tennessee and experience in public relations and newspapers.

“The marketing industry has seen many changes in recent years – particularly through content delivery and the way customers interact with brands,” he said. “Digital media has opened new doors, allowing companies to reach a larger group of people with more efficiency. However, the importance of storytelling has not changed. Compelling content remains a key component of any marketing campaign.”

Ginger Williams, a Jackson native and graduate of Boyce College in Louisville, Ky., joined the team in 2014.

“Working at Reed & Associates has never felt like a job,” said Williams. “Every day, we get to record people’s triumphs, create plans for businesses to succeed and develop relationships with people who love Jackson as much as we do.”

In 2015, Reed & Associates participated in the book you are holding in your hands by researching, interviewing and writing the business profiles. “It’s been a fun project to document the history of local companies and organizations,” Reed said.

Reed & Associates has also provided pro-bono services for various nonprofits. Reed has been particularly involved in WRAP: Wo/Men’s Resource and Rape Assistance Program, an organization that she helped to found in the 1970s.

Jackson has been so good to us,” she said. “We are thankful to offer marketing services to local businesses and tell their compelling stories.”

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S PO RT S ORT H OPED ICS & S PIN E

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fter serving for 16 years in the U.S. Air Force, Dr. Keith Nord founded Sports Orthopedics & Spine in 1996. The foundation of his clinic is a philosophy that his patients love: only perform surgery when there is no other viable alternative and keep it as minimally invasive as possible.

“This is the ultimate win/win for patients,” said Dr. Nord, who is board certified in orthopedic surgery. “We create genuine potential for less discomfort, faster recovery and significant reductions in the cost of care.” The clinic’s mission statement is, “world-class care focused on you.”

Dr. David Yakin joined the practice in 1997, and Dr. John Masterson and Dr. Brad Wright joined in 1999. Dr. Tim Sweo joined in 2007.

Since he founded the clinic, Dr. Nord has made a name for himself as an inventor and teacher, mostly in arthroscopic shoulder surgery. He has developed procedures in arthroscopic surgery and created about a dozen devices that make the surgery easier for the physician to do successfully with better outcomes for the patient.

Through the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons and the Arthroscopy Association of North America, he shares his knowledge with medical students and other physicians, both in the United States and abroad.

His first inventions were the Arthrex Penetrator and Arthrex Birdbeak; both are used to help make shoulder surgery minimally invasive. Arthroscopic surgery uses small incisions, making it easier on the patient and with faster recovery times.

In fact, the board-certified physicians at Sports Orthopedics & Spine offer innovative and effective surgical techniques in all areas of orthopedic medicine. They use the latest medical advancements to replace damaged or worn joints in the hip, shoulder, knee and elbow and to do reconstructive spine surgery.

Onsite services at the clinic include diagnostic equipment, including MRI, bone densitometry scanning and X-ray machines, and physical therapy.

Sports medicine is an important part of the practice. So much so that the practice added a board-certified family practice sports medicine physician, Scott Johnson, MD, and a certified chiropractic sports physician, Michael Pearson, DC. The physicians have treated athletes at all levels, from youngsters playing in recreation leagues, through high school and college sports, on the professional level and even Olympic athletes.

The clinic has received awards for its excellence in business practices. It won the Jackson Chamber’s Pinnacle Award in 2001 and the Stepping Stone Award in 2004. The Medical Group Management Association recognized the clinic as a “Best Practice.”

“Our services are state-of-the-art and are motivated by a cutting-edge philosophy,” said Dr. Nord. “Patient care and convenience come first.”

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BLUES C OPE B U ILD IN G S N ORT H A MER ICA , IN C.

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hen BlueScope Buildings North America considered opening another manufacturing facility in 2004, Jackson emerged at the top of the list. Not only is Jackson centrally located, but West Tennessee was considered to have a high-caliber work force.

The BlueScope Buildings facility in Jackson is one of eight manufacturing sites operated in North America by BlueScope Ltd. BlueScope is an international steel solutions company with a manufacturing and marketing footprint that spans Australia, New Zealand, Asia and North America.

BlueScope Buildings is a building solutions company providing the design, manufacture, and marketing of metal building systems for commercial construction. Through its industry leading brands, Butler Manufacturing™, Varco Pruden Buildings, and BlueScope Construction, the company is uniquely positioned to support the global facility expansion plans of corporations and multinational companies around the world.

Inside its 300,000-square-foot Jackson manufacturing facility, a coil of steel is rolled out and formed in to roof and wall sheeting, bracing, and secondary parts that are components for the engineered buildings that BlueScope Buildings designs and manufacturers.

BlueScope acquired Butler Manufacturing in 2004, which gave the company local roots in the area.

“I remember as a child seeing those large steel grain silos on the side of the interstate with Butler’s name on the side,” said Henry Smith, Human Resources Manager. “Those grain silos are still standing.”

In 2008, BlueScope acquired Varco Pruden Buildings. Varco originally started in Arkansas, and Pruden began in Wisconsin.

They merged to create Varco Pruden before being purchased by BlueScope. BlueScope Buildings now produces metal building systems for both Varco Pruden and Butler, and is the largest manufacturer of engineered building solutions in the world.

“At BlueScope, we want our employees to see clearly the value of how their contributions impact the business,” said Dennis Dozier, plant manager.

BlueScope’s 175 Jackson employees are given daily objectives in different categories such as safety, quality and productivity.

They are also provided regular business updates and are encouraged to continue improving through a Pay-For-Skills program. In 2015, BlueScope’s Jackson plant produced a record amount of building tons.

“As our business increases, we plan to hire more employees and invest more money on capital projects and upgrade equipment,” said Dozier.

BlueScope is committed to making Jackson a better place to live. Both the company and its employees have contributed time and resources to support numerous local organizations, including the American Cancer Society, RIFA’s Food Drives, Snack Backpack Program and Soup Kitchen, Lifeline’s Blood Drives, the United Way, the Salvation Army’s Christmas activities, and food donations to the Dream Center.

“We donate time and money to nonprofit organizations, as well as create a place where our employees can thrive,” said Henry Smith. “It amazes me how much our employees give back of their own money to support those in need in the community.

BlueScope Buildings and our employees are committed to the community where we live.”

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COMF ORT S U IT ES

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n the year 2009, Madison Hospitality LLC, an innovative and local Hotel Management Company, recognized the need for a new construction Hotel in the” heart of the city”.

Strategically located behind the Old Country Store, the 45 Bypass, and just off Interstate 40, the land selected overlooked a field of buttercups situated on farmland previously owned by a long-time Jackson family, the Maddens. Guests of this beautiful state of the art Hotel may enjoy shopping and a myriad of restaurants, all conveniently within a mile of the hotel.

The Comfort Suites Hotel has 70 rooms all of which are nonsmoking and thermostat-controlled. Each Suite includes either two queen-size beds or a king size bed and sofa sleeper in the living area.

Amenities include a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and full iron board, in-room safe, and 42-inch flat screen television. Guests also have access to a complimentary business center, indoor pool, hot tub spa, fitness center, and a coin operated guest laundry. “Every convenience is considered from the temperature settings of the rooms to the ideal lighting,” said Billie Duke, Hotel General Manager since opening of 2009.

Patrons are greeted at the door with warm cookies and a cold bottle of water or a hot cup of coffee, depending on the weather.

The bright lobby is accessorized with 52-inch televisions and comfortable seating.

“From the front desk to the maintenance and housekeeping departments, our employees understand the needs of our clients,” Duke said. “We greet our patrons by name and work hard to exceed their expectations.”

Comfort Suites was awarded the 2015 Choice Gold Award for Customer Satisfaction. Award recipients are chosen based upon customer reviews and LRA inspections.

“We have employees who have been here since our opening,” said Duke. “We consider ourselves a family and our guest are our treasured friends.”

Every morning, guest are greeted with the comforting smells of a hot breakfast, including eggs, bacon, hash browns, and a makeyour-own waffle station.

Monday through Thursday, a Happy Hour provides patrons with beverages and appetizers to provide a snack before dinner.

“Managing a hotel is the same concept as managing your home,” said Duke. “You want to make sure your guests experience a warm and friendly atmosphere in a clean and fresh environment.”

Comfort Suites continues to improve the hotel’s amenities, maintaining fresh designs, technologies, and modern conveniences. A renovation to the lobby in the fall of 2015 positioned the hotel to continue offering the best experience in the area.

The Comfort Suites Mission: To offer our patrons the best experience in genuine hospitality, modern conveniences, and a clean fresh environment.

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U NIVERSI TY S CHOOL OF JAC K S ON

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n the late 1960s, two groups of parents were meeting to discuss the future of their children’s education with dreams of a first-class educational institution. Their dreams gave birth to the Old Hickory Academy and Episcopal Day School.

The two schools had similar goals and were competing for the same students. In 1987, the two schools consolidated to form the University School of Jackson.

By Fall 1997, the initial dream of a first-class school had come to fruition. USJ had grown to more than 1,100 students and had

built a new Middle and Upper School on 130 acres in northwest Madison County. In 2004, USJ’s new Lower School opened on the McClellan Road campus.

The new campus featured state-of-the-art technology with classrooms designed specifically for each grade level, four gymnasiums, five science labs, two libraries, and extensive athletic and fine arts facilities.

Since 1973, more than 130 USJ students have been recognized by the National Merit Foundation. USJ’s athletes have won numerous state championships and All-State recognitions. The fine arts program starts with its youngest students.

“We are passionate about academic excellence, life-long learning, and achieving the maximum potential for every student,” said Stuart Hirstein, Head of School at USJ.

WADE E LE CTRI C

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ear the end of World War II, Marion Wade, a military electrician at the Oakridge nuclear facility, opened his own business in Trenton. In 1946, few rural homes had electricity, and Wade was considered a rare specialist in the field.

Wade aggressively worked to build a reputable name among his customers and with the general contractors in the area. By the 1960s, Wade Electric’s projects were primarily commercial or light industrial, with an emphasis on building schools.

Wade Electric also worked on the team that built Gibson General Hospital, the first of many hospital projects for Wade Electric over the next 30 years. During that time, Jerry L. Barrix, Wade’s son-in-law, came to work for the family business.

Wade Electric saw most of its growth in the 1990s with projects spreading across eight Southeastern states. The company also bought Townsend Electric, which had been in business in Jackson since the 1920s.

Jerry Wade Barrix, the current owner and grandson of Marion Wade, worked for the family business every summer since he was 13 years old.

“We want to continue to provide many of the same services, while taking part in new technology,” said Jerry W. Barrix. “We work to give the client better value for their dollar. There isn’t any kind of job that we can’t do.”

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TENNES S EE IN D U S T R IA L PR IN T IN G

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n 1972, two entrepreneurs recognized the need for a printing facility in Jackson. They opened Tennessee Industrial Printing Services (TIPS) in an old filling station in downtown Jackson.

The manufacturing industries were attracted by the industrial name, and soon TIPS had found its niche. It began to aggressively seek industrial printing, and the business took off.

In 1977, TIPS built an 8,000-square-foot facility on Miller Avenue and expanded the building in the 1980s to accommodate growth.

“Our people are what set us apart from the competition,” said owner Wayne Chambers. “We have 20 employees with an average tenure of 14 1/2 years. They are dedicated and committed to quality and service.”

Chambers began working at TIPS while in high school. He left to pursue a sales career in the printing industry and ended

up selling for Gary Moore at J W Moore Printing in Memphis.

When Moore and Chambers heard TIPS was for sale, they jumped at the opportunity.

“We purchased TIPS in 2006 and reinvested in the company,” said Chambers. “We had the backbone, which were the people, and we added technology and upgraded equipment.”

This included digital printing and variable data printing, which opened the door to offering in-house mailing services.

TIPS serves many different markets, including manufacturing, education, healthcare, retail and non-profits.

“The printing industry is tough,” Chambers said, “but we have a family atmosphere here that is intentional about lowering stress and enjoying our work. Several of our sons work in the printing industry. The next generation is getting involved, and we are excited about the future of TIPS.”

DEATON’S C ARPET ON E

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n 1974, with only a few hundred dollars in hand, Gary and Marilyn Deaton rented an abandoned warehouse and began selling carpet. Their humble business grew to become Deaton’s Carpet One: the largest carpet dealership in the area.

“I have hung my hat for years on our lifetime label warranty,” said Gary Deaton. “We take care of our customers 15 to 20 years after installing their flooring, which gives our customers confidence that we stand behind the product we sell.”

Deaton has always treated people how he would want to be treated: a theme that has resulted in a successful carpet dealership. Deaton’s won the Most Outstanding Carpet One Dealer in the Nation in 1989 and 1997.

The business services everything that it sells, earning it the reputation as the number one floor cleaning service in the area.

While Deaton’s Carpet One was named for its carpeting, the choices have broadened; 60 percent of its flooring sales is hard surface flooring.

The 21,000-square-foot building has a large showroom, displaying hardwood, tile, laminate and carpet. All are covered with the Healthy Living Installation System to prevent allergies and the Deaton’s Carpet One Beautiful Guarantee.

“If you don’t love it, we will replace it,” said Deaton. “I refuse to give my customers anything less than the highest level of quality and service.”

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A LLEG R A D ES IG N

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ike and Karen Ashley were looking for an opportunity to own a small business in 1988, when they saw an ad in The Jackson Sun advertising an American Speedy print shop franchise.

Nearly 30 years later, they are the printer of choice for many small businesses and nonprofits in West Tennessee. In 2012, the business name changed to Allegra Design Print Mail.

The Allegra strategic marketing departments include commercial printing, creative design, signs, displays, direct mail and promotional products. They also have the support and expertise of nearly 300 locations with similar professionals.

“We really try to support nonprofits because we have the resources that they need,” said Karen. “The printing product that

they receive from us helps them to continue doing what they do.”

In the early days of the business, color printing was minimal, and the company didn’t even own a graphic design computer.

Over the years, they implemented a direct-to-plate system, upgraded their technology and began offering color and wide format printing.

In 1996, Allegra Design Print Mail moved to a larger location at 1029 Old Hickory Blvd.

“Jackson has been very supportive of our business,” said Karen.

“Our hope is that people will remember that we conducted our business on faith and tried to treat every person who walked through the door the way that we would want to be treated. ”

JACKS ON CH R IS T IA N S CH OOL

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ounded in 1976, Jackson Christian is a private college preparatory school, which began with 56 students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Jackson Christian now has a student body of more than 840 with a mission to lead students to love God by providing a quality values-oriented education in a Christian environment. The school offers TSSAA Division I athletics, fine arts and a 21st Century Digital Learning Initiative. Jackson Christian is fully accredited

by AdvancEd through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Christian School Association.

In the fall of 2014, the Lead Campaign was launched. This three-year initiative has clear goals: providing dedicated fine arts space, expanding the middle/high school and upgrading the athletic facilities for soccer, tennis and football. The school’s original Tyler Building will be expanded by 12,000 square feet of space with dedicated space for the choral program, a classroom for the theatre program, four new learning centers, and administrative and business offices. Renovated space in the current middle school will create a new science laboratory.

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H IG HLAND HOUS E PRODUC T ION S

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ashville has a row of houses where musicians record on hardwood floors full of history. In 1993, Wes Henley and Polly Carter had a vision to recreate a recording row in Jackson on North Highland Avenue.

Their recording studio, Highland House Productions, began offering professional recordings of independent musical CD projects for both local artists and national brands. They soon expanded and offered other related services, such as in-house photography and live concert sound systems.

“With no recording studio between Nashville and Memphis, we wanted to start this business as a way to serve Jackson and encourage local artists,” said Henley.

Henley and Carter have helped local artists such as American Idol top five finalist, Paul Jolly, and Nashville Star top finalist, Alyson Gilbert. They have also worked with renowned producers such as Norbert Putnam and Jim Gaines who have recorded hundreds of top-ten songs.

Highland House Productions has produced more than 200 independent CDs for both local and national artists from all genres, including country, rock, blues, gospel and pop.

The unique, hard-to-define local sound of Jackson artists can best be described as Americana music, said Henley.

“Jackson’s music sounds like country music at first, but it’s deeper and more poetic. Highland House Productions helps both local and national artists to develop their own unique sound and define who they are as musicians.”

CO RE HE ART AND M EDI CAL CEN T ER

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veryday before the sun rises, Dr. Kandarp Patel greets his staff and patients at his clinic, Core Heart and Medical Center. Dr. Patel hasn’t taken a lunch break in ten years, a reflection of his dedicated commitment to his patients. Growing up in India, Dr. Patel credits his mother with teaching him the value of caring for individuals with compassion and expertise.

Dr. Patel is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine and an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine in Long Island, New York. After practicing medicine in Jackson for 10 years, Dr. Patel, along with his wife, Puja, his mother and a small staff, opened Core Heart and Medical Center in 2011. Within five years, the clinic expanded three times.

“The patient is the most important visitor on our premises,” said Dr. Patel, quoting Core Heart’s mission statement. “We believe if we can make each patient realize they are the purpose of our day, then Core Heart will continue to thrive and serve this community just as we have been doing these past few years.”

above:

Core Heart and Medical Center

left:

Dr. Kandarp Patel

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H AM PTON INN & S UITE S

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ut of 28 hotels in Jackson, the Hampton Inn & Suites has been the number one choice in Jackson for the last five years, said Sarah Scokin, Regional Director of Sales.

“Our staff prides themselves on delivering a home-away-fromhome experience for business and leisure travelers.”

That spirit of hospitality was instilled by Vista Host Hotel Management and Development, which has been a leader in hospitality management for more than 30 years. Led by CEO Michael Harrell, Vista Host has cultivated a philosophy of service, passion and excellence in every employee.

The Hampton Inn & Suites is an upscale, limited-service property that offers a complimentary breakfast each morning, a 24-hour fitness facility, business center and outdoor swimming pool.

Off Interstate 40 at Campbell Street, the Hampton Inn & Suites’s location allows guests, such as corporate travelers, family reunion participants and wedding parties, to have easy access to all areas of the city. The addition of the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex has also enabled the Hampton Inn &

Suites to be the weekend home to families and friends enjoying travel baseball and softball, Scokin said.

“It has been incredible to watch the city of Jackson grow, and we look forward to continuing to serve this amazing community.”

RE S ID EN CE IN N B Y MA R R IOT T

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n 2011, Vista Host Inc., a Houston-based hotel management company, built the first extended stay, all-suite hotel in the Jackson area: the Residence Inn

by Marriott at 126 Old Medina Crossing.

The 92-room upscale hotel is conveniently located near the West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex and many of the area’s leading industries. It serves leisure and corporate travelers, as well as local residents who have been displaced and are in need of a place to stay for up to several months.

The Residence Inn offers studio, one-bedroom and twobedroom suites, each equipped with a full kitchen, as well as separate living areas to eat, sleep and work. The hotel also offers a hot, complimentary breakfast, as well as an evening reception Monday through Wednesday featuring a light meal and cocktails.

Adding to the family atmosphere, guests are invited to use the community grill, play a game of basketball or relax on the patio around the fire pit. An indoor pool and laundry are also available for guests.

“The West Tennessee Healthcare Sportsplex has increased tourism, and industry continues to grow,” said Robert

McKinnon, Area Manager. “The growth in Jackson has been phenomenal, and we continue to look forward to the future of Jackson.”

154 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

CR OWN WIN ERY

A

fter prohibition and a disease that destroyed many of the grape vineyards in the state, Tennessee wineries ceased production until a rebirth in the 1970s.

In 2005, Peter and Rita Howard transformed a local dairy farm in Humboldt, Tennessee, into one of the largest vineyards in the state, with more than 24 acres of grapes.

Heavily influenced by Italian architecture, the Howards also created a handsome stone, Tuscan-style villa with a tasting room.

Outside, a Shakespearean balcony with solid oak beams overlaid with greenery overlooks the stone patio.

The Crown Winery has become a popular, non-traditional venue for social events, parties and weddings. It is especially known for Friday night “Wine Down & Beer Up!” with live bands on the patio.

The vineyards at Crown Winery are filled with specific grapes that thrive in the southeastern region. Some of their most popular wines include the Chambourcin Special Reserve, similar to a merlot, and The Toast of Kings, a product that is equivalent to port wine. Strawberry Strut is their local dessert wine made in honor of the annual West Tennessee Strawberry Festival.

“I love good wine, and sometimes I’m shocked that my husband has made so many delicious, quality wines,” said Rita Howard.

TH O MAS J. TURNE R & AS S OCI AT ES , IN C.

T

homas J. Turner believes that all children and youth should have the opportunity to a successful and productive life. Thomas is President and Founder of Thomas J. Turner & Associates, Inc. a Non-Profit Corporation focused on making a difference in the lives of children and youth by providing services that will enhance their quality of life and help them become productive citizens in the community.

The Jackson Madison Public School District never had a mentoring program until Thomas implemented the TALKS Leadership Movement through his “Just Another Chance for Kids” ( J.A.C.K.) program in 2007. The J.A.C.K. program was developed to help the whole child become a productive, contributing citizen in today’s pluralistic, technologically advanced society. “Our goals are targeted toward both long-term and immediate success,” says Thomas. They have implemented the J.A.C.K. program featuring the award winning TALKS mentoring program in the Jackson Madison County School System and offered mentoring in public schools since 2008.

When thinking about the long-term effects, Thomas remembers how at the beginning of one school term he had the

opportunity to mentor a group of third grade boys. One had monumental difficulties with reading. When he asked what they wanted to be when they grew up their expectations were low or unrealistic. But, by the end of the year the student with the reading difficulties became an accomplished reader. When asked again what their aspirations were, one shouted, “To be like you Mr. Turner!” “What a priceless reward,” said Thomas. “To know our future is willing to give back for the common good of all. If I can help a child be successful or impart knowledge and wisdom into students that will positively impact their lives forever. Then my living will not be in vain.”

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 155

LE NTZ PE DIATRICS

J

onathan Lentz is a local boy who came through the public school system, graduated from North Side High School and received a B.S. in biological engineering from Mississippi State.

He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Medicine and entered the pediatric residency at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital expecting that one day he would be his own children’s pediatrician.

“I prepared to care for my own children,” said Dr. Lentz. “It focused my training because one day I might need to save my own child’s life.”

Dr. Lentz received the Robert C. Coddington Resident Research Award in 1999. In 2000, Lentz received a Second

Chance at Life award from Jackson-Madison County General Hospital after saving a critically ill child.

Lentz Pediatrics opened in January 2008 in Lexington. It also opened a clinic in Jackson in October 2009. The Lexington office expanded to accommodate growth in 2013.

In 2014, Dr. Lentz won The Jackson Sun Reader’s Choice Award for Best Pediatrician.

Many new patients remark: “No one has ever checked my child so thoroughly.”

“We worry about the details,” said Dr. Lentz.

S N A PPY T OMAT O PIZZA

A

fter many years in the restaurant industry, Dale Brown and Mike Spurlock decided to open their own restaurant. In 2001, they opened Snappy Tomato Pizza on Vann Drive.

“I think it’s everyone’s dream to own something that they can call their own,” said Brown.

One of the biggest differences between their restaurant and others is that that you can see the owners working the business everyday.

Snappy Tomato Pizza always has plenty of pizza available.

Fresh food, a clean restaurant and friendly service are the backbone of the business.

“We have one customer who eats here six days a week,” said Brown. “He comes here for the company, because we treat people like family.”

Brown says that hiring quality employees has also contributed to the success of the business.

“If you have ever worked in a restaurant, you can feel the difference here. We love our employees, and we love giving our customers a great experience that keeps them coming back for more.”

P EACEFU L OAKS BE D BREAKFAS T & B A R N

A

little patch of heaven” is how guests describe Peaceful Oaks Bed and Breakfast and rightfully so. Owners Chris and Johnnie Sampson host guests at their one-of-a-kind bed and breakfast retreat in Madison County providing a middle of nowhere feel with the convenience of being close to nearby attractions.

Peaceful Oaks is the result of their dream and dedication to the secluded and spacious 36-acre property the Sampson’s purchased in 1998. In 2008, after rejuvenating the property inside and out, Chris and Johnnie saw their dream become a reality as they opened up their home for others to enjoy.

From the beautiful surroundings, accommodations and delicious breakfasts, Peaceful Oaks is the perfect getaway. But

Moonshadow Barn yesterday and today.

perhaps what sets this bed and breakfast apart is Moonshadow Barn – the perfect rustic wedding venue that has been the backdrop for many happy couples in West Tennessee.

Whether you’re planning your first visit to the area, just passing through for the night, or a resident West Tennessean, the Sampson’s look forwarding to making your stay an enjoyable one.

156 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Corporate Sponsor Index Jackson Energy Authority 451 South Highland Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-422-7462 Website: jaxenergy.com pg. 134

Arrington Funeral Directors 148 West University Parkway Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-1111 Fax: 731-668-1133 Website: arringtonfuneralgroup.com pp. 140-141

Crown Winery 3638 East Mitchell Humboldt, TN 38343 Phone: 731-784-8100 Fax: 731-784-8200 Website: crownwinery.com pg. 154

Allegra Design 1029 Old Hickory Boulevard Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731- 664-1676 Fax: 731- 664-1678 Website: allegrajackson.com pg. 151

Deaton’s Carpet One 1000 Hwy 45 Bypass Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-664-5000 Fax: 731-664-5203 Website: deatonscarpetone.com pg. 150

Jackson-Madison County General Hospital 620 Skyline Drive Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-541-6752 Fax: 731-541-195 Website: wth.org pp. 128-129

BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. 2404 Dr. F.E. Wright Drive Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-988-4322 Website: bluescopebuildings.com pg. 147

Freed-Hardeman University 158 East Main Street Henderson, TN 38340 Phone: 731-989-6019 Website: fhu.edu pg. 121

Jackson-Madison County Library 433 East Lafayette Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-425-8600 Website: jmcl.tn.org pp. 116-117

Casey Jones Village 56 Casey Jones Lane Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-431-4992 Fax: 731-668-6889 Website: caseyjones.com pg. 135

Friends of the Library 433 East Lafayette Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-425-8600 Website: jmcl.tn.org/FOTL pp. 130-131

The Jackson Clinic 828 North Parkway Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-7367 Website: jacksonclinic.com pg. 132

Hampton Inn 150 Campbell Oaks Drive Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-427-6100 Website: Hamptoninn3.hilton.com pg. 153

Lane College 545 Lane Avenue Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-426-7595 Fax: 731-427-3987 Website: lanecollege.edu pg. 122

City of Jackson 121 East Main Street, Suite 301 Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-927-8786 Fax: 731-425-8605 Website: cityofjackson.net pp. 112-113 Comfort Suites 61 Casey Jones Lane Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-868-1700 Website: choicehotels.com/comfortsuites pg. 148 Core Heart & Medical Center 86 Stonebridge Boulevard Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-300-0227 Fax: 731-300-0230 Website: coreheart.net pg. 152

Highland House Productions 924 North Highland Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-424-2140 pg. 152 Jackson Chamber of Commerce 197 Auditorium Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-423-2200 Website: jacksontn.com pg. 124 Jackson Christian School 832 Country Club Lane Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-8055 Fax: 888-324-4957 Website: jcseagles.org pg. 151

Lentz Pediatrics 19 Security Drive Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-664-9040 Fax: 731-664-9041 Website: lentzpediatrics.com pg. 155 Mighty Auto Parts 2495 F.E. Wright Road Jackson, TN38302 Phone: 731-988-7181 Fax: 731-988-7193 Website: mightyautoparts.com pg. 143

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 157

Corporate Sponsor Index Moore Studio 215 North Liberty Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-427-1296 Website: themoorestudio.com pg. 123 Peaceful Oaks Bed Breakfast & Barn 636 Barnes Road Medina, TN 38355 Phone: 731-616-7921 Website: peacefuloaksbandb.com pg. 155 Reed & Associates Inc P.O. Box 11802 Jackson, TN 38308 Phone: 731-499-0224 Fax: 731-424-4088 reedmarketing.com pg. 145 Residence Inn 126 Old Medina Crossing Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-935-4100 Website: Marriott.com pg. 153 S.M. Lawrence 245 Preston Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-410-2005 Website: smlawrence.com pp. 118-119 Snappy Tomato Pizza 1187 Vann Drive Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-300-0285 Fax: 731-300-0287 Website: snappytomato.com pg. 155 Sports Orthopedics & Spine 569 Skyline Drive Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-423-0975 Fax: 731-424-5061 Website: sportsorthospine.com pg. 146

St. Mary’s Church & School 1665 Highway 45 Bypass Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-2525 Fax: 731-668-1164 Website: stmarys.tn.org pg. 125

University School of Jackson 232 McClellan Road Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-664-0812 Fax: 731-664-5046 Website: usjbruins.org pg. 149

Steel Fab, Inc. 336 North Royal Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-424-2600 Fax: 731-424-2626 Website: steelfabinc.net pg. 137

Vineyard’s Gifts 31–F Wiley Parker Road Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-664-4300 Fax: 731-664-1347 Website: vineyardsgifts.com pg. 125

Tennessee Industrial Printing 51 Miller Avenue Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-3500 Website: tipsprints.com pg. 150

Wade Electric 503 Airways Boulevard Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-423-2800 Fax: 731-423-9973 pg. 149

Thomas J. Turner & Associates 4274 Old Medina Road Medina, TN 38355 Phone: 731-783-1037 Website: jackyouthservices.weebly.com pg. 154

WBBJ TV 346 Muse Street Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-424-4515 Fax: 731-423-8016 Website: wbbjtv.com pg. 136

Union University 1050 Union University Drive Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-1818 Website: uu.edu pp. 114-115 University of Memphis - Lambuth Campus 705 Lambuth Boulevard Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-427-4725 Website: Memphis.edu/lambuth pg. 120 University of Tennessee Family Medicine Center 294 Summar Drive Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-423-1932 Fax: 731-410-0369 Website: uthsc.edu pg. 142

West Tennessee Hearing & Speech Center 65 Ridgecrest Road Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-668-6076 Fax: 731-668-7033 Website: wthsc.com pg. 136 Woman’s Clinic, P.A. 244 Coatsland Drive Jackson, TN 38301 Phone: 731-422-4642 Fax: 731-422-2277 Website: womansclinicpa.com pg. 133 WorkCare Resources 49 Old Hickory Boulevard Jackson, TN 38305 Phone: 731-664-4414 Fax: 731-664-2804 Website: workcareresources.com pg. 144

158 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Bibliography Alexander, Harbert. Jackson Area Community: Portrait of Progress. 2005. Image Publishing.

Bibliography for Colored Infantry Essay by Michael Cherry

Alexander, Harbert. Tales of Madison: Historical Sketches on Jackson and Madison County.

Tennessee. 2002. Hillsboro Press.

Jackson Madison County Library, Special Collections

Ashmore, Eddie M. A Chronicle of Law Enforcement in the South: The History of the Jackson, Tennessee Police Department. 2002. Hillsboro Press.

Aud, Thomas L. Gold is the Key: Murder, Robbery and the Gold Rush in Jackson, Tennessee. [Revised second edition] 2014. BrayBree Publishing Barfield, Frances. One Hundredth Anniversary, The First National Bank of Jackson, Tennessee, 1873-1973.

1973. McCowat-Mercer Press.

University of Memphis, Special Collections Tim McDonald, Historian Cynthia Sadler, Ph.D Fold 3, Archives of historical records Harrell Carter, NAACP Bobby Lovett, Ph.D Fred Birmingham, Madison County Clerk Howard Rambsy, Historian

Exum, Joe. Sixteen Blocks: 25 years 1945-1970. 2013.

Self-published.

Tennessee State Library and Archives

Higgins, Linda. Images of America: Madison County.

2009. Arcadia Publishing.

Cowden, Robert. A Brief Sketch of the Organization and Services of the Fifty-Ninth Regiment of United States Colored Infantry. 1883

Jackson, Joel. Bemis Tidbits: Stories About Bemis, Tennessee, A Cotton Mill Town Since 1900. 2009.

Self-published.

Madison County Archives. Various records: deeds, etc.

Morgan, Mike and Reed, Mary. Jackson Fire Department: A History of the Jackson Fire Department 1882-1993. Jackson Fire Department, 1993. Josten’s Publishing Company.

Watson, Jeff, ed. Jackson Business Journal: The Downtown Issue. 4th Quarter 2014. Via Media Group, Jackson, Tennessee.

Williams, Emma Inman. Historic Madison: The Story of Jackson and Madison County, Tennessee from the Prehistoric Moundbuilders to 1917. 1946. Madison County Historical Commission.

Williams, Emma Inman; Carter, Mitch; Smothers, Marion.

Jackson and Madison County: A Pictorial History.

1988. The Donning Company.

National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, Regimental Details, United States Colored Troops, 61st Regiment, United States Colored Infantry Battle of Moscow. Report by Colonel Frank Kendrick: General S.A. Hulburt’s Report on the Battle of Moscow.

Memphis, TN, December 17, 1863 Muster Dates for Colored Troops. Bureau of United States Colored Troops, Washington DC, December 30, 1865.

Record Abstracts for Colored Troops Compiled Service Records: United States Colored Troops. Sixty First Colored Regiment’s Abstracts.

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow v 159

HARBERT ALEXANDER grew up in Jackson graduating from Jackson High School in 1957. He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the Virginia Military Institute in 1961 and a graduate degree from Rutgers University. He served as an artillery officer in Schweinfurt, West Germany, returning from the army as a captain.

After his military service, Mr. Alexander was associated with the Jackson National Bank, now BancorpSouth, for twenty-four years, where he served as president of the bank and vice chairman of the holding company. He was appointed president and CEO of Union Planters Bank of Jackson, now Regions, in 1988 and then, in 1998, was promoted to the position of regional president of Union Planters Bank in West Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

In 2004, Mr. Alexander retired from Union Planters. He served as Madison County historian, a trustee of Lambuth University and a member of the Jackson Energy Authority board.

Mr. Alexander is the author of four previous books including, Tales of Madison: Historical Sketches of Jackson & Madison County (2002), Old Trails and Tales of Tennessee (2004), Jackson Area Community: Portrait of Progress (2005) and Autumn Memories (2012). He is married to Nora Noe and has three children and three grandchildren.

THOMAS L. AUD, a native of Daviess County, Kentucky, has degrees in Latin and Library Science, served in the U. S. Air Force as a Czech linguist, and as a public librarian in London, Kentucky and at the Jackson/Madison County Library for a total of 34 years. He has worked as a library consultant, an adjunct professor for Jackson State Community College, Local Office Manager for the Census Bureau, and currently is the Madison County Archivist while also serving on the Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board. He has written a non-fiction book about a local murder and bank robbery and will soon be the editor of a genealogical quarterly. He has done extensive genealogical and historical research and enjoys local history and novels about the Roman Republic. He lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Celeste, and has two children and two grandchildren.

MITCH CARTER, a native Tennessean and a Jackson resident since 1959, has been a professional photographer for 56 years. His work at The Moore Studio began under the tutelage of Robert A. Moore and continued with Devon Dooley and today, Mitch is the owner of the studio. For many people who have lived in Jackson for any number of years, Mitch probably took their desired photographs for business, sports, education or wedding. When outdoor portraits gained in popularity, he developed a mini-park near his studio for just such occasions. He has been a member of various professional photography associations as well as the Jackson Jaycees and the Jackson Rotary Club. His two grown children live in Middle Tennessee and Oregon. His studio’s motto is: “Judge us by the quality of the work. Our photographs aren’t expensive; they are priceless.”

MARY REED, opened Reed and Associates Marketing Inc., in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1991, after working for newspapers for nearly 20 years. Most of her newspaper work was at The Jackson Sun, a community newspaper, where she held several positions, including Senior Writer, City Editor, Lifestyles Editor, and a variety of reporting positions. During her career at the newspaper and later as a marketing company owner, she has led several media workshops on writing, design and how to work effectively with the media. Reed has won several state and national awards for her reporting and layout skills, including a Southern Journalism Award for Investigative Reporting, a finalist in the Penney-Missouri Awards, and a first place in the Tennessee Press Association contest.

160 v JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

Beers & Associates would like to thank the Friends of

and joy to work with you both. Also, we want to extend

the Library Board of Directors and FOL President, Perry

a special thank you to Harbert Alexander for writing the

Burrows. This book would not have been possible without

foreword and including so many interesting stories and

the talent, patience and attention to detail that Tom Aud

insights. Thank you also to Jack Wood and Dinah Harris

and Mitch Carter so tirelessly displayed. It was a pleasure

at the library for their assistance on this project.

All profiles were written by Mary Reed and Ginger Williams at Reed & Associates Inc. except the following profiles submitted by the company or organization: Freed-Hardeman University Jackson Christian School Jackson - Madison County Library The Friends of the Library The Jackson Clinic University of Memphis - Lambuth WBBJ-TV

The following profiles were written by Rachel Fisher: Thomas J. Turner & Associates Peaceful Oaks Bed, Breakfast and Barn

THOMAS L. AUD, a native of Daviess County, Kentucky, has degrees in Latin and Library Science, served in the U. S. Air Force as a Czech linguist, and as a public librarian in London, Kentucky and at the Jackson/Madison County Library for a total of 34 years. He has worked as a library consultant, an adjunct professor for Jackson State Community College, Local Office Manager for the Census Bureau, and currently is the Madison County Archivist while also serving on the Tennessee Historical Records Advisory Board.

He has written a non-fiction book about a local murder and bank robbery and will soon be the editor of a genealogical quarterly. He has done extensive genealogical and historical research and enjoys local history and novels about the Roman Republic. He lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Celeste, and has two children and two grandchildren.

MARY REED, opened Reed and Associates Marketing Inc., in Jackson, Tennessee, in 1991, after working for newspapers for nearly 20 years.

Most of her newspaper work was at The Jackson Sun, a community newspaper, where she held several positions, including Senior Writer, City Editor, Lifestyles Editor, and a variety of reporting positions. During her career at the newspaper and later as a marketing company owner, she has led several media workshops on writing, design and how to work effectively with the media. Reed has won several state and national awards for her reporting and layout skills, including a Southern Journalism Award for Investigative Reporting, a finalist in the Penney-Missouri Awards, and a first place in the Tennessee Press Association contest.

$39.95

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

JACKSON &

MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

T

his truly extraordinary new book showcases pairs of “yesterday and today” photographs of Jackson & Madison County that are sure

to capture your imagination and make you “remember when…” These period photographs of historical scenes were painstakingly reproduced in full, breathtaking color by acclaimed Jackson photographer Mitch Carter and accompanied by fascinating captions written by historian Thomas L. Aud. Jackson’s storyteller, Harbert Alexander, introduces us to Jackson and Madison County with colorful stories and insights.

Historians say a photograph and a brief caption can often convey more history than an extended narrative – and leave a much more indelible impression on the mind.

CELEBRATE JACKSON AND MADISON COUNTY WITH A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY THROUGH

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow “Within the pages of this book, we see that the early photographers of Jackson and Madison County have left us valuable treasures allowing us to see the “yesterday” they captured in light of what we see “today”. Local Jackson photographer Mitch Carter has reproduced, as close as possible, these historic scenes as we see them now, offering us the experience of comparing and contrasting what is so drastically different and, yet still so familiar.”

— Perry Burrows, President, Friends of the Jackson Madison County Library

These photos are timeless treasures providing a unique

ALEXANDER | AUD | CARTER | REED | WILLIAMS

MITCH CARTER, a native Tennessean and a Jackson resident since 1959, has been a professional photographer for 56 years. His work at The Moore Studio began under the tutelage of Robert A. Moore and continued with Devon Dooley and today, Mitch is the owner of the studio. For many people who have lived in Jackson for any number of years, Mitch probably took their desired photographs for business, sports, education or wedding. When outdoor portraits gained in popularity, he developed a mini-park near his studio for just such occasions. He has been a member of various professional photography associations as well as the Jackson Jaycees and the Jackson Rotary Club. His two grown children live in Middle Tennessee and Oregon. His studio’s motto is: “Judge us by the quality of the work. Our photographs aren’t expensive; they are priceless.”

JACKSON & MADISON COUNTY Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

HARBERT ALEXANDER grew up in Jackson graduating from Jackson High School in 1957.

He went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the Virginia Military Institute in 1961 and a graduate degree from Rutgers University. He served as an artillery officer in Schweinfurt, West Germany, returning from the army as a captain.

After his military service, Mr. Alexander was associated with the Jackson National Bank, now BancorpSouth, for twenty-four years, where he served as president of the bank and vice chairman of the holding company. He was appointed president and CEO of Union Planters Bank of Jackson, now Regions, in 1988 and then, in 1998, was promoted to the position of regional president of Union Planters Bank in West Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

In 2004, Mr. Alexander retired from Union Planters. He served as Madison County historian a trustee of Lambuth University and a member of the Jackson Energy Authority board.

Mr. Alexander is the author of four previous books including, Tales of Madison: Historical Sketches of Jackson & Madison County (2002), Old Trails and Tales of Tennessee (2004), Jackson Area Community: Portrait of Progress (2005) and Autumn Memories (2012). He is married to Nora Noe and has three children and three grandchildren.

window into yesterday and a new appreciation for today and are a perfect touchstone for family discussion and understanding what life was like in the “olden days.” Flip through the pages with those of an earlier generation and you will soon hear stories you have never heard from them before as they dig up memories long buried.

Accompanying the yesterday and today photos are architectural renderings of “tomorrow” that depict the buildings and places of tomorrow.

Fitting companions to this remarkable collection of photographs are the compelling stories of Jackson and Madison County businesses and organizations, stories

By Harbert Alexander and Thomas L. Aud Featuring the photography of Mitch Carter v Corporate Profiles by Mary Reed and Ginger Williams Sponsored by The Friends of the Library of Jackson & Madison County

from their early beginnings through today and their vision for tomorrow.

We hope you will enjoy your experience within these pages as much as we enjoyed putting it together for you.

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