McNairy Magazine 2024

McNairy contents 06

Brief Survey of Business in McNairy County

Laquita Thomson

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McNairy County Chamber of Commerce Membership Directory

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“Our Drem Park” Joe Hamm, The Chamber of Commerce, and the Development of Big Hill Pond State Park Jacob York

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The ‘Vertebrae of the Confederacy’ Big Hill Pond, and the American Civil War Jacob York

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The Tennessee Folklore Society makes itself at home in McNairy County Shawn Pitts

2024-2025

Published by McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Jessica Huff, TMP, Executive Director 111 North Third Street Selmer, Tennessee 38375 +1-731-645-6360 mcnairy.com meetmcnairy.com jessica@mcnairy.com Cover: A Defining Chapter: 1964 McNairy County Book Preserved in the McNairy County Archives, this historic volume represents a significant milestone— the establishment of the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce on July 1, 1964. It marks the beginning of a coordinated effort to foster economic growth and promote our community’s rich heritage.

McNairy County Archives 170 West Court Avenue, Selmer, TN 38375 731-645-7095 mcnairyarchives@outlook.com mcnairyarchives.com Tuesday & Thursday 10 am - 2 pm

As McNairy County Chamber of Commerce celebrates its first 60 years, an appropriate historical gesture is to look back at some nineteenth century businesses to see how we got here. From various rare sources it can be gleaned that, from the founding of the county, goods and services were available to make life more advanced than mere subsistence, as rural America in the 18th century had been.

While most early McNairy families made their living by farming, a large sector such as blacksmiths, wheelwrights, carpenters and mechanics, as well as teachers and preachers, and the federally appointed postmasters rose up to service their needs. And by the time the county was founded in the early 1820s, there were few totally

subsistence farmers, and most everyone depended on goods and products bought from someone else, so the retail sector was in play early on.

There is no evidence of 18th century Indian traders from England or France ever setting up shop in what was to become McNairy County, and this area was primarily used as Chickasaw hunting grounds. However, the earliest white settlers such as John Chambers traded with Native American hunters, as well as with his ever-burgeoning number of settler neighbors. He is known to have set up an early mortar mill to grind corn near what is now Acton. He also maintained a large cattle herd and his wife made cheese that he peddled as far as Nashville before 1820. When the county seat of

BRIEF SURVEY OF BUSINESS IN MCNAIRY COUNTY

Purdy was founded in 1823, he was one of the first to establish a retail store there and also became a prominent real estate broker. Throughout the 1830s and 1840s many extant records, particularly deeds, can be examined to show that Chambers and others spearheaded an ever-increasing business sector in the county seat of Purdy.

During the 1840s wholesale establishments in the East, as well as in river port towns such as Louisville, Memphis and New Orleans, supplied the inland towns like Purdy with the goods they needed for their own and surrounding populations. Many of the manufactured goods, such as cloth, came from England, through ports like Philadelphia and New York, and increasingly from the developing factories in the industrial towns of New England. These products were then filtered to the retail merchants through the wholesalers in port cities. Retail merchants then sold to local customers.

Soon, these third-tier retail merchants needed to be vetted for creditworthiness, and so was born another service—the agents who assured the first-tier wholesalers that they would be paid by the small-town merchants.

In the quest to find whether merchants on the ground in small places like McNairy County were credit-worthy, hired agents visited each business and reported back to the suppliers. One of the most important of these commercial reporting agencies was the R. G. Dun Company, founded in 1841 and headquartered in New York City. (Its main rival was the John H. Bradstreet Company founded in 1849 in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1933 these companies merged to become the Dun and Bradstreet Company that still exists.) The R. G. Dun Company whose original McNairy reports contain about 50 hand-written ledger pages, give a good look at businesses in the county from the late 1840s to about 1880. The Dun company set up regional offices and hired agents to visit businesses in their region, so usually several reports from various years are available on McNairy County businesses.

Likely the agents who visited McNairy County were from Nashville or Memphis. Their reports contain the name of the individual or firm, duration of the business, net worth, source of wealth, and sometimes the reputation of the owners, their partners and successors. This makes these records valuable social as well as financial records, that is so important where a dearth of other sources exist. The only other primary sources besides deeds and censuses are the newspaper advertisements in the very few extant local newspapers before the twentieth century.

Wild Goose, Moore’s Hill, Tinsley, Blackland, and Quisley. By far the most prevalent types of business covered were the General Store (around 70 of them) and Dry Goods and/or Grocery stores (around 70 of these also). Grocery stores almost always sold spiritous liquors, but the Dun listings also show 9 businesses that deal in retail liquors and another 25 saloons as separate entities. Probably those two categories were very similar and just depended on the mood of the agent on the day he wrote his report. Seventeen doctors are named, sometimes with drug stores appended to their practice, but also 17 separate drug stores are listed. There are saddlers (10), blacksmiths (8), millers (7), tanners (2), tinners (1), watchmaker and silversmiths (3), printers and newspapermen (3), hotels (2), tailors (1), shoemakers (1), confectioners (3), milliners and notions (2) and fancy groceries (1). Also, two peddlers and one sewing machine salesman are listed. Some things can be derived since the practices of the time are known. For example, most men, women and children’s clothes were made at home, so no need for more than one tailor. Likely, more than one person made shoes from cowhide leather provided by the customer, so no need to obtain many supplies from wholesalers that would have put them in the crosshairs of the Dun agents. The Dun agent reports are most enlightening when they write their personal assessments of the person or business such as “upright and prudent,” or “good for small amounts [of credit], or “lazy and drunk when he has enough money to spare.”

The Civil War upended every segment of society in McNairy County including the business sector. It effectively destroyed many towns and villages and their businesses. The Dun Company did not report anywhere in America during the first two years of the Civil War and did not resume reporting in McNairy County until 1866. At that time Purdy businesses began to recover, usually with a new set of owners. Hamlets

Dun reports from McNairy County include larger towns Purdy and Adamsville, but also smaller towns and villages such as Bethel, Ramer, Monterey (later Michie), Montezuma, Falcon, Rose Creek, Milledgeville, Chewalla, Mud Creek, Big A portion of a page from the R. G. Dun & Co. ledger.

Hill, McNairy Station, Stantonville, Gravel Hill, Pebble Hill,

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The newspaper ad by Dr. Daniel Barry.

such as Monterey, in the direct path of the armies between Shiloh and Corinth, was almost completely obliterated, and its populace by the early 1870s had gone elsewhere. The Monterey Sanders brothers went to Corinth to begin new mercantile establishments, as did some of the Moore family from that area near the state line.

Purdy, though many of its businesses recovered, faced a new problem. Its population included many younger businessmen who knew the extra time and expense it took to get goods from the railroad at Bethel, or the river landing at Crump. They began a campaign to establish a new county seat somewhere on the railroad. Because many of the traditionalists who had originally kept the railroad out of Purdy still lived and fought this proposition for many years, the inevitable only came to pass in 1891 when the new town of Selmer replaced Purdy as the county seat. Despite the financial downturns of the 1890s, Selmer more or less flourished and several homes and business buildings were transported from Purdy and re-erected in Selmer. Purdy with its large oval street and its decaying mansions ceased to be commercially alive.

The financial downturns after the Civil War, especially in the 1870s and the 1890s severely hurt McNairy farmers who were major purchasers of the products of the county’s retail

businesses. Prices for their farm products stayed low while high tariffs on shipping, fertilizer, etc. rose continuously. In the 1880s they began to form farmer’s clubs and by the 1890s joined the national Farmers Alliance group. The clubs in McNairy County were mainly centered in smaller towns and rural areas, though county-wide meetings were sometimes held in Selmer. One such local group met in the Donnell Springs school building between Acton and Michie. Other chapters met at such places as Price’s Chapel, Haley School House, Beauty Hill, Rocky Knob, Wolf Pen and Pleasant Hill near Adamsville to discuss farmer’s business concerns.

In McNairy County the 19th century started on the frontier and ended with a burgeoning number of successful towns and villages, with Selmer at the epicenter. For example, Monterey, now called Michie, was rebuilt with a new large general store on the ridge where the original town had been.

Even towns as small as Acton got a doctor and a post office and a flour milling business in the early years of the twentieth century. The depression of the 1930s silenced the entrepreneurial spirit that was not revived until the beginning of the sunbelt era after World War II. McNairy County joined in the progressive good feelings of modernity during the 1950s and certainly by the 1960s when our Chamber of Commerce came into being.

Thank you Janet Rail, Publisher of the Independent Appeal

Chamber & Tourism News We were pleased to share the progress and achievements of the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism in 2024. It is our testament to the strength of our community partnerships, the creativity of our initiatives, and the dedication of our members and leadership in 2024.

Community Events and Celebrations First Friday Success: We partnered with the Selmer Cruise-In to bring even more excitement to First Friday events, which have become a staple for community connection and economic activity.

Rockabilly Highway Revival: The 15th anniversary of this iconic event celebrated McNairy County’s unique cultural heritage, attracting visitors and showcasing local talent.

Selmer Halloween Festival: This year’s Halloween event was bigger and better than ever, providing family-friendly entertainment and boosting downtown engagement.

Tourism and Economic Development Ramer Rosenwald School: Progress continued, preserving and repurposing this historic landmark, a vital piece of our community’s story.

Adamsville Downtown Advisory Committee: Serving on this Tennessee Main Street initiative underscores our role in shaping vibrant downtown areas across McNairy County.

Building Partnerships and Membership Growth Michie Partnerships: We’ve established exciting collaborations in Michie, welcoming new chamber members including The Monterey Trail, Friends of Michie Park, and Jacy Wagons. These partnerships are driving community pride and innovation.

Strengthening Community Bonds: Through events like First Friday and collaborations with local organizations, we continue to foster connections that amplify our county’s potential.

In 2024, we had 4 Chamber Coffees, 25 events including First Friday, 18 Ribbon Cuttings, and 38 New Members.

Major Milestones Jessica Brown Huff’s 8th Anniversary as Executive Director: This year marks eight years of Jessica’s visionary leadership. Her dedication continues to inspire growth and innovation within our community.

Sterling Award: Jessica was honored with the prestigious Sterling Award by the Jackson Women in Business, recognizing her outstanding contributions to leadership and development.

Tourism Marketing Professional (TMP) Certification: Jessica successfully completed the Southeast Tourism Society’s Marketing College, earning her TMP designation as part of the Tennessee Department of Tourism Development. This milestone reflects our commitment to elevating McNairy County’s tourism strategies.

Leadership in Regional Organizations: Jessica serves as Secretary for the West Tennessee Chamber of Commerce Executives (WTCCE), further strengthening our voice within the region.

EVENTS COMING UP First Friday ...Every Month. Live music is provided by Arts in McNairy.

‘Chamber Classic’ Golf Tournament ...May 16 Rockabilly Highway Revival ...June 14 Stay Connected Monday Mail. Weekly newsletter with over 1300 followers.

McNairy Matters, published every 2 weeks and features Chamber Members.

Upcoming Events are advertised on social media every week for a weekly update on what’s happening in our region.

Looking back, 2024 was a year of incredible achievements, but we are not stopping. In 2025, we are building on these successes, empowering our members, and promoting McNairy County as a thriving hub for tourism, agriculture, and business.

We want to thank each of you for your support, collaboration, and shared vision. Together, we’re making McNairy County stronger and more vibrant than ever.

Celebration of 60 Years of Service

2024 McNairy County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Annual Awards Banquet Young Professional of the Year Becca Platt Sutton Maurice Hamm - Spirit of Service Award Susan Lee Non-Profit Organization of the Year Jacy’s Wagons Community Enhancement Brickhaven Coffee Company Tourism Visionary Award UTM Coon Creek Science Center Bill Rail - Spirit of Excellence Award Robert P. Shackelford III New Business of the Year Moody Cat Coffee Shop Small Business of the Year Legacy Hospice Regional Business of the Year Cashway Building Supply Industry of the Year Jones Exhaust Systems

McNairy Youth Leadership, Class of 2024 Claire Talbott Addison White Emma Harville Mary Kate Smith Addie Tull Heidi Dickey Chloe Bodiford 2024 Banquet Sponsors John E. Talbott & Associates, Attorneys at Law Quality Iron and Steel, LLC The Bank of McNairy County Adamsville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Magnolia Regional Health Center Moody Cat Coffee Shop Action Realty Tennessee State Representative, Ron Gant Pickwick Electric Cooperative McNairy Central High School Huffoto Photography Studio 2024 McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Board of Directors John E. Talbott - President Gretchen Stackens Dillard - Vice President Alan Youngerman Simchah Huizar Dani Morrison Edna Barnette Janet McLemore Laquita Thomson Darrell Roberts Justin Davis Bruce Scarberry Jessica Huff, TMP - Executive Dirrector

2024 STERLING AWARDS Jessica Huff and Gloria Holiday have been selected to be members of a select group of women honored annually since 2010 by Jackson Area Business and Professional Women for not only their career accomplishments but also for their community activism. The recipients of the 2024 Sterling Awards, Sue Shelton White Award, and Outstanding Woman Military Veteran Award posed for a group photo during the Sterling Awards 2024 Ceremony held by the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women at the Chambers McClure Academic Center on the campus of Lane College in Jackson, Tennessee on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The JABPW presented the Sterling Awards, which recognizes the 20 most influential women in West Tennessee, the Sue Shelton White Award, and the Outstanding Woman Military Veteran Award during the ceremony.

McNairy County Recipients since 2010 Pamela Durbin, 2014 Lashell Moore, 2017 Judy Bivens, Outstanding Woman Military Veteran 2018 Kimberly Jones, 2023 Gloria Holiday, 2023 Jessica Huff, 2024 Gloria Holiday, Outstanding Woman Military Veteran 2023

Jessica Brown Huff (center), Executive Director of McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism, from Selmer, Tennessee received the Sterling Award from the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women during the annual Sterling Awards Ceremony. Jessica also serves as Ramer Ruritan, and McNairy County Health Council , President.

Master Sgt. Gloria Holiday (center), a veteran of the U. S. Marine Corps and a Family Case Manager at the Southwest HRA, Head Start, from Henderson, Tennessee, received the Outstanding Woman Military Veteran award from the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women during the annual Sterling Awards Ceremony. Gloria is also a Pastor at Greater Evangelical Ministries.

JESSICA BROWN HUFF HAS GRADUATED FROM SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY MARKETING COLLEGE Jessica Brown Huff, Executive Director at the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism has completed the three-year program of Southeast Tourism Society (STS) Marketing College® and earned certification as a Travel Marketing Professional (TMP).

Jessica Brown Huff, as Executive Director oversees all Chamber operations and collaborates with businesses, government agencies, and community organizations to develop programs that expand local business opportunities and to increase tourism. Jessica secures grant funding to support county projects, enhancing McNairy County's economy and appeal. Her work nurtures pride in the county’s unique heritage, contributing to a vibrant community where residents and visitors alike feel connected and invested.

Jessica Brown Huff was among 81 STS Marketing College graduates in the class of 2024, including 18 Festival & Event Planners (FEP). The graduates were announced at the STS Connections Conference in Auburn, Alabama in September. The program began in 1992 and has produced more than 1,488 TMPs. STS uses facilities at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Industry professionals from a variety of tourism sectors volunteer their time to teach the classes. They include convention and visitor’s bureau executives, public relations practitioners, sales and marketing consultants, and research experts.

“STS is enhancing the professional skills of tourism professionals throughout the Southeast,” said Monica Smith, President and CEO of STS. “Earning TMP certification is a combination of classroom work and special projects. Becoming a TMP takes dedication.”

Study topics include tourism advertising, syndicated research, crisis management, special events marketing, media relations, heritage tourism, tourism sales, and community/rural tourism. In addition to classroom work, students must complete projects that relate to their employment.

“Our curriculum is practical. The knowledge students gain can be put to immediate use in their organizations,” Smith said.

“Receiving a Tennessee Department of Tourist Development (TDTD) scholarship over the past three years has been an incredible opportunity,” says Jessica Brown Huff. “It has enabled me to further my education through the Southeast Tourism Society Marketing College and its outstanding teaching staff, who bring invaluable expertise to every session. I’m also grateful for the friendships I’ve made along the way. Peers in the industry whose experiences and connections have enriched my perspective and strengthened our shared commitment to community growth. TDTD’s support in providing this opportunity has truly enhanced my ability to serve our region and elevate our community’s profile.”

About Southeast Tourism Society Southeast Tourism Society (STS) is a not-for-profit membership association dedicated to the development of travel and tourism professionals and organizations within the southeast region. The association’s mission is to empower a diverse network of tourism professionals through education, advocacy, recognition, and networking. Member states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

MCNAIRY CO. CHAMBER YOUTH LEADERSHIP, WESTSTAR ALSTAR, WESTSTAR AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP

McNairy Youth Leadership Class of 2024 Claire Talbott Emma Harville Mary Kate Smith Addie Tull Heidi Dickey Chloe Bodiford Not Pictured: Addison White

McNairy Leadership is a local youth and adult leadership program organized by the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. McNairy Leadership’s purpose is to identify, encourage, and equip community-minded youth and adults who want to become more involved, who want to help McNairy County become a better place, and who are willing to embrace leadership opportunities. The youth leadership class from McNairy Central High School and Adamsville High School. Each year the youth and adult groups participate in team-building activities, read leadership material, and visit local businesses, services, and attractions while learning about topics such as agriculture, tourism, non-profits, education and healthcare, economic development, and local government. The final trip is to the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville where Leadership learns about state government. The groups are tasked with completing a community project. In addition to the McNairy Leadership groups, McNairy Chamber/Tourism has partnered with McNairy County Schools and UT Martin WestStar to offer an African American Leadership course to current MCHS and AHS sophomores. The Chamber/Tourism sends students to the event each year on scholarships. For more information go to www.mcnairy.com/mcnairyleadership

ALStar Class of 2024 Kimberly Baxter Shantel Prince Caylin Flowers Gabriel Simmons Neerajah Wade Tyler Mangrum

WESTSTAR AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE The 25th Annual African American Leadership Conference, “Challenge and Opportunities” was a huge success! McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Adult Leadership representatives Lashell Moore, Gretchen Stackens-Dillard and Jessica Brown Huff attended the conference on April 17, 2024 in Jackson, Tennessee.

The keynote from Dr. Freeman was on point with the characteristics of a leader. He reminded us not to dull our shine for others and to take care of business! Dr. Versie Hamlett, Dr. Janice Epperson, and Dr. Diane Hicks-Watkins spoke about the changing landscape in education. Dr. Andre Temple and Dr. Cheryl Brown’s interactive workshop kept the audience captive. During their presentation, we were able to hear the youth provide deep intriguing dialogue to problems affecting the African American community.

Thank you to the WestStar Leadership Program, speakers, and comittee members!

2024 GOVERNOR'S VOLUNTEER STARS AWARDS The Governor's Volunteer Stars Awards (GVSA) is an initiative from Volunteer Tennessee that seeks to recognize outstanding volunteers from each of Tennessee's 95 counties. Participating counties recognize one outstanding youth and adult volunteer. The GVSA also recognizes one business and one non-profit from each of Tennessee’s three Grand Regions for their outstanding community involvement and service.

The 2023 GVSA took place on February 18, 2024, at the Franklin Marriott Cool Springs Hotel in Franklin, TN. Presented by Volunteer Tennessee.

“I would like to congratulate Jonathan McDaniel, McNairy County Adult Honoree, and Kesslar Jones, McNairy County Youth Honoree for the GVSA. They are both outstanding volunteers and invest numerous hours into McNairy County. ” -Jessica Huff TMP, Executive Director, McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism and McNairy County Coordinator 2016-2024 for the Governor’s Volunteer Stars Awards.

ROC MCNAIRY ROC McNairy is the best! These young professionals have been making a difference in our community since 2018!

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible community and surrounding areas for your unwavering support of the Pumpkin Festival! Each year, our amazing vendors return because of the warm welcome and enthusiasm you show them, making the event a success. Your support and excitement create an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. ROC McNairy is truly grateful for each and every one of you. Our team puts in countless hours to bring this festival to life, and seeing the joy it brings to the community makes it all worthwhile. Thank you for making this event so special!

Each year, ROC McNairy selects a local charity to receive proceeds from vendor fees and T-shirt sales at The Pumpkin Festival. In 2023, we proudly chose the McNairy County Humane Society, recognizing the immense costs associated with rescuing and caring for animals. While our contribution may be just a small drop in the bucket compared to their overall needs, we hope it helps lighten the load and make a meaningful difference in the lives of these animals. Supporting such a vital cause is an honor, and we are grateful to everyone who participated in making this donation possible.

This organization is not affiliated with The McNairy County Animal Shelter Friends.

Ladies Luncheon Award-winning veteran and esteemed community leader Gloria Holiday was the honored guest speaker at the Ladies Luncheon held on Thursday, August 8, at 11:00 a.m. Hosted at the charming Moody Cat Coffee Shop in Selmer, TN, the event brought together an inspiring group of women for an elegant gathering. With a delightful Bridgerton theme, attendees enjoyed a beautifully curated menu featuring croissants, fresh salads, delectable slices of cake, and a selection of fine teas and coffees. Holiday, recipient of the Jackson Area Business and Professional Women’s Sterling Awards 2023 and the Outstanding Woman Military Veteran 2024, captivated the audience with her words of wisdom and encouragement, making the luncheon a truly memorable occasion.

Event Sponsors: UTM McNairy Center/Selmer, AHC McNairy County, Magnolia Regional Health Center, Action Realty, Brown Environmental Consulting, and Molly Moore Realty.

2024 MEMBERSHIP Non-Profit/Ambassadors

Business

Americorps Seniors/RSVP American Legion Post 162 Barbara Brown Corinth Theatre Arts Court Avenue Cumberland Presbyterian Church First Christian Church First Presbyterian Church of Selmer, Tennessee First United Methodist Church of Selmer, Tennessee Jamie and Andrea Lambert Jesus Cares of McNairy County Lakeview Church Laquita Thomson Lee-Wood Foundation Lifeline Blood Services Life Wind Church Linda Hamm Mary Lou Johnson, Inc. McNairy County Alumni Association McNairy County Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse McNairy County Soil Conservation District Ramer Museum Ramer Ruritan Club St Jude The Apostle Catholic Church The Monterey Trail The Parsonage Foundation, Inc. University of Tennessee at Martin, McNairy County Center/Selmer United Way of West Tennessee UT Extension - McNairy County Wayne Elam West Star Leadership, The University of Tennessee at Martin West TN Public TV Council, Inc. - West TN PBS Workforce Innovations Inc., Southwest TN Local Workforce Board Youth Town of Tennessee, Inc.

AHC Senior Living & Rehabilitation, McNairy County Ada’s Country Store Adamsville Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center Adamsville Nutrition All-N-One Stop Atzimba Mexican Restaurant Automotive Addiction B & B Propane Gas Company, Inc. B & D Classic Cars Better Source Supply Blessed Woodworks Born and Bread Breath of Life Yoga and Therapy C & B Linen Cashway Building Supply Charlie’s New York Style Pizza City of Ramer, Tennessee Country Chic’s Boutique Crazy K Ranch Creekside Climate-Controlled Storage D & C Hay Equipment, LLC Danny Roberts Heating & Air, LLC Dolphin Waterslides, Inc First Class Storage Flowers Repair Services Granny Annie’s Childcare Hagy’s Catfish Hotel Hamilton Ryker Henry Furniture and Appliances Hometown Pizza LLC Jackson State Community College Jess Paxton Videography Jones Exhaust Systems, Inc.

2024 MEMBERSHIP Business

Business

KG Gifts Kings Auto and Truck Parts - Carquest Lamar Advertising Company Lazy Dog Farms, LLC Legacy Hospice Lifespan Health - Hardin County Regional Health Center Los Aztecas Mexican Restaurant Madison - Haywood Developmental Services - MHDS, Inc. McNairy Central High School McNairy County Board of Education Mid-South Farmers Cooperative Miller’s Auto Lube Moody Cat Coffee Shop OfficePro Corinth, Mississippi Owl Creek Lumber, Inc. Pappy John’s BBQ Paul Fisher Oil Company, Inc. Pickwick Electric Cooperative Pierce and Company Boutique Pittman Propane Quinco Mental Health Center Rayco, Inc. Rowland Monument Security Finance Selmer Tobacco Beverage Mart Selmer Quick Stop Shackelford Funeral Directors Shiloh Rose Boutique SMC Recycling Inc. Smokey Joe’s BBQ Sonic Drive-In of Adamsville South Second Salon Southwood Inn Motel

Stockdale’s Selmer Subway - Selmer Taco Bell - Hospitality Tennessee, Inc. Tennessee College of Applied Technology Crump The Bean Scene Cafe Town of Stantonville, Tennessee Trinity Medical Clinic LLC U.S. Donuts Selmer West TN Health Care, Prime Care Weavers Communications

Professional Action Realty Adelsberger Marketing America First Choice Security Inc. - AFC Security American Johnny B & L Advantage Insurance Services, Inc. Chambers Insurance Agency of Selmer, TN Cook Coggin Engineers, Inc Darren Bowers, FIC, District Agent at Modern Woodmen of America Deberry Drugs Dodd Eye Clinic P.C. Edward Jones Financial, Sam Vise Farm & Home Realty Farm Bureau Insurance - Ronnie Moore Fullwood Dental Clinic Godwin and Associates, PLLC, Certified Public Accountants Huffoto, Bryan Huff Photography Studio John E. Talbott and Associates Lott Family Pharmacy Manpower Temporary Services - Selmer TN Mid-Town Pharmacy

2024 MEMBERSHIP Professional

Hospitals

Mitchell Eye Center - Dr Andrea Mitchell Moore Roofing, LLC Ramer Family Health Center, PLLC - Dr. Barton Chase III Redmon & Redmon Selmer Chiropractic Center - Dr. Katie Chandler & Dr. Shawn Pitts Shelter Insurance - David Goodman Simpson & Simpson, Attorney at Law Smith & Lambert, CPA STAR Physical Therapy, LP (Selmer, TN) The Shack Salon & Gifts Thistle Creek Reserve Wade Electric Company, Inc.

Magnolia Regional Health Center

Industry ABB Corinth Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Inc. H & M Company Lashlee Rich, Inc. MAS Components & Coatings, LLC GEA, A Haier Company - Monogram Refrigeration LLC Quality Iron & Steel, LLC Redmon Asphalt Silicon Ranch Corporation Tennessee Coil Spring & Stamping Company Simple Distribution

Scan the QR Code for more information on the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Membership Directory

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BIG HILL POND STATE PARK Big Hill Pond State Park received its name from the 35-acre Big Hill Pond which was created in 1853 when the soil was scooped from a borrow pit to build a levee across the Tuscumbia and Cypress Creek bottoms for the Memphis to Charleston Railroad. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Native Americans Woodland Period Indian sites (800 BC – 800 AD) which can be found along the Tuscumbia and Hatchie Rivers. During historic times, Chickasaw Indians lived in the area up until 1818 when they signed a treaty relinquishing their traditional homelands in Tennessee. White settlers moved into the area in the 1820s and made their livelihood mainly from agricultural pursuits. Years later the territory was designated a State Park by the Department of Conservation for reassessing the need for recreational opportunities in 1977.

The park’s 5,000 acres of timberland and hardwood bottomland are sparsely inhabited making it resemble a wilderness. Guests visiting Big Hill Pond State Park can utilize the campsites. There is no backcountry camping allowed, however, there are shelter camping sites. These sites can have up to ten people at each, there are six bunks but four or more persons may sleep on the floor.

Recreational activities for the outdoor enthusiasts may include fishing on the old Big Hill Pond or Travis McNatt Lake equipped with phenomenal views. Fishers will find bass, bream, and catfish throughout this area. The park is home to thirty miles of overnight and day-use trails consisting of four backpack trail shelters and five miles of hiking trail and two trail shelters lie south of the railroad within our hunting area.

Visitors with a passion for horses can bring them along for the Big Hill Pond experience. The park has approximately 14 miles of horse trails and is shared with mountain bikers. The horses must stay on the red trail and fire roads and are not allowed on hiking trails or on the back or the front of the Lake Dam. For more information, please contact Big Hill Pond State Park directly at 731-645-7967.

McNairy County is no stranger to iconic citizens. Car salesman and music enthusiast Earl Latta, little-known but widely read author Jack Boone, legendary disc jockey Dewey Phillips, and a host of other famous individuals all called McNairy home. While these people may have more recognition, their impacts at home are nothing like the ones of the hometown heroes who made deep, long-lasting changes in the county.

Joseph “Joe” Hamm was born in 1927 in Ramer. Joe was the fourth generation of men to make a living at the A.B. Hamm store, opened by his great-great-grandfather, A.B., in 1873. Joe graduated from Ramer High School and following a short stint in the military, Joe returned to the area. Soon after, in the mid-1950s, Joe was approached by Mr. John Howell.

“OUR DREAM PARK” JOE HAMM, THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF BIG HILL POND STATE PARK Jacob York

Mr. Howell was the owner of a large chunk of property west of Ramer, an area known to locals as Big Hill. Mr. Howell had been known to allow his friends to hunt on his land for a small price. However, as this “business” began to grow, Mr. Howell came to the realization of how valuable the land was. He approached Joe about selling his land, ensuring that the land be protected and conserved in some way. Little did Mr. Hamm know, that this approach from Mr. Howell would spark a decades-long effort toward conserving this area for generations.

Joe got to work immediately. Working with other local leaders, Joe began working towards a plan to get this land to the attention of the state and federal government. In a letter to Senator Estes Kefauver on June 27, 1963, Mr. Hamm wrote, “It would be a waste of time for me to tell you that McNairy County needs a shot in the arm or I should say pocket book because you know it as well as I do. We feel that this area properly developed would be That needed shot.” He continued, “The proposed Big Hill Pond Park and Wildlife Area lies in the southwest corner of McNairy County…It has the largest colony of beavers in the state, good deer hunting, and some of the best bass and bream fishing in West Tennessee. There are very few acres

in this whole area that can be cultivated profitably.” In closing, Joe included a drawn map of the area and wrote, “We appreciate your interest and hope that you can find some way to help bring this park about so that everyone can enjoy it.”

Joe had been in contact with Mr. William M. Roberts, the Director of the Pickwick Electric Cooperative (PEC) in McNairy County. In a letter dated the following day, June 28th, Mr. Roberts wrote to Mr. Edward J. Meeman at the Memphis-Press Scimitar, “I was glad to hear that you are interested in the Big Hill Pond Park project…The State recently received a $77,395 grant from ARA (Area Redevelopment Act) for a study to determine of building and operating full-service tourist facilities in the Tennessee State Park system.” In the end, Mr. Roberts wrote, The Big Hill Pond area is one of those potential parks… Mr. Joe Hamm and I would like to discuss this Big Hill Pond area with you at your earliest convenience… Would like to hear from you in regard to this matter.” With these letters, a team was beginning to assemble, dedicated to furthering the possibility of a Big Hill Pond park in McNairy County. A new release in the McNairy County Independent from December 9, 1963, said, “A strong case for the development of the Big Hill Pond Area for hunting and fishing purposes, park facilities, wilderness area preservation, and land and water use was presented to Secretary of Agriculture Orville Freeman, December 5th by a group of Tennesseans. Participating in that discussion from McNairy County were Joe Hamm, Ramer, Travis McNatt, and William M. Roberts of Selmer.”

Joe Hamm assisting a customer in his family store in 1957.

In the 1960s, Joe stayed busy working on behalf of the county. As his work on Big Hill Pond continued, Joe was undertaking several other tasks as well. In late 1963, Joe and a few other community leaders began developing plans for chartering a McNairy County Chamber of Commerce. These plans took effect much quicker than the park, with the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce organizing in February of 1964. Founding members of the Chamber included Mr. William M. Roberts from the PEC, Mr. Wayne Elam of Ramer, Mr. Billy Ray Crossnoe of Friendship, and, of course, Mr. Joe Hamm. At the same time, Joe was also serving as a Commissioner to the McNairy County Commission from Ramer. On top of all of this, the family store, opened by A.B. Hamm in 1873 was still up and running.

By the late 1960s, the Big Hill Pond plans had taken shape and were in action. Master plans for the development of the park began churning out in late 1965. In a letter to Mayor L.A. Blanton of Adamsville, TN, from December 1966, Walter L. Criley of the Tennessee Department of Conservation wrote, “We have requested in our proposed continuation budget a staffing pattern for Big Hill Pond beginning next July 1 and to include a park superintendent and one park attendant.” In 1968, the park had a small staff and one lone road, but no other developments had been made. In a letter from Mr. William Roberts on September 3, 1968, he wrote to Chairman Joe Forbis of the Tennessee Conservation Commission, “This summer, as you probably know, the state has announced an $8-million development in Blesdoe

Mr. William M. Roberts 16

County at Fall Creek Falls, this within 25 to 30 miles of an existing state park, Cumberland Mountain.” He continued, “It appears to many of us who have been working for eight or ten years in an effort to secure the development of the Big Hill Pond area as a state park, that our efforts have been in vain. West Tennessee deserves one or two outstanding state parks.” After a few more years, the park finally began to develop with the Travis McNatt Lake being filled in 1976, the Dismal Swamp Boardwalk being constructed the same year, and the park trails finishing development in 1978.

The efforts of Mr. Hamm, Mr. Roberts, and countless others paid off when Big Hill Pond State Park was officially opened in 1977. By this point, these men had worked for nearly twenty years towards this park’s development. At the same time, they also dedicated years of work to other developments in the county like the McNairy County Chamber of Commerce, which was operating with strength by 1977.

Joe never stopped fighting for Big Hill Pond. In 2000, as the state legislature was preparing a new budget, Tennessee State Parks were caught in the middle of it; and Big Hill Pond was on the chopping block for funding. An article from the Jackson Sun on July 7, 2000, said, “Big Hill Pond State Park remains on the list of nine state parks to be closed by the Department of Conservation…McNairy County Chamber of Commerce Director Tracy Redmon said, ‘We keep fighting that battle. That park means a lot to the people here.’ Closing the park would mean the loss of jobs for three full-time and two seasonal employees.” The same year, Joe wrote a letter to State Senator John Wilder, saying, “The relentless pursuit of you, Bill Roberts and dedicated citizens, sportsmen, conservationists and public officials resulted in the establishment of Big Hill Pond State Rustic Park…Now that our dream park is caught in the budget crisis, we ask you to strongly consider our fair share of revenue for Southwest Tennessee.” Luckily, the state did not close Big Hill Pond and it continues to attract guests today.

The map included in Joe Hamm’s June 27, 1963 letter.

With the persistent work of citizens like Joe Hamm and William Roberts, the economic development of McNairy County has been immensely successful, taking the shape of a monumental state park, a strong Chamber of Commerce, and a county of prosperous citizens. Because of their dedication to McNairy County’s success, growth, and prosperity, these men, whether the citizens realize it or not, are cemented in the history of the county forever.

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Big Hill Pond “Walking Tall 50k/25k Big Hill Pond 50/25K has something for everyone. The race has 31 and 15.5 miles made up almost entirely of a single-track trail with only a little crushed gravel park road to help string out the competition. The race features a fire tower that you climb and a swamp boardwalk that is almost a half-mile across. The history of the area comes from Sheriff Buford Pusser, who is known for his legendary one-man war on moonshining, prostitution, gambling, and other vices along the Mississippi-Tennessee state line. The race offers enough scenery and elevation for the most grizzled trail runner but should be doable for the first-timer. Join in the Facebook Group

Parks CHICKASAW STATE PARK Chickasaw State Park is a 1,400-acre park that boasts plenty of recreation: hiking trails, paddle boating, bicycle-friendly roads, primitive or RV camping, cabin rentals, and horseback riding. The park has picnic space, pavilions, a playground, and beach volleyball.

Chickasaw became a state park in 1955 and before that was one of Tennessee’s 20 New Deal-era parks. Located at 20 Cabin Lane in Henderson, TN. 731-989-5141.

PINSON MOUNDS STATE PARK The park covers more than 1,200 acres and contains at least 15 Native American mounds.

Archaeological evidence suggests the mounds were both burial and ceremonial in purpose.

Pinson Mounds is a national historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located at 460 Ozier Road in Pinson, TN. 731-988-5614

PICKWICK LANDING STATE PARK Pickwick Landing State Park is located just south of Pickwick Dam, 14 miles south of Savannah, in Hardin County. Noted for its excellent water recreation the lake and river offer fishing, boating, swimming, and a marina.

Accommodations in the park include a lodge and restaurant, cabins, and camping. In addition to water sports, guests enjoy golfing, birding, picnicking, disc golf, nature walks, and tennis. The park contains 1,416 acres of forested hills and hollows. Located at 116 State Park Lane Counce, TN. 731-689-3129

GOLF AND COMMUNITY SPORTS Shiloh Golf Course, Adamsville, 731-632-0678 Selmer Golf/Country Club, Selmer 731-645-9915 Adamsville Parks & Recreation, 731-926-5675 Chewalla Basketball League, 731-239-9802 Ramer Community Sports, 731-610-6063 Selmer Parks & Recreation, 731-645-3866

Monterey Trail

Michie, Tennessee

Shiloh National Military Park

1055 Pittsburg Landing Road Shiloh, TN (731) 689-5696

THE ‘VERTEBRAE OF THE CONFEDERACY’ BIG HILL POND AND THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR Jacob York

THE BATTLE OF CORINTH, MS (OCT. 2-3, 1862)

Big Hill Pond State Park in Southwestern McNairy County has a long, intricate history stretching back to the founding of the nation. In the 1860s, this area was no different than the rest of the torn South and country. At the onset of the Civil War, friends and families were split over the institution of slavery and the conservation of the Union. In McNairy County, and especially the area known as Big Hill, the pairing of the diverse geography and the perfectly positioned Memphis-Charleston and Mobile-Ohio rail lines created a hotbed of wartime activity.

Following Earl Van Dorn’s crushing defeat during the October 3rd and 4th Battle of Corinth, MS in 1862, Union forces followed the retreating Confederates into West Tennessee, culminating in the Battle of Davis Bridge, or the Battle of Hatchie Bridge in McNairy and Hardeman Counties on October 5th. After these bloody days, the Union army held control in the District of Corinth, encompassing the railroad towns of Pocahontas, Chewalla, La Grange, Bolivar, and Moscow in Tennessee, and Holly Springs, Farmington, Kossuth, Corinth, and Iuka in Mississippi, just to name a few.

All of these towns were crucial in protecting the critical railroad junction of Corinth where the Memphis and Charleston and the Mobile and Ohio Railroads met.

Along the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, which passes through Pocahontas and Chewalla, in McNairy County, Tennessee, Union forces constructed numerous entrenchments for protection and prevention of another Confederate attack. One of the entrenchments was a significant earthwork on top of a ridge between the Tuscumbia River and Cypress Creek meant to provide a large western view of the Memphis and Charleston R.R. The two waterways hugging the area provided the perfect space for Confederate guerillas to launch surprise attacks, leading to the construction of the earthworks. These earthworks stood as a testament to the importance of defending Corinth, the “vertebrae of the Confederacy,” a name given by Confederate Secretary of War LeRoy Pope Walker.

Following the Battles at Corinth and Davis Bridge, Companies A, B, C, and E of the 18th Missouri Infantry were moved into the area to establish a post at Chewalla over the month of October 1862. It is highly possible that the earthworks were constructed in this time frame. The remainder of the 18th Missouri followed from Corinth by mid-January 1863. Colonel Charles Sheldon Sargeant of the 18th Missouri said of this area:

“The country was heavily wooded, with thick canebrakes on the banks of all streams, and was perfectly suited for the free operations of Guerilla bands.”

by 4 P. M., on the 5th of June, and bivouacked in the town for the night. On the 7th, the Regiment moved into camp onefourth mile north of the town.”

The 18th Missouri was primarily tasked with scouting and patrolling this area of the country well into mid-1863. It is very likely that men from this regiment stood guard in the earthworks still seen today. Other regiments joined the 18th and commanded the area. The 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry was stationed at Pocahontas during the summer and fall months of 1863 and frequently led expeditions in and around the area. All Companies of the 9th Illinois led expeditions from Pocahontas to several locations including Ripley, Grenada, and New Albany in Mississippi, the latter being burned to the ground.

The 9th Illinois would stay in the area of Pocahontas, consistently patrolling the area between their camp and Chewalla, nearly 10 miles southeast. In this ten-mile gap following the Memphis and Charleston Railroad were the numerous entrenchments constructed following the October Battle of Corinth, including the Big Hill Pond Fortification. In Marion Morrison’s journal, he included a short section describing these frequent patrols: “During the first three weeks of September, from one to four companies were out scouting, almost daily.”

The 9th Illinois arrived in Pocahontas and began patrolling the surrounding areas on June 5, 1863. In a journal entry, Marion Morrison, a member of the 9th Illinois, included a description of the arrival on the fifth: “On the 3d of June, 1863, the Regiment received orders to be ready to move on the next morning, at 8 o'clock, with camp and garrison equipage. Moved on the 4th, in accordance with the above order, in a North-west direction.

Passed through Cherwalla, and bivouacked for the night about ten miles west of it. The Tuscumbia and Hatchie Rivers had to be bridged, in order to cross the artillery and infantry.

The entire Brigade were moving with us. These streams were bridged, the forces crossed, and we arrived at Pocahontas

In Pocahontas, the 9th Illinois created their own sanctuary and made the town come to life. In mid-August, the regiment constructed a chapel in their camp to observe Sabbath and attend Wednesday evening services.

“Soon, however, some of the soldiers volunteered their services, and erected a comfortable chapel, 40 by 24 feet, in which to hold our meetings. We had occupied this but a few Sabbaths, when we moved from our old camp at Pocahontas.” Furthermore, in preparation for the winter months, the Regiment constructed cabins with fireplaces to replace their tents: “As the weather was now becoming too cold for the airy tents, which most of the Regiment occupied, the boys went to the timber, split boards, hauled poles, &c., and put themselves up comfortable quarters. Brick chimneys, left where houses had been burnt through the country, were torn down and brought into camp, and neat little chimneys built to their shanties. Thus the boys were preparing for comfortably spending the winter in their camp.”

The 10-mile distance between Pocahontas and Chewalla is a primarily low-lying swampland intertwined with rolling hills and high ridges. Cypress Creek and the Tuscumbia River flow between the two towns, creating an intricate place primed for Confederate guerillas on the prowl. The addition of the crucial Memphis and Charleston Railroad cutting directly through the swampland and in between the numerous high ridges created a complicated landscape that was intricately difficult to defend, but crucial to the survival of the Union.

Union map of Corinth area drawn in 1862. Chewalla and Pocahontas are shown along with the Tuscumbia and Cypress waterways. The area of Big Hill Pond sits in the middle of Pocahontas and Chewalla.

16

By the fall of 1863, the risk of Confederate victory had cooled immensely in the region. The railroad was primarily being utilized as transport for William T. Sherman’s troops marching through Georgia at the time. In the final days of October 1863, the 9th Illinois began preparing for their final departure from Pocahontas. Chaplain Marion Morrison described this: “The morning of October 30th came, and with it heavy clouds, threatening rain. Baggage must be packed up. Tents must be struck. Wagons must be loaded. By about 8 ½ A. M., all was ready, and we were on the march. About the time we started, it commenced raining, and rained heavily all day.This made it difficult for the Battery wagons to proceed rapidly. Came to Cypress Creek and bottom. The stream was very difficult to cross. There was a swampy bottom, of three miles, which we had to cross. The Battery did not get through it that night, but camped in the bottom. The right wing of the Regiment moved out to the ridge beyond, and there awaited the arrival of Battery and left wing. It being found they could not get through that night, all went into bivouack until morning. At an early hour on the morning of the 31st, the Regiment and Battery were on the move. We reached Corinth about 1 P. M., of the 31st. Here we were relieved as escort to the Battery. Went into camp in the barracks lately occupied by the 50th Ill. Regiment. Here we remained until the morning of the 3d of November.”

After the 9th Illinois departed, new trouble was already brewing in West Tennessee. General Nathan Bedford Forrest had been leading raids and attacks across the region since the fall of 1862 and by October of 1863, he was still going strong. In the months of November and December, the Union regiments in the area were on high alert and were stationed at numerous outposts around the area. The guards overlooking the Memphis and Charleston Railroad were especially alert, prepared for a strike from Forrest on the railroad at any time. Of these men at the numerous outposts were members of the First Alabama Regiment, African Descent.

The First Alabama had been mustered into service late in 1862 and had already been on garrison duties in the areas surrounding Corinth. The African American soldiers of the First Alabama consisted of both freedmen and former slaves.

Three companies of the First were sent to Big Hill in Tennessee to watch the Tuscumbia Bridge and Memphis and Charleston Railroad. In a report sent by Brigadier General John D. Stevenson to Major-General Stephen A. Hulburt, Stevens notified Hulburt of the relocation of troops across the region:

“I have made the following disposition of my troops: Hurst's regiment at Grand Junction, with four companies to occupy Saulsbury; four companies of Ninth Illinois Cavalry at Middleton; Third Illinois Cavalry at Pocahontas; First Alabama [African descent], six companies at Pocahontas, also Kidd's light battery; three companies First Alabama [African descent] at Big Hill, to protect Tuscumbia bridge, and one company at Cypress Creek; strong outpost of cavalry at Chewalla; First Alabama Cavalry at Camp Davies, 5 miles south of here.”

Following this brief stint between October and early December of 1863, the First Alabama was relocated. There is no evidence that any other regiments served in the area of Big Hill, between Pocahontas and Chewalla, Tennessee for the remainder of the war. Following the close of the war, the area of Big Hill maintained a light population and inhabitants scattered the heavily wooded area. As American industry evolved, the logging industry took hold in the area, with several roads and paths lining the once dramatic battleground.

Today, the remnants of the Civil War still litter the area in and around Big Hill Pond State Park. Visitors to the park can trek down to the railroad on the southern end of the map and visit the earthworks. These earthworks, nestled on a high ridge between the Tuscumbia River and Cypress Creek still offer a clear western view of the Memphis to Charleston Railroad, the same view that Union soldiers had over a century ago defending the railroad and keeping the “vertebrae of the Confederacy” out of rebel hands.

Approximate layout of the earthworks within Big Hill Pond, drawn in 1998.

RAMER

MUSEUM

HIghway 57, Ramer, Tennessee

Heart Pine Hall

TRAVEL ACCOMMODATIONS Big Hill Pond State Park, 731-645-7967 Country Critters Campground & RV Park, 731-434-8989 Crazy K Cabin Rentals, 731-452-5262 Deerfield Inn, 731-632-2100 Econo Lodge, 731-645-8880 Heart Pine Hall, 731-610-7625 Old Home Motel, 731-632-3398 Southwood Inn, 731-645-4801 Robert Sibley Airport, 731-645-3014 https://www.airbnb.com/s/McNairy-County-Tennessee--United-States/homes

Heart Pine Hall

McNairy Restaurants Ada's Country Store, 731-934-9310 Pappy John’s Original Barbeque, 731-645-4353 U.S. Donuts, 731-982-7023 The Bean Scene, 731- 632-0852 Nana’s Taste and See Food Eatery, 731-434-0233 Moody Cat Coffee Shop, 731-453-0059 Retro Dawgs, 731-439-7995 Dannuhcakes Sweet Shop, dannuhcakes@gmail.com Atzimba Mexican Restuarant, 731-646-1772 Smokey Joe’s BBQ, 731-645-5188 Subway, Selmer,731-646-3740 Taco Bell, 731-434-0115 Sonic Drive-In, Adamsville, 731-632-0788 Los Aztecas Mexican Restaurant, 731-434-0301 Hometown Pizza, Selmer, 731-645-4748 Brickhaven Coffee Company, Selmer, TN El Palomino Mexican Restaruant, 731-646-0040 Honky Tonk Hollar, 731-439-5964 Arby’s, 901-666-5080 The Graze Cafe, 731-434-0335 Saw Meal Restaurant & Steakhouse, 731-632-5111 China King, 731-645-9188 Jim's Steak and Fish, 731-239-5100 Milledgeville Cafe, 731-687-1005 Hillbilly’s Wing Shack, 731-632-2222 Kokomo’s 50s Diner, 731-632-1958 Ole Monterey Cafe, 731-239-5863 Ramer Station Restuarant, 731-645-7772 Grill 57, 731-244-1272 T&T Grocery, 731-645-9922 The River Barbeque Company, 731-632-4647 Burger King, 731-646-1710 Hardee’s, 731-645-5342 Jack’s, 731-632-1620 McDonald’s, 731-645-4488 Sonic Drive-In, Selmer, 731-645-5200 Subway, Adamsville, 731-632-0800 Subway, Eastview, 731-645-5163 Panchito’s Mexican Restaurant, 731-632-0915 Domino’s Pizza, 731-645-9907 Hometown Pizza, Adamsville, 731-315-1016 Pizza Hut, 731-645-3200 Snack Shack, 731-439-0046 (Slugburgers) Hope's Place, 731-632-1617 (Slugburgers) Corner Cafe, 731-645-6671 (Slugburgers) Wink’s Cafe, 731-610-2459 (Slugburgers) Circle T Grilln, 731-439-0708 JR’s Steakhouse, 731-645-0138 Top O’ the River, 731-632-3287 Southern Foodways Alliance (recommended read) A HAMBURGER BY ANY OTHER NAME Words & Photos by Sara Wood (Gravy, Summer 2016)

Selmer Farmers Market The Selmer Farmer's and Craft Market is open seven days a week and is located at the Rockabilly Park in Historic Downtown Selmer. As a Pick TN site, it's a perfect space for farmer's and craft merchants to sell their wares and for McNairy County residents to find locally grown and handmade products. If you are planning on selling any produce or baked goods at the farmers market please go visit the UT Extension office at 703 Industrial Park Dr Selmer, TN 38375. For more information please contact John Williams at 731-645-3598.

THE NEXT

GENERATION

OF INDUSTRY STARTS HERE

jscc.edu Jackson State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. See our full policy at: http://www.jscc.edu/eeoc

PRPSD-20241127-1

Higher Education THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE MARTIN MCNAIRY COUNTY CENTER/SELMER The University of Tennessee at Martin established an extension campus in Selmer in 1998. Since then, the UTM McNairy County/Selmer Center offers a full rotation of general education and undergraduate courses to support more than 80 specialized programs.

The center can design curricula to meet the needs of local businesses and industries. (731) 646-1636 www.utm.edu

TENNESSEE COLLEGE OF APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CRUMP Tennessee College of Applied Technology prepares individuals for high skill, high wage, high demand careers in fifteen programs of study. Career training for Business Systems Technology, Collision Repair Technology, Computer Graphics Design, Computer Information Systems, Computer Information Technology, Drafting & CAD Technology, Electronics Technology, Health Information Technology, Heating, Ventilation, Air Cond./Refrigeration, Industrial Electricity, Industrial Maintenance, Machine Tool Technology, Practical Nursing, Technology Foundations, Farming Operations Technology and, Welding Technology. (731) 632-3393 www.TCATcrump.edu

Within the 232-acre grounds, located at 2983 Hardin Graveyard Road in Adamsville, lies one of the most important fossil sites in North America. It was acquired by the Pink Palace Family of Museums in 1988 and as of May of 2020 is currently operated by the University of Tennessee at Martin. The creek bed of Coon Creek contains a treasure load of 76 million year old marine fossils left behind when the waters of the Gulf of Mexico receded from the area.

The site attracts both youth and international scientists. For more information please contact the UTMartin, Selmer/McNairy County Center. (731) 646-1636 www.utm.edu

In 1998, the Tennessee state legislature adopted Pterotrigonia thoracica, a saltwater clam, as its state fossil.

This fossil is found exclusively in West Tennessee in the 76million year old Coon Creek Formation. The Coon Creek Formation, primarily in McNairy County, is one of the most significant fossil sites in the world and has produced some of the most well-preserved fossils from the Cretaceous Period. The deposits formed when sea level was much higher than it is today and the seashore ran along what is now the Tennessee River corridor. West Tennessee was a shallow sea! Discovery Park of America hosts a permanent Coon Creek Formation exhibit which includes two specimens of Pterotrigonia thoracica.

Community Days Every Third Saturday of the month. 9am and 1pm

Buford Pusser Home & Museum 342 Pusser Street Adamsville, TN 38310 1 (731) 632-4080 bufordpussermuseum.com

Tour the home, jail, and office of the legendary sheriff known for his hickory stick-wielding pursuit of criminals. The Buford Pusser Home and Museum is a law enforcement museum and stands as a moment in time as if waiting for Sheriff Buford Pusser to return home from another shift serving the public. The modest brick ranch home contains the original furnishings, photos, cars, guns and memorabilia of the Pusser family. Buford Pusser was the subject of several major motion pictures. The “Walking Tall” movies tell about his life and tragic death. Also on display, are the charred remains of the ’74 Corvette that Sheriff Pusser was driving at the time of his fatal accident. The McNairy County Experience Center contains Buford Pusser's office, the county jail, life-size photos, and memorabilia. The self-guided tour is free and open during the normal business hours of the McNairy Courthouse.

Paint the Town

plein air event

Renaissance on Main’s purpose is to revitalize Main Street Adamsville into a convenient, inviting family destination through the arts and small businesses.

Painters from all over Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas come to Adamsville Tn for this Incredible One Day Event! Professional and amateur painters compete in a “live” painting competition.

Please follow the annual event on FaceBook @RenaissancOnMainAdamsvilleTN · Art ALL ARE WELCOME! This is Free to the Public!

Festivals and Events MCNAIRY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & TOURISM AWARDS CELEBRATION CHAMBER COFFEE, LUNCH & LEARN, AFTER HOURS ROCKABILLY HIGHWAY REVIVAL BIG HILL TRAIL RUN BIG HILL "WALKING TALL" 50/25 K PEARL HARBOR DAY LUNCHEON QUILT AND CRAFT TRAIL FREEDOM FESTIVAL ROC MCNAIRY PUMPKIN FESTIVAL MCNAIRY CHAMBER HALLOWEEN STREET PARTY “SPRING SWING” GOLF TOURNAMENT “CHAMBER CLASSIC” GOLF TOURNAMENT MUSIC AT THE MURAL EARL THE CHAMBER ELF FIRST FRIDAY, JANUARY - DECEMBER SHOP SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY LADIES LUNCHEON FARMERS MARKET KICK-OFF BIG HILL POND STATE PARK TRUNK OR TREAT DERAILED HAUNTED HOUSE ADAMSVILLE TRUNK OR TREAT 'PAINT THE TOWN' PLEIN AIR ARTS FESTIVAL MICHIE FALL FESTIVAL AIM MCNAIRY COUNTY MUSIC HALL OF FAME UT MARTIN COON CREEK SCIENCE CENTER COMMUNITY DAYS MICHIE EASTER EGG HUNT AMERICAN LEGION POST 162 VETERANS DAY CHEWALLA BAPTIST JULY 4TH CELEBRATION RAMER FOURTH OF JULY PARADE FINGER BARBECUE AND PICNIC MICHIE TRICK OR TREAT IN THE PARK AND MANY MORE...

GO TO MCNAIRY.COM AND MEETMCNAIRY.COM McNairy County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism

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THE TENNESSEE FOLKLORE SOCIETY MAKES ITSELF AT HOME IN MCNAIRY COUNTY SHAWN PITTS

Founded in 1934, The Tennessee Folklore Society (TFS) endures as one of the country’s oldest agencies devoted to regional folklore. In almost a century of continuous publication the organization’s journal, the TFS Bulletin, features the writing of renowned folklorists and community scholars documenting an incredible variety of folk traditions unique to Tennessee and surrounding states. The organization’s annual meeting is the only regular gathering of scholars, folklore enthusiasts, folk artists, tradition bearers, and folklife presenters in the region. And now, The Tennessee Folklore Society calls McNairy County home.

The Society was hosted by Jubilee Community Arts (JCA) in Knoxville for almost twenty years, before longtime JCA Director and TFS Secretary/Editor, Dr. Brent Cantrell, announced his retirement in 2022. As Cantrell stepped away from leadership the organization entered a restructuring phase, prompting the move to Selmer. An agreement to make Arts in McNairy (AiM) the TFS host institution went into effect January 2024. It’s the first time in its lauded history that TFS has called West Tennessee home.

When many people hear the word “folklore” they immediately think of oral tradition. That’s likely because fables, legends, myths, sayings, regional dialect, and the like were subjects of intense interest for many early folklorists, but a much wider range of traditions are included under the folklore umbrella. In short, any form of expressive culture, valued and preserved within informal community groups, might be considered folklore. Music, dance, handcraft, foodways, games, rituals, observances, and an endless variety of other traditions rooted in community, can be regarded as folklore or folklife. TFS members have spent the last ninety years studying, preserving and celebrating such pursuits.

Framed in this way, it’s easy to see why TFS would find McNairy County appealing as a base of operations. But beyond the obvious richness the area’s folklore, the Society has a longstanding relationship with the county through a handful of state arts and humanities leaders. Dating to the heyday of academic folklife studies in the mid 1960s McNairy County native, Mildred Payne—then chair of the English department at UT Martin—was elected to the TFS Presidency.

I was twice entrusted with that office in the 2010s, and more

recently local historian and author, John Talbott, was elected to the TFS Board. The organization has held its annual meeting at the Latta on two separate occasions to make the most of the close relationships.

But the clear determinative factor in the transition to McNairy County was Arts in McNairy’s longstanding commitment to values shared with the Society. For more than twenty years, AiM’s prolific folklife committee has kept busy documenting and celebrating a host of local and regional folk traditions through programming and publication. A partial list of AiM folklife activities and partnerships makes it easy to see why state folklife leaders have taken note.

Broom making, as embodied by fourth generation Selmer craftsman Jack Martin, of Hockaday Handmade Brooms, is a living tradition with a long history in many local families.

Quilting and textile traditions are still preserved by the Needles ’n’ Pins quilters in Bethel Springs. McNairy County’s old-time music heritage is documented in a number of media releases that highlight the work of Eastview musician and sound recordist, Stanton Littlejohn. Arts in McNairy’s Ellis

Arts in McNairy’s Ellis Truett Jr. Collection

Truett Jr. Collection preserves what is believed to be the largest assemblage of rare Tennessee music boxes in the world. The Trail of Music Legends and spectacular public art in downtown Selmer tell the stories of those who shaped our music heritage, while the restored Latta building stands as a monument to both historic and contemporary culture. The folk art and music regularly exhibited and performed at the Latta takes in a diverse range of local traditions from Hispanic and African American folk artists to Southern textiles and broom making; bluegrass and old-time music to mariachi and blues bands.

Each of these traditions deserves its own article and, in fact, print and online resources abound. Those interested in more information can keep themselves occupied indefinitely at

artsinmcnairy.com and trailofmusiclegends.com, or among the back issues of the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin, now available at the Latta learning center, local libraries and the McNairy County Archives. An internet search by subjects will also return links to essays, videos, blogposts and other online resources with various level of detail.

When Tennessee Folklore Society chose McNairy County for its new home, it was no fluke. Arts in McNairy’s research, preservation, and programing with traditional arts is unparalleled by the standards of small, rural arts agencies.

Others have taken advantage of folklife assets, but rarely has a community’s identity been so thoroughly transformed by an in-depth exploration of it’s traditional cultures.

Needles N Pins Quilting is a living handcraft tradition in rural America. The fabric of every community is pieced together with a cast of colorful characters, stitched tightly with common threads, and uniquely arranged to benefit all. The Needles-n-Pins represent just such an organization. The group was founded in 1986 and represents, collectively, over 250 years of quilting experience. The goal of the group is to foster folk art in the 21st century. To pass to the next generation, the heritage that quilts represent, and to contribute to our community. Over the years the group has raised funding by sewing consignment quilts and other projects. They raise the sum of $10,000 per year and have given to several organizations such as Arts in McNairy, Imagination Library, Literacy Council, Carl Perkins Center for Prevention of Child Abuse, McNairy County Family Resources, Habitat for Humanity, McNairy County Historical Society, Food for Souls, Friends of the Libraries, Loaves and Fishes, Relay for life, Salvation Army, WRAP, and many, many more.

McNairy County Chamber of Commerce and Tourism honors the Quilters who have participated since the beginning of the organization.

Martha Nell Crowe Mary Ruth Surratt Marion Murry Barbara Isbell Rachel Agnew

Dianna Sealander Gail Sanders Barbara Hickman Rebecca Isbell Mary Nell Hubanks Sheron Townsend

Nancy Whitley Maudie Naylor Doris Reece Rose Moore Vickie Sullivan Novell Smith

Needles N Pins, 4570 Main Street, Bethel Springs, Tennessee 38315.

Fay Miller Ella Bright Linda Smith Connie Blankley Fay Biggs Norma Smith

Hockaday Handmade Brooms Hockaday family brooms began in the early 1900s by Will Hockaday as simply a means to make a living through the winter. Now, over 100 years later, the Hockaday brooms are an art form and tradition carried on by Will Hockaday’s great-grandson, Jack Martin, on the original equipment designed and built some 100 years ago.

Hockaday Handmade Brooms 2076 Hwy 142 Selmer, Tennessee 38375 For more information or for shop hours, call Jack at 645-4823 or visit hhbrooms.com.

Broomcorn Festival: Next Generation September 20, 2025

Arts in McNairy (AiM) is a live theater, an art gallery, a publishing house, a community history/heritage center, and more! Arts in McNairy fosters an atmosphere where all the arts and artists across disciplines can learn and thrive. AiM was founded in 2001 on the principle that participation in the arts is a cornerstone for the development of a healthy community. Over the years, AiM has demonstrated this principle through arts programs, concerts, performances, festivals, workshops, exhibits, and in-depth exploration of McNairy County’s rich cultural heritage. The organization has been recognized at the local, state, and national levels for excellence in rural arts development and planning. Simply stated, AiM aspires to connect local creatives to the larger community where their gifts may be shared and appreciated.

Arts in McNairy | 205 W Court Ave, Selmer, TN PO Box 66, Selmer, TN 38375 731-435-3288 | artsinmcnairy@gmail.com

The Ellis Truett Jr. Collection

The Tennessee music box, or box dulcimer, is one of the most enigmatic musical instruments ever discovered. Little is known about its origins, but it is an ingenious folk instrument made of materials at hand in the counties of southwest and south middle Tennessee. The earliest music boxes date to the 1880s or possibly even the 1870s. Playing and construction techniques were passed from generation to generation, continuing through the 1940s. Community scholars like Ellis Truett of Henderson County, Tennessee, and Gerald Young of Giles County, Tennessee were perhaps the first to appreciate the cultural significance of these crude but beautifully resonant instruments. Scholars such as Dr. Richard Hulan, David Schnaufer, and Sandy Conatser provided valuable research and further insight into their history. An excellent article by Schnaufer and Conatser that first appeared in the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin can be accessed online. The essay is reproduced with the permission of the Tennessee Folklore Society. That issue as well as other back issues of the Tennessee Folklore Society Bulletin may be ordered. In 2015 Arts in McNairy purchased a collection of seven music boxes formerly owned by Ellis Truett (pictured below). His collection of 7 box dulcimers, along with other instruments, and music box documentation are now part of the Arts in McNairy Cultural Collection. It is the largest, and one of the most significant, collections of Tennessee Music Boxes in the world. The Jackson Area Plectral Society and Needles-n-Pins Quilters of Selmer were generous partners in the acquisition of these Tennessee treasures. The collection is available for scholarly research and inspection by request and is occasionally on display at the McNairy County Visitor's and Cultural Arts Center (The Latta), in downtown Selmer, Tennessee.

More information can be found at www.artsinmcnairy.com/tennessee-music-box