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Telephone’s History Has Covered Long Distance | In the 1940s, my family’s telephone number was 1417J. Our family physician, Dr. Ray Mettetal, could be reached at 504, the Police Department at 57, and the Fire Department at 576. |
Friday Night Fish Gang Going Strong for 50 Years | When Jack Harrison, former Washington County commissioner, passed away earlier this year, his obituary notice made reference to his being a member of the Friday Night Fish Gang, obviously something that had been very important to him. |
Horse-Drawn Mail Wagon Prank in 1924 Drew Quite a Crowd | My great uncle, Alfred Bowman, delivered mail in Johnson City between 1919 and 1946. Having been born in 1877 and raised in Gray, he witnessed firsthand the difficulties of receiving mail in a rural countryside prior to the turn of the century.
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Lady of the Fountain: The Statue Has Had a Long and Troublesome Past | Few area residents can remember Johnson City’s grand “Lady of the Fountain,” who once adorned the downtown area along the east side of the railroad tracks. Over time, she became an icon, overlooking the very vicinity that would later bear her name, Fountain Square |
Lady of the Fountain: A Previous Owner Sheds Some History | The strongest reaction to my previous Lady of the Fountain article came from three siblings of the family who owned the bronze statue from 1943 until 1979: John H. Zollicoffer, Jere P. Zollicoffer and Dr. Alice Mountcastle Zollicoffer. |
Suggest a Home for Boone Trail Marker | Between 1958 and 1961, I made a daily jaunt up 88 steps to the old Science Hill High School, scarcely noticing the unusual vertical concrete arrowhead to my left near the bottom of “the hill.” The Daniel Boone Trail Marker, containing a large bronze plate showing the pioneer trailblazer and his dog, stood there from about 1930 to early 1979. |
Readers Give Suggestions on Boone Trail Marker | My column last week, disclosing the news that some anonymous person has possession of Johnson City’s Boone Trail Marker, spurred several notes to me. As promised, I forwarded each one to the unnamed owner for his consideration. Two of the suggestions grabbed his attention.
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Boone Trail Marker Saga Almost Complete | Daniel Boone is officially returning to public service in Johnson City after a mysterious absence of 27 years, having once served this storied railroad town for a half century. At 2:00 PM last Thursday, the trailblazer, in the form of a large bronze tablet, arrived at the home of Mrs. Mary Hensley, regent for the John Sevier Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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Courageous Lawman Ended Rein of Water-Pistol Bandits | Five rustlers rode into downtown Johnson City on a late 1959 afternoon, firing their weapons carelessly into the air. The rein of terror ended abruptly when the alert local “sheriff” apprehended the gang, averting a potential tragic incident. |
Archives of Appalachia Now Home of Henry Johnson Document | A recent happening that transpired in the home of a Johnson City couple is a dream come true for Johnson City history buffs. A priceless relic from the city’s distant past is now available for public viewing, thanks to Dorman E. Tucker and his wife, Norma. |
Gospel Community Loses Music Icon in Mull | Area folks were saddened recently to hear about the passing of Knoxville’s blind gospel music icon, J. Bazzel Mull (1914-2006). Preacher Mull, a grandson of circuit-riding preacher, Wallace B. Mull, opened his program with these memorable words, spoken in his distinctively gravely voice
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Long Before E-Mail, There Was V-Mail | I have a family keepsake from World War II that I treasure - a V-Mail sent to my grandmother from my father, a soldier stationed in the Philippines. Long before E- (Electronic) Mails, there were V- (Victory) Mails that grew out of a critical need that developed during the war years.
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Boss Served as Faithful City Firehouse Mascot in Early Days | An old newspaper clipping of yesteryear refers to a dog by the name of Boss who was mascot of the Johnson City Fire Department between 1928 and 1936.
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Many Mondays - City Club Roots Traced to 1892 | A 36-page booklet titled, “Monday Club, Johnson City, Tenn., 1914-1915,” contains a wealth of information about this longstanding impressive organization.
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Steam Heat Often Made for Noisy Radiators | During the cold weather months of 1942 to 1950, my family regularly awoke each morning to a clanging sound vastly different from that of an alarm clock.
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"Little Brown Shack" Once Part of Everyday Life | Many Johnson Citians can recall those little icons of the American backyard, affectionately dubbed by such names as outhouse, privy, necessary house, shanty, backhouse, throne and john.
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From Gunsmith to Fiddler; Hacker Martin Could Do It All | Hacker Martin (1895-1970) was a legendary former resident of the Gray community with some pretty impressive credentials – old-time fiddler, gristmill owner/operator and expert gunsmith.
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Samuel Mosier, 97 at the Time, Was a Walking History Book in 1969 | Historians are indeed fortunate when they tap into the oft-fading memories of senior adults and garner priceless cephalic reminiscences of an era long since passed. Such was the case in mid 1969 when 97-year-old Johnson City resident Samuel Mosier made a withdrawal from his memory bank for the Johnson City Press-Chronicle.
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Retired Construction Foreman Key in Oak Hill Preservation | Chester “Chet” Willis is a man with his heart wrapped up in his work. In 2003, he retired from his job as construction foreman with the City of Johnson City Water and Sewer Services Department and eagerly became involved with preserving Oak Hill Cemetery.
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Column Brings Gump Addition Memories From Classmate | My Gump businesses column evoked some pleasurable memories for Lewis Brown, a classmate of mine at Science Hill High School, from which we graduated in 1961.
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Kumpthing Was a Horse With a Love for the Hills of Tennessee | I received a beautifully written and moving narrative of a beloved horse named Kumpthing that etched out its place in the hearts of one area family.
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Woman Tells of Father's Card Game With Capone Gang at Windsor | A lady, who asked not to be identified, remembered when her father told her about some men, discreetly identified as Al Capone’s bodyguards, occasionally joining them in card games at the Windsor Hotel whenever they were in town. This occurred from about 1921 to 1926.
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Reliving the Olden Days When Johnson City Had Three “Hobo Jungles” | Ken Harrison, a true hobo aficionado, shared with me an interesting research paper that he once penned for the Mountain Home Views.
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Reader Shares Grandfather's World War I Poem of Devotion | Chad Baxter sent me a poem written in Germany in 1918 during WWI by his grandfather, James Preston Baxter, to his future wife, Olivia Dykes. A company clerk typed the elegy on a roll of thick toilet tissue. |
104-Year-Old Sullivan Woman Recalls Old Days | Mrs. Joann Conner believes her 104-year-old mother, Pansy Oliver Torbett, may be the oldest living person in Sullivan County. “My mother,” said Joann, “was born in 1903 in a log house that stood along (old) Jonesboro (Jonesborough) Road in Piney Flats. |
First Rescue Squad in City Far Less Specialized | Ray Reaves, a charter member of the Johnson City Rescue Squad, is proud of his approximately seven-year affiliation with the decisive organization. |
Old Lecture Cites Health Issues Nearly Century Ago | Imagine attending a lecture in 1910 at the Hippodrome Opera House at W. Main and Whitney streets. The speaker is Dr. Alvin Davison of Lafayette College lecturing from his latest textbook, Health Lessons, Book 2, American Book Company. |
Lady With A History - Smithsonian Consultant Enlightens Johnson Citians On Old Statue | I recently received correspondence from Carol Grissom, Senior Objects Conservator of the Smithsonian Institute, who shed new light on Johnson City's prized Lady of the Fountain that represents a large chunk of the area's history. |
1940s Christmas Card, Newspapers Reflect Some of Today's Thoughts, Anxieties | An examination of several Johnson City Press-Chronicle newspapers from December 1942 to 1944 denotes what many families are experiencing today – balancing the joy of the season with the harsh reality of a war. |
Old Newspaper Clippings Contain Info Just Before 1888 National Elections | The discovery of an old scrapbook of newspaper clippings is always an exciting find and often contributes to an enhanced understanding of history.
Such was the case in late October 1938 when Mrs. Kate Keys of 407 Highland Avenue found two pages from a scrapbook dating back to 1888. |
Longtime Resident of City's Asbury Community Shares Good Childhood Memories | I received a note from Robert Walden who has lived in the same house for 41 years in Asbury community in the west part of town. He recalled growing up in that area between the ages of 10 and 12. |
Preaching Mission, Conceived In Cafe In 1954, Had Long Life In City | An entry in my Feb. 10, 1957 diary reminded me of the annual February event that I attended at ETSU’s Memorial Gym for several years in the 1950s.
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Angels of Mercy - City Woman's Ancestors Turned Local Home Into Makeshift Civil War Hospital | Ms. Louise Bond Alley has a remarkable Civil War story relayed to her by her mother, Edith (Mrs. John) Bond that was passed down from Edith’s mother, Rebecca (Mrs. James) Clark and grandmother, Magdalena (Mrs. Abram) Sherfey.
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TB, Called Consumption in Earlier Days, Required Treatment In Sanitarium | There was a time when people suffered from “consumption,” now known as tuberculosis, a debilitating disease that often resulted in certain death for those afflicted. |
Local 1937 Newspaper Touts Westerns, Sports, Circus, Tweetsie Ride | Old newspapers are a treasure trove of history ranging from significant unforgettable happenings to interesting trivial tidbits. Such was the case of a Saturday, August 14, 1937 Johnson City Chronicle. |
Sarah Jackson's Notes Preserve 1800s City History | Johnson City has been blessed over time with a cornucopia of historians, some celebrated and others obscure, but all equally important by preserving valuable facts from the past. |
1945 Woman's Magazine Featured Ads Dominated by Emphasis on WWII | I recently examined the contents of an April 1945 “Woman’s Day” magazine that carried a price tag of two cents. What impressed me the most was the emphasis of World War II on advertisements and sacrifices made during the bitter conflict. |
Test Your Knowledge of Volunteer State | East Tennessee has been blessed with capable leaders who helped shape the Volunteer State. Test your these pioneers by matching their names with their contributions. |
Elderly City Woman's 1957 Milestone Lauded by Mamie Eisenhower | Paul Gill, a former resident of Johnson City sent me some information about a special honor Teneva Leighton received on her 93rd birthday on August 17, 1957. |
Area Once Boasted Own Gold-Metal Winner | Johnson City resident, Peggy Harvey Street called the Press recently to remind readers that Paul Anderson, a former Elizabethton weightlifter, won a gold medal in the 1956 Olympic games held in Melbourne, Australia.
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Futuristic Main Street Was Pictured in 1963-64 City Report | A 28-page city progress report addressed to the people of Johnson City from the Mayor and Board of Commissioners was issued in 1965. |
Review: New Book from Bob Cox an Intriguing Collection of City History | Note: The following article was penned by Brad Jolly of the Johnson City Press and ran in the 10-20-2008 edition of the newspaper. I appreciate his nice review of my book, "Remembering Johnson City.")
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No Buildings Exist Today Linking the City with Its Stage-Road Days | In 1937, only one downtown Johnson City building remained as a reminder of the old Civil War era Stage Road (now Market Street) that loped through the city. |
Time to Think of Holidays Past, Including "Caroling" Photo | Ebenezer Scrooge, a wealthy old miser from Charles Dickens’ 1843 classic, underwent a life changing experience on Christmas Eve from three disembodied spirits known as the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Future. |
Model Train Set Made Christmas 1952 Especially Memorable | I mentioned in a previous column that I had acquired an American Flyer train set during Christmas of 1947. On Christmas Day in 1952, I received my second one, a Lionel “O” gauge assembly that was the dream of every young boy. |
1902 Comet Shows Election Then Just Like Campaigns of Today | A 1902 edition of the Comet newspaper spoke of the upcoming election that year. The Democratic ticket consisted of James B. Frazier, Cy H. Lyle, J.N. McKenzie, A. H. Tipton, J.L. Clark, and R.M. Barry. |
1940 "Newspaper" Short on Character, Goes for Comedy | The Monday Wash was distributed by “The Young Woman’s Auxiliary of the Monday Club,” and advertised as “A Newspaper of No Character.” |
Preaching Mission Once Big Mid-Winter Event for Area | Feb. 13, 1955, the inaugural day of the Preaching Mission, was typical East Tennessee mid-winter weather. In spite of this, a large number of folks turned out in all three cities. |
"Old Limber" Memorable Dog of Alf Taylor | Old Limber or The Tale of the Taylors (Delong Rice, McQuiddy Printing Co., 1921)is a small-sized 88-page volume that speaks of a famed Walker hound once owned by Alf Taylor, former governor of Tennessee. |
Readers Recall Gold Metal Weight Lifter Paul Anderson | Recently, two Johnson City readers added their recollections of Olympic weight lifter, Paul Anderson. |
Those Were The Days: Floating The Seasons Away At Munsey Pool | I have many fond memories of patronizing Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church’s now defunct swimming pool and adjacent snack bar in the 1950s. It was the only indoor public pool in town. |
Former City Resident Chronicles Growing Up In 1920s Johnson City | A handwritten letter written in 1995 by 93-year old, Omer Feathers, tells of his growing who grew up in the Cherokee section of town.
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Soldier's 1915 Poem Expresses Opinion of Brownlow Soldiers Home | The Sept. 20, 1915 edition of the Comet newspaper included a section titled, “Soldiers Home News Notes,” containing a page with numerous comments about residents of the Johnson City military facility. |
"Birthday Contest" Reveals What City Life was Like in Late 1800s? | In the spring of 1930, the Johnson City Chronicle and Staff-News conducted a “Birthday Contest” for local residents who were born in 1885 to glean from locals what the city was like in the 45 years since they were born.
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News from 1926 Newspaper A Bit Different Than Today | When was the last time you read about a car and wagon collision in Johnson City, heard someone speak of driving on the Appalachian Scenic Highway or received two automobile license plates in the shape of the State of Tennessee?
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Reviewers Heaped Praise on Alf Taylor's Famous Speech | Johnny and Patsy Starnes own an attention-grabbing brochure titled “Up Salt Creek.” The four pages deal with a prominent lecture that was frequently delivered by then Ex-Governor Alf Taylor at various locations throughout the state of Tennessee. |
Plenty on Tap for City Commission - Even in 1928 | In 1928, Johnson City’s government was housed inside City Hall at W. Main and Boone streets. Several items were on the City Commission’s agenda for June 22 that year. |
Former Little League Coach Shares His Love of Game | My recent article concerning a 1964 opening day program of Johnson City’s Little League Baseball sent to me by Doug Bernardi prompted a letter from Alf Taylor.
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Former Resident Recalls Growing Up On Lowell, Baxter Streets | Louis Feathers grew up in North Johnson City in the 1920s and 30s, first on Lowell Street and then at four different addresses on nearby Baxter Street. During part of that time, the area was outside the city limits. |
Weaver Family Built Some of City's Most Historic Structures | Paul Gill sent me some material from his Weaver family genealogy that offered an insight into early Johnson City. His great grandfather, James David Weaver, was an influential builder in Johnson City. |
"Paint By Number" Kits Once a National Phenomenom | "Paint by Number” kits contained a white canvas subdivided into numerous small areas, each containing a light blue handwritten number. |
Stories Upon Stories Told About Gov. Bob Taylor | An undated Johnson City Staff newspaper article is titled “Spotlights on Senator Taylor - Many Stories Are Told of Bob Taylor as Were of Lincoln.”
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Col. Haynes Gave Celebrated Speech Defending East Tennessee | Col. Landon Carter Haynes, whose name was once briefly used to name the city, expressed his love of East Tennessee in a speech. |
Besse Cooper, Who Grew Up in Area, Going Strong at 113 | Besse Brown Cooper, former area resident, celebrated her 113th birthday on August 26, making her a super-centenarian (someone over 110.) |
Ruth Fink, 94 Years of Journal Memories | Local resident, Georgia Ruth Cacy Fink, has a 94-year story to tell that chronicles her long life in East Tennessee.
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Eunis Shares Memories of Johnson City, Especially Keystone | Pat Greer Eunis recently shared her remembrances of living in Johnson City, particularly in the Keystone area of town. After residing in JC since 1940, she moved away in 1965 but returned in 2006.
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Johnson City Founder Was Quite the Inventor | The mere mention of Henry Johnson evokes an image of Johnson City’s modest founder who among other duties served as farmer; storeowner; postmaster; hotel landlord; first mayor; and railroad depot, freight, ticket and express agents.
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Ex-City Resident Shares Memories of Band, Buda's Burgers, Zoot Suits | James Garrett was one of the drum majors in SHHS's marching band and often twirled a fire baton at football games at half time in Memorial Stadium at night while all the lights were turned off. |
Buffalo Mountain's White Rock Summit Violently Collapsed in 1882 | Something noteworthy happened near Johnson City 128 years ago this past January 25. According to the source, the roughly 750 townspeople of the city experienced an event that left them helpless and reeling with fright.
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Police Officer's Notepad Gives Glimpses into City's Crime in 1950s | Joann Cress sent me a letter and a photograph pertaining to the career of her late father, Wendell D. Snapp, who once worked for the Johnson City Police Department.
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Arbor Day 1905 Honored Revolution War Heroes, States | Tennessee celebrates Arbor Day on the first Friday in March, but originally it was observed in the fall. |
Now in Her 90s, Pauline Miller Shares Youthful White Rock Memories | Pauline Miller of Erwin shared her memories of hiking to White Rock on Buffalo Mountain in the 1930s.
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City's Recreation Program Began with Teamwork in 1947 | A 17-page pamphlet from 1954 titled, “The Johnson City Tennessee Recreation Story – ‘A Story of Community Teamwork,’” owned by Harrison “Frosty” Stout, was shared with me through Larry Ledford and Alan Bridwell. |
Several Area Residents Honored Through Years by Carnegie Fund | Walter Birdwell brought to my attention the fact that, over the years, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has recognized several local inhabitants for displaying prodigious bravery. |
Thousands Attend Uncle Bush's Funeral - Even Uncle Bush | Recently, I uncovered a bizarre story about a 74-year-old mountaineer descendent of a well-known Roane County family whose name was Felix “Uncle Bush” Breazeale.
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Life on Johnson City Police Force in 1960s Always An Adventure | Charles W. Marshall, who worked for the Johnson City Police Department between December 1957 and October 1982, shared some prized photos and a Tennessee Fraternal Order of Police Magazine dated April 1966. |
Letters Speak of “Boon Tree” Relics, Including Table with Bullet | Five letters written between May 31 and Sept. 2, 1921 capture priceless particulars of Boones Creek’s legendary “Boon Tree.” |
Dishwasher in Early 1940s Was Likely a Person, Not a Machine | Comparing an early 1940s modern kitchen with those of today reveals how far technology has advanced in 70 years. In that wartime era, someone speaking of a dishwasher was likely referring to a person, not an automated machine. |
Unaka Springs, Once Affordable, Rustic Vacation Spot Near Erwin | At the turn of the nineteenth century, residents and tourists had a wide variety of options for spending restful vacation time in the statuesque hills of East Tennessee. They ranged from pricey upscale hotels to affordable rustic lodgings. |
Spartanburg Travelers Spend Relaxing Day at Soldiers Home in 1915 | On Saturday, May 16, 1915, an entourage of 631 school children and other excursionists boarded a CC&O train in Spartanburg, South Carolina to make the approximately 130-mile mountainous rail trip to Johnson City. |
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