By 1892, East Tennessee, with her wholesome climate and magnificent health restoring mineral waters, had become a strong competitor of the North and New England states, as a summer resort for the invalid in search of health benefits, or those over-worked in search of rest and recreation.

The invigorating mountain air of the locale, aside from the mineral waters, was a sure antidote for many of the ills to which people of other sections were vulnerable.

A few good East Tennessee meals, followed by an invigorating outing in the pristine countryside, did more to bring back rosy cheeks and cheerful spirits of former days than all the drugs and patent medicines available from Maine to California.

Although this depiction may appear as flowery language, the large and increasing number of people who annually spent a month in Jonesboro and returned home sounding the praises of the town's delightful experiences warranted the residents to make this information available to those unfortunate souls who had never enjoyed a summer here.

While this communication applied generally to the entire 34 counties east of the Cumberland Mountains, it was due the public to state that Jonesboro was perhaps the most desirable place for all purposes that could be found in East Tennessee at which to spend summer months. That bold declaration was based on four reasons:

1. The Jonesboro Inn conducted by G. Cate, was one of the best hotels in the country and they knew how to make visitors feel at home.

2. S.H. Anderson had the largest and finest livery turnout in East Tennessee, with polite and accommodating employees to serve patrons at all hours, day and night.

3. Embreeville, the celebrated iron works that was in operation; Johnson City (formerly known as Johnson's Depot); and Clark's and Austin's celebrated springs were all located on good roads within one to two hours drive from Jonesboro.

4. Without question, a pleasant ride over the nearby landscape two or three times a week to those and other points of interest with the social life and pleasure found at the inn would certainly drive away cares and diseases and give renewed vigor and strength to both mind and body.

While commending East Tennessee as the equal of any other section on the globe for a summer resort, no one hesitated to say that Jonesboro, the oldest town in the State, the capital in 1875 of the State of Franklin (State of Frankland and the Free Republic of Franklin), the community noted for its excellent society, fine schools and good churches, was the place above all other for a summer home.

Since the altitude of Jonesboro was nearly 1700 feet, nights were seldom too warm in midsummer to dispense with cover. As for mosquitoes, they were few and far between to require screens. If a visitor could leave his or her guilty conscience behind, there was nothing to disturb peace of mind or body while making Jonesboro home.

The town was blessed with excellent physicians, lawyers, businessmen, mechanics, laborers and the prettiest and finest women in the state, all of whom would tell you that "there is no place like home in Jonesboro." Their strong admonition was for folks to come and experience the town for themselves and be convinced that not a single fact had been overstated.

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Writing this column makes me wonder why I am not residing in Jonesboro (Jonesborough) like a fortunate former classmate of mine. Ironically, my column photo indicates that Dr. Isham came to peddle his medication at the Jonesboro Inn that year.