Waverly in Humphreys County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)
Court House Bell
Photographed By Don Morfe, April 19, 2014
1. Court House Bell Marker
Inscription.
Court House Bell. . Preserved here for future generations is the original bell installed in the County Court House erected on this public square in 1899. This bell may have existed in the earlier court houses erected here in 1836 and 1878 both of which were destroyed by fire. In olden days the Court House was the center of activity in most affairs of the county. Here the courts holden in the county convened for their prescribed terms. Citizens summoned from all parts of the county gathered in the county town for their term of jury service. On the first day of a term the bell was tolled to gather all who had business before the courts. Modern communications and travel have made this symbolic event now obsolete. For our children and grandchildren we preserve this historic relic and here record the history of its use. October 1997 Jaycee Rawlings, County Executive. Richard Grice, William H. Link, Ronnie R. Smith, A. Odell Nichols, Robert C. Reid, Jeffery L. Ladd, William C. Webb, James L. Long, Ruby F. James, Jimmy W. Jones, Ronald R. Hughes, David Westbrook, John S. McCaw, Walter R. Long; County Commissioners
Preserved here for future generations is the original bell installed in the County Court House erected on this public square in 1899. This bell may have existed in the earlier court houses erected here in 1836 and 1878 both of which were destroyed by fire.
In olden days the Court House was the center of activity in most affairs of the county. Here the courts holden in the county convened for their prescribed terms. Citizens summoned from all parts of the county gathered in the county town for their term of jury service. On the first day of a term the bell was tolled to gather all who had business before the courts. Modern communications and travel have made this symbolic event now obsolete. For our children and grandchildren we preserve this historic relic and here record the history of its use. October 1997 Jaycee Rawlings, County Executive. Richard Grice, William H. Link, Ronnie R. Smith, A. Odell Nichols, Robert C. Reid, Jeffery L. Ladd, William C. Webb, James L. Long, Ruby F. James, Jimmy W. Jones, Ronald R. Hughes, David Westbrook, John S. McCaw, Walter R. Long; County Commissioners
Erected 1997 by County Executive and CountY Commissioners.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics
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• Patriots & Patriotism. In addition, it is included in the Historic Bells series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1997.
Location. 36° 4.986′ N, 87° 47.682′ W. Marker is in Waverly, Tennessee, in Humphreys County. Marker is on W. Main Street. The marker is located on the grounds of Humphreys County Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Waverly TN 37185, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on June 13, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 518 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on June 13, 2014, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
