Athens in McMinn County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

From Furs to Factories

The Tennessee Overhill Experience

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 17, 2021

1. From Furs to Factories Marker

Inscription.
McMinn County Courthouse Square
The courthouse square traditionally was the social, economic, and political center of county seats across the South. A succession of enterprises—dry goods stores, a laundry and tailor shop, stagecoach headquarters, tin shop, hat shop, hotel, meat and produce market, theater, bus depot, drugstores, doctors' offices, banks, and department stores—have flanked this square. Adjoining street corners are still known by the names of early business and residence owners, or remembered for long-past activities. Local tradition holds that Whigs/Unionists met at "McGaughey Corner” and Democrats/Confederates at "Crawford Corner.” Business and civic leaders routinely convened at the exclusive Estanallee Club on the corner of Jackson Street.

[Caption:]
This elegant structure, designed and built by the historic Athens business of Cleage and Crutchfield, served as McMinn County's courthouse from 1874 until fire destroyed it in 1964, The same local firm designed nine other courthouses in East Tennessee.

Erected by Tennessee Overhill Heritage Trail.

Topics and series. This historical marker

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is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the A Tennessee Overhill Experience - From Furs to Factories series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1874.

Location. 35° 26.582′ N, 84° 35.579′ W. Marker is in Athens, Tennessee, in McMinn County. It is at the intersection of Washington Avenue (Tennessee Route 39) and North Jackson Street (Business U.S. 11), on the right when traveling west on Washington Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 16 W Washington Ave, Athens TN 37303, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in East Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, July 17, 2021

2. From Furs to Factories Marker

of this marker: Hitching Rings (here, next to this marker); Hotel Magill (a few steps from this marker); McGaughey Corner (a few steps from this marker); Riddle and Wallace Drug Co. (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Strand Theatre (within shouting distance of this marker); McKeldin Block (within shouting distance of this marker); First National Bank (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Photographed by Steven D Weiss, January 8, 2023

3. From Furs to Factories Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 25 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2021, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. 3. submitted on January 8, 2023, by Steven D Weiss of Sweetwater, Tennessee. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.