City Center in Chattanooga in Hamilton County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr.

1883–1945

Photographed by R.E. Smith, August 4, 2007

1. Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr. Marker

Inscription. Born in 1883, Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr., opened Chattanooga’s first independent auto-repair garage at 318 Market Street. Here in 1916 he invented the twin-boom wrecker. Holmes pioneered and patented numerous improvements in the towing and recovery industry. He expanded his company into an international enterprise. Manufacturer of the first military wrecker during World War II, he supplied thousands of twin-boom wreckers to the allied forces from 1941 through 1945.

Erected by Tennessee Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2A 98.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Tennessee Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1945.

Location. 35° 3.165′ N, 85° 18.567′ W. Marker is in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in Hamilton County. It is in City Center. It is on Market Street (U.S. 127) near East 3rd Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 318 Market Street, Chattanooga TN 37402, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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 of this marker: Chattanooga Daily Rebel (approx. 0.2 miles away); Swaim's Jail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Welcome to Chattanooga

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(approx. 0.2 miles away); Point in the Line of Fort Sherman (approx. 0.2 miles away); Chattanooga's First School (approx. 0.2 miles away); Headquarters Row (approx. ¼ mile away); Ross's Landing (approx. ¼ mile away); Ed Johnson Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chattanooga.

Other markers no longer nearby. Headquarters of General James A. Garfield (was about 600 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been confirmed missing); Headquarters of Brigadier General John M. Brannan, U.S.V. (was about 600 feet away but has been confirmed missing); Signal Hill (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Headquarters of Major General U. S. Grant, U.S.A. (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by R.E. Smith, August 4, 2007

2. Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr. Marker

Photographed by R.E. Smith, August 4, 2007

3. Ernest Walter Holmes, Sr. Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 4, 2007, by R. E. Smith of Nashville, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 2,814 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 4, 2007, by R. E. Smith of Nashville, Tennessee. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page.