Tellico Tales: Memorial Drive

Tellico Tales: Memorial Drive. . Veterans Memorial Drive holds the honored name of “town square”. From square dances to candlelight walks, this corner is the center of it all. In the literal center, there are engraved bricks which were once used as a town fundraiser. While the street itself stretches on, the history of its center sticks out as the true eye catcher. In almost every historical photograph of the city, this square can be seen. Tellico Plains was incorporated in 1911, three years before a fire would take out most of the buildings on this drive. Originally, there was a casket store, a black smith shop, and a jail. Tallent’s generational hardware store had been a permanent member on this rebuilt street since 1929 until its recent closing 2015-16. While Tallent’s Hardware stood its ground for many years, several businesses have come and gone alongside it. This included a movie theater and Plains Drugs (which at one point was a hot-spot for townspeople). At the drug store it was said you could buy a glass of coke and a magazine for only a nickel., Between 1929 and 1992, there was a 5 and 10 store and a dentist., 1992: Aunt Nelle’s Country Kitchen , 1994: Tammy’s Restaurant , 1996-2020: Town Square Café, Inside Town Square Café, you could see the walls lined vintage trinkets. Some being old aprons, or Pillsbury doughboy dolls. These antiques combined with the southern kitchen, would take you back decades. The far-right building had its fair share of operations too., 1930s: The Tavern , 1938-39: Town Café , 1939-60’s: assorted bars , 1970’s-88: Tellico Tavern , 1990’s: Volunteer Video Store , 1990’s: Tellico Mercantile , 1999-2019: Scott Street Gallery (now on Scott Street), While this street primarily held businesses, it was also a gathering place for one of the most important means of transportation to the people of Tellico in the 1940’s. Citizens that held jobs in the Alcoa Aluminum factory would gather on the square and wait for their bus. The Cherokee Bus Line would take people from Tellico Plains to Alcoa every workday. Not only would this provide a ride to the workers, but it also dropped people off at other places along the way. They would wait until the end of the day shift and get back on when it was time to come home. This bus allowed many people to keep their employment and provided access to other areas in Monroe County for numerous citizens. Veterans Memorial Drive continues to grow and change today and forever more. Providing a street of history and fascination to the town of Tellico., Project Leader: Hannah Morris – Project Assistants: Merritt Sherrer and Isabella Wilson – Project Advisor: Sheann Graham – Constructor: Thomas Graham – Constructor Assistant: Kolton Stakely., Sponsored by: Chota Community Health Services