Tellico Plains in Monroe County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Tellico Tales: Former City Hall

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 22, 2024

1. Tellico Tales: Former City Hall Marker

Inscription. City Hall has always been – and will always be – a place of many “goin’ ons”. Built in the early 1900’s, this building has more than served its time. In 1910, a jail was built in the back area. It was mostly used as a holding spot for night owls and town misdemeanors. Throughout its history, the walls of this building have included a fire hall, jail station, a library, a police station, and occasionally a city hall as well. The Tellico Jail had a good run. In 1977, all of the jailbirds started being transported to the Monroe County Justice Center, just as it is today. As previously mentioned, the Tellico Plains Public Library was moved to the upper level of city hall in 1972. After anonymous donation was made to help fund a new library, the city received a grant to match it. In 1993, the current library was opened for business. City Hall itself remained in the building until 2016, when the business was moved to its current place on Veterans Memorial Drive. The original building housed every city mayor known to date. From (picture right) W.H. Heffelfinger (August 1911 to July 1912) to Patrick Hawkins (2012 to 2020). Just

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like in every other small town, everything in Tellico connects to everything else. Even down to the street names.

Scott Street: C.A. Scott who brought the lumber business to Tellico

Babcock Street: The Babcock Lumber family

Southard Street: Southard brothers were head organizers of Tellico Extract Company

It is also rumored by mouth and by Ray Jenkins in his book, The Terror of Tellico Plains that there was a vintage adult entertainment business in the apartment complex across from Southard Street. Even though a good portion of Tellico History was put on paper, most of it still remains in the mouths and ears of its citizens.

[Caption]: W.H. Heffelfinger

Project Leader: Hannah Morris – Project Assistants: Merritt Sherrer & Isabella Wilson – Project Advisor: Sheann Graham – Constructor: Thomas Graham – Constructor Assistant: Kolton Stakely.

Sponsored by: Cherokee Women’s Club

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1912.

Location. 35° 21.735′ N, 84° 17.656′ W. Marker is in Tellico Plains, Tennessee, in Monroe County. It is at the intersection

Photographed by Tom Bosse, November 22, 2024

2. Tellico Tales: Former City Hall Marker

of Southard Street and Peach Street, on the right when traveling south on Southard Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tellico Plains TN 37385, 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 of this marker: Tellico Tales: School House Hill (here, next to this marker); Tellico Tales: Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Veterans Memorial Monument of Monroe County (within shouting distance of this marker); Tellico Tales: Memorial Drive (within shouting distance of this marker); Tellico Tales: Scott Street (within shouting distance of this marker); Tellico Tales: Sweet Shop

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(about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Tellico Tales: The Old Hotel (about 700 feet away); Unicoi Turnpike Trail (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tellico Plains.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Tellico Tales

Credits. This page was last revised on December 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 314 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 28, 2024, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.