Centerville in Hickman County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Hickman County Chamber of Commerce Building

— Historic Downtown Centerville —

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 4, 2025

1. Hickman County Chamber of Commerce Building marker

Inscription. Sam Davis Lodge 158, Knights of Pythias, chartered in 1897, began construction of this building in 1901. It was formerly the site of the Old Hickory House Hotel and stables, which burned in 1883. The Lodge occupied the upstairs, which has been largely unchanged since its beginning, and the first business downstairs was a general store. Carothers Hardware opened here in 1918. Ophelia Colley was teaching music lessons upstairs when she made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance as Minnie Pearl in 1940. Mayberry Hardware took over around 1960 followed by Dycus Hardware in 1971. The stained-glass windows upstairs were added in the 1980's. Trophy Case was the next tenant, and Hickman County Chamber of Commerce moved its office and a museum into the building in 2006. The Grinders Switch Hour, a local live radio show, was held on Saturday mornings here until 2023.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1897.

Location. 35° 46.719′ N, 87° 28.046′ W. Marker is in Centerville, Tennessee, in Hickman County. It is on South Public Square, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 405 S Public Square, Centerville TN 37033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Middle Tennessee

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Little Hands Children's Shop Building (here, next to this marker); Olympic Opera House Building (a few steps from this marker); Minnie Pearl (a few steps from this marker); Old Hickory House Hotel Building (a few steps from this marker); Huddleston Brothers Livery Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Deason Stonemason (within shouting distance of this marker); Haynes Building (within shouting distance of this marker); 400 West Public Square (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Centerville.

Hickman County Chamber of Commerce Building marker (middle, left) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, January 4, 2025

2. Hickman County Chamber of Commerce Building marker (middle, left)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on January 12, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 21, 2025, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.