Mountain City in Johnson County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The Ballad of Finley Preston

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 25, 2020

1. The Ballad of Finley Preston Marker

Inscription. Fred Price, Clint Howard and Sons tell the story of the last legal hanging in Tennessee in this 1972 album. It is just number 0009 on the Rounder Records label.

Painted by Bob & Pam Patterson and Jinny McCormick
Hear the music and download a Mural Tour Map at www.jocoartcenter.org

Erected by East Tennessee Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.

Location. 36° 28.483′ N, 81° 48.248′ W. Marker is in Mountain City, Tennessee, in Johnson County. It is at the intersection of North Church Street (Tennessee Route 418) and West Main Street, on the left when traveling north on North Church Street. The marker and mural are on the east facing wall of the Farmer's State Bank building. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 W Main St, Mountain City TN 37683, 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.

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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,

the State of Franklin,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tom Dooley (here, next to this marker); Train 45 (here, next to this marker); Old Time Music at Clarence Ashley's (a few steps from this marker); Amazing Grace (a few steps from this marker); Handsome Molly (a few steps from this marker); House of the Rising Sun (a few steps from this marker); G.B. Grayson (a few steps from this marker); Little Ragged Joe 1947 (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mountain City.

Also see . . .
1. The Ballad of Finley Preston by Clint Howard Fred Price & Their Sons. YouTube Recording (Submitted on February 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

2. The body who (maybe) moved itself. The story of the the murder

The Ballad of Finley Preston Painting image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mark Parker, June 25, 2020

2. The Ballad of Finley Preston Painting

The marker is in the lower left corner

of Lillie Shaw and subsequent hanging of Finley Preston, which took place two blocks West of the mural's location. (Submitted on February 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 2, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. This page has been viewed 544 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 28, 2025, by Mark Parker of Hickory, North Carolina. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.