Historical Markers and War Memorials in Macon County, Tennessee
Lafayette is the county seat for Macon County
Adjacent to Macon County, Tennessee
Clay County(14) ► Jackson County(17) ► Smith County(18) ► Sumner County(135) ► Trousdale County(10) ► Allen County, Kentucky(17) ► Monroe County, Kentucky(36) ►
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Thousands of Tennessee families were caught in the crossfire of the Civil War. Dempsey Parker’s family, which lived in the Hillsdale community here in Macon County, is one of many examples of a family sharply divided between North and South. . . . — — Map (db m68525) HM
During the Civil War, Macon County experienced internal strife as did many other areas of Tennessee. In the spring of 1863, a Confederate partisan band established itself in this part of the county, where it harassed Federal units and threatened . . . — — Map (db m151149) HM
According to the Official Record in a communication received at Civil War Headquarters in Louisville, KY. 12 May 1863, a skirmish occurred involving 100 men of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry of the Union Army commanded by Major FM Davidson and 125 . . . — — Map (db m183325) HM
12 May 1863
Company K 5th Indiana Cavalry and others met a squad of guerillas here. In the engagement, 9 of the guerillas were killed and two of the Federal forces were wounded. — — Map (db m183326) HM
James Henderson Key (1863-1946) and Meredith Jane Roark (1869-1962) were married in 1886. Sometime after their marriage, they came into possession of the parcel of land that is now located at 208 Church Street.
Meredith Jane was the . . . — — Map (db m224676) HM
Established 1842; named in honor of Nathaniel Macon, North Carolina statesman. This place was selected as the county seat, named for Marquis de LaFayette, French general in the American Revolution.
First courthouse erected in 1844; three . . . — — Map (db m39396) HM
This monument dedicated in memory of the men who served in the Confederate States Army from Macon County, Tennessee during the war between the states 1861-1865
These units were comprised of local men serving in the Army of Tennessee
2nd TN . . . — — Map (db m68526) WM
During the Civil War, about 500 Macon County men served on each side. The Highland Rim ridge, as well as family loyalties, generally separated Confederates from Unionists. Gibbs Crossroads, where Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg once had a . . . — — Map (db m82225) HM
Songwriter and singer Russell Smith led the Amazing Rhythm Aces country rock group, who scored a Top 20 pop hit in 1975 with Smith's song "Third Rate Romance." Later, he became a successful country songwriter.
Howard Russell Smith was born in . . . — — Map (db m224677) HM
On Feb. 7, 1842, the Justices of Smith and Sumner Counties met at the home of William Dunn, located in this vicinity, for the purpose of forming a new county. Along with Dunn were Taylor Gillam, John Clairborne, James Patterson, L.D. Hargas, Thomas . . . — — Map (db m68524) HM
These large limestone slabs were the steps to the Woodmore Hotel, located on the west site of the square. Moses and Bettie Woodmore owned and operated the hotel in the late 1800’s. It was later operated by their daughter and by their granddaughter . . . — — Map (db m68545) HM
Macon was one of 22 Tennessee host counties for World War II maneuvers before the invasion of Europe in 1944. The county was chosen because its terrain was similar to that in Europe. The war games prepared soldiers for active combat after the . . . — — Map (db m80395) HM
Built by John Smith in 1924, this was the first brick hotel and was built from brick molded
and fired on site. It was originally called Smith's Brick Hotel. Later it was operated by Henry Counts and was known as the Counts Hotel. This 32-room hotel . . . — — Map (db m183778) HM
This mill was owned and managed by Oscar David Bush and was operated by electricity. Ax handles were made and then later blank handles were made for the Lebanon Handle Company. It closed circa 1953. — — Map (db m183604) HM
This planeing mill was owned by Oscar David Bush, brother Otto Bush and Raymond Smith. It had one boiler which created the steam power needed to operate the mill. Later it became a stave mill which were used to make whiskey barrels. Oscar Bush . . . — — Map (db m183605) HM
This one story Wooden store was owned by Irvin Chitwood and featured a variety of merchandise, groceries, and hardware. It was destroyed in the flood of 1969. — — Map (db m183780) HM
Red Boiling Springs served as a station during the early part of the war between the states. The 30th TN. Infantry regiment was officially organized Oct. 22nd 1861 with the following companies enrolled here.
Co. A, Co. B were men from Robertson . . . — — Map (db m180016) HM
The original three story wooden structure was built by Squire 0. Donoho circa 1901 and was destroyed by fire circa 1913. The present hotel was built by Lon and Charles Phillips and opened in April 1914 as a 52 room, two story wooden hotel. It . . . — — Map (db m183800) HM
This barber shop was in the private home of Ephraim Bean. This was wooden a small, 4 room wooden structure built prior to the present brick home which was built in the 1950's. This business later moved to the Palace Hotel Complex. — — Map (db m183346) HM
This two story wooden boarding house was owned and managed by Mrs. Martha (Coomer) Gaines and husband Joseph. There were 5 rooms for boarders and red water was featured. The building was torn down circa 1952. — — Map (db m183799) HM
Places once prominent in Tennessee’s antebellum transportation routes are sometimes almost forgotten places today. This road intersection was of significant strategic value in fighting the war in Tennessee’s Upper Cumberland region. During the Civil . . . — — Map (db m82226) HM
This one story wooden general
store was owned and operated
by General Fred. Hudson. It
featured groceries and a variety
of other items. Fresh meat
was sold when available. He
later sold this establishment
to Sam McCoin who ran it
until he . . . — — Map (db m183968) HM
This steam powered mill had one boiler which operated two engines to power the handle factory. It was the oldest of the three mills and was owned by J. B. Brusher. Later Oscar Bush became the owner after paying the taxes for 22 years. The mill . . . — — Map (db m183606) HM
This 2 story brick structure was owned by Thomas S. Joines and featured white
water. Later Alexander Funeral Home operated here before moving to its present location in 1963. This house burned in the mid 1970's. — — Map (db m183321) HM
This establishment was owned by Royal A. Leslie and wife Bertha. He was a Natureopathic Physician and she was a registered nurse. Mineral baths, massages, chiropractic, and a
sauna steam room were the featured treatments. Patients were boarded here . . . — — Map (db m183808) HM
This well was affectionally called 'Little Red' and featured red mineral water. Red was the mildest of all the mineral waters and was favored as the drink of choice for pleasure and healing powers. — — Map (db m183804) HM
1. There was an Enlistment Center and Civil War Hospital in the Webb Hotel (later the Dedman and then the Palace Hotel. The Palace Nursing Home at 309 Main Street, Red Boiling Springs is on this location now).
2. The mineral resort of Epperson . . . — — Map (db m180306) HM
This three story wooden business was built in 1909 and was owned by Charles Bancroft McClellan Sr. and was a general store featuring quality merchandise. This was the first building locally with a freight elevator. The large glass windows made . . . — — Map (db m179986) HM
This two story wooden structure
had 6 rooms for guests and was
the first Nixon Boarding House
and then later the Whitley
Boarding House. Red water was
featured. This was the location
of Alexander and Russell
Funeral Home during the . . . — — Map (db m184027) HM
This establishment included
mineral baths and massages. Tt
was owned and operated by Dr.
William Asbury Page and wife
Alice (Hesson) Page. It was a
one story wooden structure
separated into a men's side and
a woman's side. Black water . . . — — Map (db m183982) HM
This park was part of the Palace Hotel
complex and was owned and created by
Charles Bancroft McClellan, Sr. Features
included a two story building which housed
an eight lane, five pin bowling alley on the
ground floor and on the second floor a . . . — — Map (db m183350) HM
This hotel was built in 1912 by Charles Bancroft McClellan, Sr. and was a three story wooden hotel with 185 rooms. This was the grandest hotel of Red Boiling Springs. This site was of the first hotel called the Webb Hotel and later the Dedman Hotel . . . — — Map (db m121324) HM
This structure featured one booth with low slanted walls to allow full sun. It was built on stilts approximately 10-12 feet high. One could sun bathe in the privacy of a lock door either in the nude or with a swim suite. This was an amenity for the . . . — — Map (db m183680) HM
Red Boiling Springs has long been a landmark in Macon County. It was a central crossroads for both Federal and Confederate forces during the Civil War.
The war came home for local residents on September 24, 1861, when Capts. Ridley R. West and . . . — — Map (db m39584) HM
The history of this area started due to the salt licks which gave Salt Lick Creek its name. It is just as the name implies, whereas the buffalo and other animals came and licked the salt emitting from the ground. Here they obtained their own . . . — — Map (db m183963) HM
In the early 1900's this town was a flourishing resort because of the many types of mineral water found here. This popular retreat attracted city dwellers and rural families from this region who were accommodated by the many hotels. The town was . . . — — Map (db m39473) HM
This two story wooden hotel was built by Ellis Witcher in 1926. It was also the Lincoln, Baker, and Owen Hotel. When the hotel business waned, the owner Dr. Royal A. Leslie turned it into a chicken house, keeping the chicks from newly hatched until . . . — — Map (db m183806) HM
This one story Wooden
grocery store was owned by
Benton and Aulty Reeves. It
offered a general line of
groceries. Aulty hand made
crepe paper flowers in which
she designed memorial
wreaths and bouquets. The
building was destroyed in
the . . . — — Map (db m183981) HM
Owned by Van and Elnorah (Ballenger) Sampson, during the boarding season which was early spring to late fall, this dwelling was used as a light housekeeping facility where you made your own bed and cooked your own meals over a kerosene cook . . . — — Map (db m183958) HM
This area was on a route used by Federal and Confederate troops as they made maneuvers between the Northern and Southern states. As they traveled thru, their sick and wounded were often left here for treatment. Dr. James Carson Weir, from . . . — — Map (db m39580) HM
The Buffalo Road, which is a branch of the Great Buffalo Road, enters Macon County at the extreme southeast corner and travels northward following Wartrace Road (State Route 56) to the Willette Road (State Route 262). This section was called the . . . — — Map (db m180019) HM
Named by early pioneers traversing thru the region, this designated Indian trail led these settlers into this area during Western migration. This mainly Cherokee trail, (although used some by the Shawnee), originated at Rockwood in Roane County, . . . — — Map (db m180021) HM
Originally the Cloyd Place, it was an
18 room hotel and built in 1890 by the
Cloyd Brothers, Zachary Wheat and Henry
Clay and was managed by brother
Thomas Tyler Cloyd. This 2 story wooden
structure burned in 1920. It was
reconstructed in 1924 . . . — — Map (db m183986) HM
Jim Davis was located 3.5 miles north of here at site of Epperson Springs, a mineral springs summer resort.
Jim Davis was the proprietor of the Epperson Springs Resort during the Civil War.
Company G 22nd Barteaus Cavalry, TN Cavalry (later . . . — — Map (db m224674) HM
The Epperson Springs Hotel, built by local businessmen so that residents and visitors could enjoy bathing and soaking in a mineral springs, stood here. Most of the state’s early resorts grew up around mineral springs; physicians often touted the . . . — — Map (db m182801) HM
