Several African-American barbers operated businesses in Athens in the first half of the 20th century. In 1900, Charles Miller was in business at 10 N. White Street. By 1913, Albert J. Evans was operating at 8 N. White, having bought property on . . . — — Map (db m180315) HM
In 1953, M.D. Goodfriend, Jr. (owner M.
Goodfriend Store) and Simon Monen (owner
Sterling Dress Shop), opened the Athens
Outlet Store at this location. The store
specialized in selling discount apparel and
used the old jail building located . . . — — Map (db m180317) HM
Built by the Ingleside Water Company c. 1920, this building once housed the Athens Water Works and served as Precinct 11 during the election of August 1, 1946. When Thomas Gillespie, a local black man, arrived around 3 p.m. to cast his vote, he was . . . — — Map (db m177774) HM
The Battle of Athens was an armed revolt that gained national attention. Attempting to end the control of an entrenched political machine, World War II veterans used force to ensure that on the day of local elections in 1946 every vote “was . . . — — Map (db m49561) HM
In August 1866, the Bethsalem Presbyterian Church was the first African-American church organized in the area of McMinn, Meigs, and Polk counties. The church had its start in a brush arbor until the congregation built a log cabin which served as a . . . — — Map (db m178009) HM
In 1833, William H. Cunningham purchased this lot from the Commissioners of Athens for $1,000. Deed records of 1853 indicate that Cunningham's executors sold the property to Francis Boyd for $400. Boyd was appointed postmaster in April of the . . . — — Map (db m177805) HM
Bus Station
2 S. White St.
William E. Newton was the owner of a cab service and decided to open a bus station across from the Robert E. Lee Hotel. He later moved the bus station to this location during the 1930s. The business was managed by . . . — — Map (db m177809) HM
Cher-O-Kee Photofinishers was established at this location c. 1944 by Fred Wankan, former owner and editor of The Daily Post-Athenian. The business grew and by 1957, moved to a new location on Congress Parkway. Later, the name changed to Fox . . . — — Map (db m180312) HM
In the late 1820s, a brick building was constructed by contractors Cleage & Crutchfield. Alexander Cleage was the owner of Cleage Hall, and it was used for temporary court proceedings, balls, and other civic activities. The Franklin Association, . . . — — Map (db m177804) HM
This was the site of the home and store of County Court member, John Crawford (1797-1862). It is said that Crawford's building was the oldest brick corner in Athens.
In 1907, G.F. Lockmiller and other businessmen purchased the lot and . . . — — Map (db m177806) HM
Effron's, a department store chain that started in Chattanooga c. 1923, opened at this location by 1930. They were promoted as a big department store which carried items for the whole family at low prices. Their policy was that of faith in the . . . — — Map (db m177630) HM
In the early 1940s, the Board of Public Utilities (later Athens Utilities Board) began purchasing this property and that immediately behind it on Jackson for its offices.
In the early 1960s, the City of Athens purchased and renovated the . . . — — Map (db m180313) HM
The history of Athens is marred by many buildings and blocks being destroyed by fire.
Athens fought fires with one hose cart until 1910 when this property was purchased for the location of the first Fire Hall and Recorder's office. Later, due . . . — — Map (db m177775) HM
In 1885, the name was changed to First National Bank with J.M. Henderson as president and Robert J. Fisher as cashier. (Fisher received national attention for inventing a typewriter that was able to print downward on a bound ledger.) After being . . . — — Map (db m177739) HM
Established in 1889 as a Presbyterian mission, First United Presbyterian Church was constructed in 1892 in the Gothic Revival Style by descendants of former slaves. The church played a major role in the area's educational history, serving as the . . . — — Map (db m107922) HM
In 1907, the M. E. Church (later Trinity United Methodist) negotiated with George W. Foster and his wife for the purchase of his livery stable and two dwelling houses located at the junction of Jackson and College Streets and the sale of this . . . — — Map (db m177780) HM
Established in the 1850s, Free Hill was a community of free, educated African Americans. These men and women were skilled tradespersons who owned property and businesses. By 1854, they advertised In newspapers. St. Mark's AME Zion Church, built in . . . — — Map (db m177916) HM
McMinn County Courthouse Square
The courthouse square traditionally was the social, economic, and political center of county seats across the South. A succession of enterprisesdry goods stores, a laundry and tailor shop, stagecoach . . . — — Map (db m177734) HM
Dr. W.W. Grant, dental surgeon, built his office here c. 1907 having bought the lot from Dr. J.R. Nankivell, physician, who had his office next door. Serving as mayor, Dr. Grant oversaw the building of a splendid system of concrete walks, the . . . — — Map (db m177777) HM
These hitching rings were used by McMinn Countians to secure their horses while trading or attending to business. Accommodations for hitching horses were removed from around the square in 1922 to make way for the automobile. — — Map (db m177736) HM
Mrs. R. N. Magill opened the Hotel McGill on this site in 1904. It was known for having the best cooks. The amenities provided set the benchmark for a top quality hotel which drew plenty of business. The hotel expanded from twelve to thirty . . . — — Map (db m177668) HM
300 yards east is the house in which John Tyler Morgan (1824–1907) was born. A brigadier general in the Confederate Army, he later served for 30 years as United States Senator from Alabama. He distinguished himself by promoting legislation in . . . — — Map (db m49575) HM
Lt. Charles R. Ware, USN
1911-1942
U.S.S. Charles R. Ware (DD-865)
1945-1981
To honor the memory of Lieutenant Charles Rollins Ware, the former officers and crewmen of the destroyer USS Charles R. Ware (DD-865) dedicate this plaque in . . . — — Map (db m182313) HM WM
This corner was once the location of the home and tin shop of Robert McGaughey, an African-American businessman who was well-known for his skill as a tinsmith.
In 1921, the property was sold to First National Bank and a two story structure was . . . — — Map (db m177738) HM
In 1835, General William Brazelton of New Market
purchased part of this block for his daughter Emily and Irish son-in-law Andrew McKeldin who operated a mercantile store here until his death in 1867.
In 1878, Emily had a brick building . . . — — Map (db m180321) HM
This is the former site of the McMinn County Jail. It was under attack during the night of August 1, 1946 when the GI party believed the deputies held seized ballot boxes there. The event has been labeled The Battle of Athens. There is visible . . . — — Map (db m180323) HM
In 1887, Dr. J.R. Nankivell purchased a wood frame building on this lot from J.B. Cook to house his medical practice. When the frame building was replaced c. 1922 by one of brick, Dr. Nankivell moved his medical practice to the second . . . — — Map (db m177778) HM
Petty-Manker Hall was built in 1913 as a dormitory for men. It was named in honor of the Reverend J.S. Petty and the Reverend J.J. Manker, class of 1873. The four-story brick building was erected at a cost of $25,000, which was contributed by John A . . . — — Map (db m49574) HM
In 1836 contractors Samuel Cleage and Thomas Crutchfield were engaged to construct the Planters Bank on this site. Many skilled craftsmen, including African-American slaves, worked for them. Cleage's son David later served as cashier. When the . . . — — Map (db m177779) HM
This interstate highway parallels the historic line of the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroads. In September 1863, Union Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside led his army toward Knoxville along the line to take control of the strategically vital city.
At . . . — — Map (db m117807) HM
This house is believed to have been built in 1835 by Cleage and Crutchfield, contractors. It was inherited by Margaretta Senter Rice after her father died without a will in 1846. She was the wife of Charles L. Rice after whom the community of . . . — — Map (db m177782) HM
Pharmacist Miles A. Riddle opened a drug store on the corner of Washington and N. Jackson c. 1914. In the early 1950s, Jack Wallace became a partner in the business. Riddle and Wallace Drug Company moved to the building just west of here c. 1961, . . . — — Map (db m177639) HM
This interstate highway parallels the historic line of the East Tennessee & Georgia Railroad. Late in 1863, Union and Confederate armies followed the tracks during a series of battles in the fight for control of Chattanooga, a strategically vital . . . — — Map (db m97343) HM
This was one of the houses built by this itinerant contractor, who left Botetourt Co., Va., in 1823 and made his way south building houses, taking pay in “gold, notes or Negroes”. In 1836 it was the central office for the Hiawassee R.R., . . . — — Map (db m49571) HM
Freedom had been a long time coming for three to four million African American men, women, and children. During a period of turmoil and strife in antebellum America, when racism and discrimination were widely prevalent, enslaved African Americans . . . — — Map (db m177917) HM
This was the site of the Foree Hotel in operation 1913 until 1925 when it was destroyed by fire. In 1925, Mrs. J.O. Foree sold the Hotel Foree property to Manning and Wink, a partnership responsible for opening several movie theatres in Georgia . . . — — Map (db m177638) HM
Organized in 1857 as Athens Female College and sponsored then by the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The name of the college has been changed several times, but it has been related to some branch of the Methodist Church . . . — — Map (db m82258) HM
Build c. 1920, this building housed
the printing office of The Athenian, a
republican newspaper. Later it
merged with The Athens Semi-Weekly
Post, a democratic paper, to become
The Post Athenian. In the early 1930s
it became a daily . . . — — Map (db m177741) HM
A wounded English officer from Fort Loudon was befriended by an Indian Chief and nursed back to health by Nocatula, daughter of the Chief. The soldier, given the name of Connestoga, “The Oak,” was accepted into the tribe and married . . . — — Map (db m82259) HM
This 1920s-era frame building, home to the Beth Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church, stands as a carefully tended symbol of the freed slaves and their descendants who once were part of an integrated community of subsistence farmers. The Beth Salem . . . — — Map (db m178010) HM
In May of 1946, WLAR 1450 opened on the second floor of this building as one of only two radio stations between Knoxville and Chattanooga.
On August 1, 1946, announcer C.C. (Chuck) Redfern, took the photo of the two GI poll . . . — — Map (db m177740) HM
500 yards southeast is buried Joseph McMinn, governor of Tennessee, 1815-1821. A Quaker, born in Pennsylvania, he came to Hawkins County in 1790. He also served in the State Constitutional Convention, 1796; State Senate, 1798–1812; Speaker of . . . — — Map (db m49560) HM
Expansion of textile manufacturing into the Southern states provided the first large-scale “public work” opportunities for local women. Englewoods textile workforce, from the workers of the first spinning mill built on a nearby farm in . . . — — Map (db m109276) HM
Addison, Earl M. Aderhold, William J. Akin, Robert F. Aldridge, Ray H. Ammons, David F. Atkins, Leon O. Ballew, Charles E. Jr. Barnes, Robert H. Bazemore, Curtis A. Bearfield, Carl E. Beaty, Clarence A. Belcher, Homer F. . . . — — Map (db m178012) WM
The Louisville and Nashville (L&N) built Etowah between 1904 and 1906 as division headquarters for its new Cincinnati to Atlanta line. Workers were transferred from other L&N facilities or recruited from nearby farming communities, other states, and . . . — — Map (db m109275) HM
Dedicated to these who made the
supreme sacrifice in WWII
Adams, Wallace I. Amburgey, Lawrence M. Anderson, Vernell Arden, Dexter C. Armstrong, Joel T. Atchley, Robert J. Bates, James W. Bayless, Lawrence Bohannon, Jackson . . . — — Map (db m178016) WM
The Treaty of 1805 between the United States and the Cherokee Nation established the Old Federal Road. The road extended from the Tellico Blockhouse on the Little Tennessee River to the towns of Madisonville and Columbus, Tennessee. This route . . . — — Map (db m178011) HM
In memory of
Col. R.J. Meigs
Thos. Cantrell
Isaac Lane
Wm. Peters
S. Benson McNabb
John Rainey
Max Rector
Chas. Carter
S. Eldridge
Benj. Brown
B. Cochran
Gov. Jos. McMinn
Isaac Newman
John . . . — — Map (db m181286) WM
In 1902, the L&N Railroad was searching for a location between Atlanta and Knoxville to build their Southern Division Headquarters on a new, more direct route between the two cities. This new line would bypass the mountainous area of the Hiwassee . . . — — Map (db m120191) HM
This monument perpetuates the memory of our beloved countrymen, members of Company L, 117th Infantry, and others who served in the World War from the Third District of McMinn County, who, true to the instincts of their birth, faithful to the . . . — — Map (db m120471) WM
A native of Niota, Harry T. Burn held public office for much of his adult life; State House of Representatives, 1919-23; State Senate 1949-53; State Planning Commission 1952-58; delegate of Roane County to the Constitutional Conventions of 1953, . . . — — Map (db m82260) HM
Railroads played a significant role in the Civil War in East Tennessee. Commanders on both sides viewed the railroad as an important asset, not only as a carrier of military supplies, but also as the means of rapidly concentrating their forces. This . . . — — Map (db m69361) HM
