On Walnut Street at Pusser Street, on the right when traveling north on Walnut Street.
Personal History
Buford Hayes Pusser was born near Finger, Tennessee on December 12, 1937. His early education consisted of elementary schools in this area and graduation from Adamsville High School in 1956. About a year later, Buford . . . — — Map (db m56824) HM
On West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) west of North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west.
Carl Perkins
American Music Icon • King of Rockabilly
Carl Perkins is a native of Lake County, Tennessee and a towering figure in American popular music. He achieved superstardom in 1956 with the rockabilly anthem "Blue Suede Shoes," but . . . — — Map (db m179091) HM
On West Court Street (Business U.S. 64) at North Front Street, on the right when traveling west on West Court Street.
Rockabilly was the sound of young country musicians in the 1950s infusing their music with rhythm and blues (R&B). It emphasized the electric guitar over traditional country instruments such as the steel guitar, fiddle and banjo. Originally called . . . — — Map (db m179098) HM
On West Court Avenue at North 4th Street, on the right when traveling west on West Court Avenue.
• The McNairy County Music Hall of Fame was founded by Arts in McNairy in 2013 with the goal to preserve and promote the distinct and rich musical heritage of McNairy County and Southwest Tennessee.
• The Trail of Music Legends, a project of the . . . — — Map (db m179102) HM
On East Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) at North Front Street, on the left when traveling south on East Court Avenue.
This is the Mobile and Ohio Railroad which was chartered in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Kentucky in 1808 to provide a vital commercial link between the Gulf or Mexico and Cairo, Illinois, on the Ohio River. The last miles of track were laid . . . — — Map (db m162180) HM
Fifty yards north is the home (ca. 1856) of Union Col. Fielding Hurst, a slave owner but devout Unionist who raised the 6th Tennessee Cavalry during the Civil War. Hurst’s family controlled an area known during the war and long afterward as the . . . — — Map (db m74875) HM
Near East Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64), on the left when traveling east.
Waldo Davis
Old-time Fiddler • Radio & TV Personality
Waldo Davis is one of the most prolific musicians and entertainers of the early and mid-twentieth century. He has performed on concert stages, community dances, fiddle contests, and . . . — — Map (db m179103) HM
On U.S. 64 at Lawton Road, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 64.
On December 12, 1937, Buford Hayse Pusser was born in Finger, Tennessee. In 1962 he became Adamsville's chief of police. He was elected sheriff of McNairy County in 1964. Soon his courageous fight against crime exposed him to much danger and many . . . — — Map (db m82262) HM
On Bethesda-Purdy Road 0.5 miles north of Armour Drive, on the left when traveling north.
One-half mile west of this marker is the site of McNairy County's first courthouse. In October 1823. An Act of the Tennessee General Assembly proclaimed this area to be McNairy Co. Abel V. Maury owned this land that was the center of the county. To . . . — — Map (db m179109) HM
On U.S. 64 at Airport Road, on the right when traveling west on U.S. 64.
4 miles northwest. Established in 1823, it was first county seat of McNairy County; here was Purdy University from 1855 to 1861. Glover’s Trace ran through it from Middle Tennessee to the Mississippi Country. The county seat was moved in 1890. — — Map (db m63087) HM
On Barret Road 0.2 miles south of Mudville Road, on the right when traveling south.
During the winter of 1862-63, Confederate troops, including the First Tennessee
Partisan Rangers, successfully attacked Federal troops in a series of skirmishes in southwest Tennessee. To deter further strikes, Union cavalry from Memphis, Jackson, . . . — — Map (db m148565) HM
On West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) at South 2nd Street, on the right when traveling east on West Court Avenue.
The Latta Ramblers
Legendary Bluegrass Band
The Latta Ramblers were one of West Tennessee's premier old-time and bluegrass bands. The personnel changed over the years, but the core members of the group were Eunice Littlejohn Smith . . . — — Map (db m179087) HM
Near East Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64), on the left when traveling east.
David Killingsworth
Revered Fiddler, Mandolist and Music Heritage Preservationist
David Killingsworth is best known as one of McNairy County's preeminent fiddlers, but primarily considers himself a mandolinist and demonstrates mastery on a . . . — — Map (db m179104) HM
On West Court Avenue at North Front Street, on the left when traveling east on West Court Avenue.
Stanton Littlejohn
Musician, Music Preservationist & Amateur Sound Engineer
Stanton Littlejohn is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, but his lasting legacy is in local music preservation. In
an incredibly prolific ten-year period . . . — — Map (db m168729) HM
On Tennessee Route 200, on the right when traveling south.
Born 1798 in Mifflin County, Pennsylvania. Colonel John Purdy came to Tennessee in 1819. During the 1820s he served as Surveyor-General of the Ninth Surveyor’s District, with his office-home in Mifflin, which he named in honor of his Pennsylvania . . . — — Map (db m218360) HM
On State Line Road at Old U.S. 45S, on the right when traveling south on State Line Road.
Since the 1930's the state line was known for illegal drugs, bootleg whiskey, gambling, and prostitution. Death, blood-shed, and illegal activities continued through the 1960's. Buford Pusser was elected McNairy County Sheriff in 1964 and his . . . — — Map (db m182309) HM
On East Main Street (Tennessee Route 365) at North Cason Avenue, on the left when traveling east on East Main Street.
The three-year fight in present-day Chester County for control of the Mobile & Ohio Railroad often touched the lives of Henderson's residents. Henderson's Station, as it was called, served as a Confederate recruiting center for the 51st and 52nd . . . — — Map (db m155291) HM
On West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) at North 2nd Street, on the right when traveling west on West Court Avenue.
The Stephen Foster Music Club
Music appreciation organization
The Stephen Foster Music Club is a group dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of music in McNairy County. Named after Stephen Collins Foster, one of the most . . . — — Map (db m179084) HM
On Main Street at 1st Ave, on the right when traveling south on Main Street.
Shortly after local schools were back in fall session, a benefit concert was held on this site, September 17, 1954, at Bethel Springs School. While not unusual for the time, the Bethel Springs lineup included a young Elvis Presley, performing in his . . . — — Map (db m250768) HM
On North Front Street at East Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64), on the right when traveling west on North Front Street.
Selmer has been the county seat of McNairy County since April of 1891 when it was moved from Purdy, TN. This change came to be when Purdy citizens voted an emphatic no to the railroad coming through their town. This decision moved the railroad 4 . . . — — Map (db m251858) HM
On West Court Avenue (Business U.S. 64) at North 3rd Street, on the right when traveling west on West Court Avenue.
Dee Fisk Martin
Rhythm and Blues Singer & Recording Artist
Dee Fisk Martin was a singing sensation practically from the womb. Just seven years old, Dee made her debut on the national stage appearing on the TV show "Ozark Jubilee” hosted by . . . — — Map (db m179096) HM
On West Court Avenue (Business Tennessee Route 64) at South 3rd Street, on the right when traveling east on West Court Avenue.
Bessie Jarrett
Beloved & Influential Gospel Artist
Bessie Jarrett began singing gospel at 8 years old in Mt. Olive Church at Guys. A versatile entertainer, Bessie is recognized for her ability to perform many styles of music including R&B, . . . — — Map (db m179101) HM
Thin black lines indicate changes in relevance. Between each pair of lines entries are ordered geographically but all have the same relevance.
* Inflectional forms of words are their plurals, singulars, and possessives as well as gramatical tenses and similar variations.
