Glimpses

September 3, 1953

Hohenwald Bank and Trust Company celebrated its 50th year on September 1.

The Lewis County Civic Club sponsored a banquet to honor H.D. “Breezy” Wynn, Knoxville industrialist who contracted with Hohenwald and Lewis County to operate a manufacturing plant in Hohenwald.

Reverend L.F. Haley retired from the ministry after 42 years, and returned to Hohenwald to make his home.

D.T. Hardy returned home after serving in Korea aboard the U.S.S. Los Angeles.

Mrs. E.H. Wright and Mrs. Ordie Cothran enrolled in LCHS to complete coursework towards a delayed diploma. Mrs. Wright resumed high school studies after a 20-year delay.

Wilda Lawson won a quilt that was given away by the Lomax Cross Roads Home Demonstration Club.

The Strand Theatre installed a giant wide screen, allowing viewers to see a 50% larger projected image. The Strand was the first theatre in a small town in Middle Tennessee to install the wide screen.

The following news items were reported on residents serving in the U. S. Armed Forces: James Edwards was returning to the U. S. after serving in Korea with the 2nd Infantry Division. Malcolm Rose, USS Helena, and D. T. Hardy, USS Los Angeles, participated in training exercises with the Pacific fleet. Ollie Spears, Jr. was undergoing post-truce training with the 25th Infantry Division in Korea.

Funeral services were held for William Garrison, 83.

Willis Motor Company advertised that they would now also be an authorized dealer for Emerson television sets and radios.

“Calling Bulldog Drummond,” starring Walter Pidgeon, and “The Marksman” starring Wayne Morris, were the Friday and Saturday movies showing at the Strand Theatre.

In statewide news, funeral services were held for Nannie Shumate, believed to have been the oldest Gold Star mother in the nation. She was 108. Nannie was born in Carthage, TN in 1845, six days before the death of Andrew Jackson. She lost a son, Willie Shumate, in World War I.

September 5, 1963

Mayor W.C. Keaton signed a Proclamation naming the week of September 8-14, 1963, as National Public Works Week.

Employees at the Lewis Products plant voted 101 to 80 against being represented by the United Rubber Workers of America, AFL-CIO.

Jane Ann Adcox was selected as 1963 Fairest of the Fair.

David Sharpe caught a 17-pound catfish while fishing in the Buffalo River.

Army Pvt. Raymond Bridges completed advanced training as a radar crewman at the Air Defense Center at Fort Bliss, TX.

Navy Fireman Jackie Duncan participated in a joint U.S. – Republic of Korea amphibious exercise dubbed “Operation Flagpole.”

Louisa Clay and her son were honored for their birthdays with a dinner at Meriwether Lewis Park.

Funeral services were held for James Brewer, 82.

“The Bridge” and “Girls! Girls! Girls!” starring Elvis Presley and Stella Stevens, were the Friday and Saturday movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In Theatre.

In area news: A Hickman County man was shot during a failed burglary attempt in Perry County. One person was killed and two others were injured in a tractor-trailer-auto crash at the intersection of Hwy 48 and Hwy 100, about thirteen miles north of Hohenwald.

September 6, 1973

Mrs. Cecil Floyd donated items to the Tennessee State Museum relating to her husband’s career with the U.S. Navy. Mr. Floyd served 30 years in the Navy. He was at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and served as a radio operator on the Taw Taw, a submarine, before and during WWII. The Taw Taw had the recognition of sinking more enemy vessels than any other U.S. Navy vessel during WWII.

The Lewis County Herald invited parents to bring their children to the Southside Motel on September 12 to have a color picture taken of them, free of any charge or obligation, for an upcoming photographic feature series in the paper entitled “Citizens of Tomorrow.”

Reserve Pvt. First Class Thomas Driver returned home after completing two weeks of active duty with the 115th postal detachment in Germany.

Mr. and Mrs. Keith Ridge announced the birth of their daughter, Stephanie Elaine.

Albert McCoy and Grady Dyer were honored for their birthdays with a luncheon held at the home of Mrs. Grady Dyer.

Funeral services were held for Lillie Milan, 82; Beatrice Pope, 80; and for James Pope, 84.

“Scream Blacula Scream,” starring William Marshall, and “Doctors’ Wives” were the Friday and Saturday movies shown at the Highlands Drive-In.

September 8, 1983

Mayor Guy Nicholson signed a proclamation naming the week of September 4 – 10, 1983, as Foster Child Week in Hohenwald.

The State of Tennessee announced that the state’s unemployment rate dropped three-tenths of a point, marking the fifth consecutive month for the jobless rate to decline. In Lewis County unemployment in July rose from 24.2 to 28.9 percent.

Tracy Edwards was crowned 1983 Fairest of the Fair.

Charlotte Tuttle, Public Health Nurse at the Health Department, announced her retirement at the end of September 1983, after ten years of service.

A Lewis County woman was charged with assault with a deadly weapon with intent to commit murder following a shooting at her home on Piney Road.

Tyler Bell and Dale Floyd were named as LCHS Players of the Week.

Jimmy Graves and Waymer Staggs caught four rock fish, weighing a total of 32 pounds, while fishing at Percy Priest Lake.

The following births were announced: William Jeremy, son of Mr. and Mrs. Keith Dye; and Sara Ann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. David West.

Funeral services were held for Robert Murphy, 46; Mary Reeves, 67; and for Rita White, 27.

“Tough Enough” and “Sweater Girls” were the weekend movies showing at the Highlands Drive-in Theatre.

September 9, 1993

The City Council and Mayor approved a 17 feet by 36 feet addition to the Hohenwald City Hall to house a new fire truck that would be ordered in the coming months.

17,000 people attended the South Central Tennessee Area Fair. The only incident to occur at the fair was during the mud drag on August 28. The throttle stuck on an open modified car driven by Randy Donnell of Shelbyville, causing the car to knock down a park fence, cross the street, and crash in to the trailer home of R.C. Melton on North Park. Donnell was thrown from the vehicle and was life-flighted to Vanderbilt Medical Center.

Jeff Owen graduated from National Guard basic training.

Karen Ricketts won a mini, battery operated Vette car during a promotion held at Sonic Drive-In.

Glen Hines and his sister, Katie Skelton, caught a 30-pound yellow catfish while fishing in the Tennessee River.

Frederick and Clara Zielke celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

Funeral services were held for Hazel Cothran, 77; Retha Dabbs, 69; and for Walter McClearen, 78.

September 4, 2003

Less than two weeks after one resident pled guilty to a brutal homicide, another was charged with murder in what was apparently an unrelated case.

The Hohenwald Family Readiness Group would host a memorial service in honor of Sergeant Roger Rowe on September 7 at the local armory.

Paula Spears and the UT Extension Service was featured in the “A Closer Look…” column.

Red’s Garage held a Grand Opening on August 30 at their East 4th Street location with owners Sherry and Reggie “Red” Swinea as hosts. Live music was performed and door prizes were given away.

Jaclyn Savell of Hohenwald was selected by Elite Magazine of Memphis to appear on its cover and be featured in an article about the 30 Most Beautiful People in Memphis. Savell was a senior at the University of Memphis and was nominated for this honor by her boyfriend, Nestor “Ito” Rodriguez, also of Hohenwald.

Former Mayor Guy Nicholson was honored with a proclamation signed by Governor Phil Bredesen and Senator Jackson recognizing his many years of public service.

The LCHS Panthers defeated Wayne County with a score of 24 to 18 in their season opening game. Marcus Booker led the offense with 131 yards on 15 carries. Zack Chapin led the defense with 15 tackles.

Tom Gilbert, along with his children and nephew, caught a number of smallmouth bass while fishing at the Moosehead Lake Region of Maine.

The following births were announced: Evan James, son of Jason and Rachel Coats; and Alison Brianne, daughter of Sergeant James and Deborah Patton.

Funeral services were held for Carolyn Harris, 50; Clyde Lentz, 64; James Ricketts, 64; and for Frederick Rogers, 36.

This article was written using local history resources available at the Lewis County Public Library and Archives. Libraries are guardians of history. Visit the library and archives to learn more about our community’s unique past.