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documenting the
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publish it on this site or will provide a link if you have it already
posted on the
net. Many thanks.
ATTRACTIONS of SMITH COUNTY
| Cordell
Hull Lake Project begun May, 1963 and completed November 1973 Named for Tennessee statesman Cordell Hull Secretary of State for Franklin Roosevelt, 1933 to 1944 Awarded Nobel Peace Prize, 1945 Lake located on Cumberland River Flows through Smith, Jackson and Clay counties Dam located in Smith County at river mile 313.5 from mouth Lake 67.3 miles long and has 381 miles of shoreline |
Smith
Co Fairgrounds Carmack Av Carthage |
| Carthage
Junction Depot Completed 1883 Moved from original location near Gordonsville Located at intersection of I-40 and Hwy 53 Now serves as a museum and gift shop |
Old
Steel Bridge Located on Betty's Bend Rd Spans Caney Fork River Picturesque single lane rusted steel bridge |
BOAT DOCKS & RAMPS of SMITH COUNTY
| Defeated Creek Marina | Hwy 85, Box 321 Carthage Hwy 85, follow signs to Point Rd Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
ACCOMMODATIONS Snack Bar RV Parking Hook-ups Electric Water Sewer Dump Station Laundry Restrooms Showers Tent Camping |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Picnic Area Playground Walk/Jog Trail WATER ACTIVITIES |
| Carthage
Access Area Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Dam
Site Left Bank Access Area Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Horseshoe Bend Access Area Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Sullivans
Access Area Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Buffalo
Access Area Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Rome
Boat Ramp Located on Old Hickory Lake |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Water/Jet Skiing |
HIGHWAYS of SMITH COUNTY
| U S Highways I-40, 70N |
State Highways 24, 25, 53, 80, 85, 96, 141, 263, 264 |
HISTORY of SMITH COUNTY
| Established 1799 Organized December 16, 1799 Fifth to be created in Middle Tennessee Carthage is county seat |
PEOPLE of SMITH COUNTY
| Daniel
Smith County named for Daniel Smith Born 1748 Was a colonel in the Revolutionary War Surveyed and made first map of Tennessee Became secretary of the territory south of the Ohio River Elected as U S Senator Died 1818 |
| Albert
Gore, Jr Home of the 45th vice president of U S inaugurated 1993 Served 16 years in U S House and Senate Ran for President in 2000 (Lieberman was Vice Presidential running mate) Bush was declared winner in December, after Florida recounts were halted by court Supreme Court had to get involved because of controversy over Florida vote counts |
| Maggart The town of Maggart was named after a number of families who lived there The Maggart family began to vanish in the 1970's Now not much more than a skinny gravel road marks the spot of the town Much of the town was flooded by Cordell Hull Lake The town now consists of an old cemetery and a Methodist Church An empty bait shop called the Crooked Worm, trailers, and lounging dogs mark the old town place The area now has a population of 20 or so |
CHURCHES of SMITH COUNTY
| Lancaster Seventh Day Adventist | 742 Lancaster Highway |
| Bide Russell Missionary Baptist | Brush Creek Missionary Baptist | Calvary Missionary Baptist Church | Carthage First Baptist |
| Riddleton Circle Established Jan 22, 1953 |
School House Road Established May 29, 1802 |
Highway 70, South Carthage | Main Street Carthage |
| Caney Fork Missionary Baptist | Carthage Road Baptist | Chestnut Mound Missionary Baptist | Defeated Creek Missionary Baptist |
| Helms Bend | Hwy. 70 Carthage |
Chestnut Mound Established 1953 |
Difficult Community Established Oct 28, 1837 |
| Dillard Creek Missionary Baptist | Dixon Springs Union | Dixon Springs Missionary Baptist | East Carthage Missionary Baptist |
| On Granville Highway | 1878 | Organized May 28, 1978 | Eastland Heights Carthage Established 1963 |
| First Baptist | Gordonsville First Baptist | Grant Missionary Baptist Church | Hickman Baptist |
| Main St Carthage Organized 1881 Rebuilt 1922 |
Main Street Gordonsville |
Grant Community | Hickman 1806 |
| Hogan's Creek Missionary Baptist | Jared Missionary Baptist | Knob Springs Baptist | Lancaster Baptist |
| Carthage - (turn off
Hwy 70 at Rivermont) Organized 1810 |
Chestnut Mound | Hiawassee Road (3
miles north of Rome) Established Dec 17, 1814 |
Lancaster Community |
| Lily Hill Baptist Church | Macedonia Baptist | Macedonia Baptist Church | Mace's Hill Missionary Baptist |
| P.O. Box 80 Riddleton |
New Middleton | Club Springs | Pastor - Bro. James
Lawson Organized 1917 |
| Monoville Missionary Baptist Church | Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist | Mt. Pilgrim Baptist | Mt. Tabor Baptist |
| Key Hollow Lane | 210 E. 2nd Avenue Carthage | Highway 70 | (one mile south of
Pleasant Shade) 1836 |
| New Fairview Baptist | New Macedonia Missionary Baptist | New Middleton Baptist | New Salem Missionary Baptist |
| Highway 70 Rome |
Chestnut Mound | Gordonsville Organized 1839 |
Elmwood Established 1849 |
| North Carthage Baptist | North Gordonsville Baptist Church | Peyton Creek Baptist | Plunkett's Creek Missionary Baptist |
| 108 Carmack Avenue | Gordonsville (Near
I-40/McDonald's) 1975 |
1812 | Off Hwy 70 (near
Mineral Wells) 1837 |
| Riddleton Baptist | Riddleton Circle (Off Dixon Springs Hwy) | ||
| Rome Baptist Church | Rome
Community - Hwy 70 1942 |
||
| South Carthage Missionary Baptist | Davis
Street South of Carthage |
||
Independent Baptist Church
| Cornerstone Baptist Church | Friendship Primitive Baptist Church | Grace Baptist |
| Meeting at 55 Massey
Road Carthage Established Oct 1, 1991 |
1806 | Riddleton Circle At Preacher Road |
| Brush Creek Church of Christ | Carthage Church of Christ | Chestnut Mound Church of Christ | Gordonsville Church of Christ |
| Brush Creek | 711 Main Street Carthage |
Pea Ridge Road 1966 |
Gordonsville |
| Main Street Church of Christ | Montrose Church of Christ | Rome Church of Christ | Sykes Church of Christ |
| 332 Main Street Carthage |
Lock 8 Road Defeated |
Hwy 70 about 1 mile from Rome bridge | Sykes |
| Carthage Church of God | Chestnut Mound Church of God | Lancaster Hill Church of God |
| Highway 53 So. Carthage |
Hwy 70 Chestnut Mound Organized August 24, 1974 | Lancaster Hill Road |
| Church of God of Prophecy | Bowlings Branch |
| The Church of God | Hwy 53, Gordonsville
Road South Carthage |
| Emmanuel Church of Jesus | Emmanuel Church of Christ |
| Buffalo Valley School House | Oneness Pentecostal Hwy 70 East, Chestnut Mound |
| Alexandria United Methodist | Braden United Methodist | Brush Creek United Methodist | Carthage United
Methodist Listed on National Register 1985 |
||
| Alexandria, TN | Third
Avenue Carthage |
Brush Creek, TN | 609 Main Street Building completed 1889 Some of stained glass windows original |
||
| Cedar Point United Methodist | Chapel Hill Methodist Church | Chestnut Mound Methodist | Dicktown United Methodist Church | ||
| Bluff Creek Community | Riddleton, on Beasleys Bend Road | Founded 1886 | New Middletown Rd Hwy 53 |
||
| Gordonsville United Methodist Church | Hickory Grove United Methodist | Jack Apple United Methodist | Kempville Oldtime Methodist | ||
| Gordonsville | Kempville | Enigma
Community Built 1907 Rebuilt 1966 |
Highway 85 Kempville |
||
| Lancaster United Methodist | Mt. Zion United Methodist | Parthenia United Methodist | |||
| 1952 | Elmwood | McClure's Bend | |||
| Carthage Church of The Nazarene | Carmack Ave |
| Gordonsville Church of the Nazarene | Main Street Gordonsville |
Williams Chapel Church |
710
Dixon Springs Hwy Riddleton 37151 Established 1865 |
| Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church | Sykes Community |
| Upper Cumberland Presbyterian | Pleasant Shade |
| Calvary Church of Christ Pentecostal | Carthage
Christian Built 1875 |
Carthage Full Gospel Church | Carthage Pentecostal Church |
| Brush Creek | Main St Carthage Land acquired from the King Brothers, Carthage merchants Sunday School rooms added 1925 |
101 West 1st Ave Carthage | Upper Ferry Road |
| Christ Church | Cornwells Chapel | Faith Chapel | First Freewill Baptist Church |
| Hwy 53 Gordonsville |
Established 1879 | Rock Springs Community | Services at Kempville
Christian School 212 Kempville Highway |
| Free Holiness Church of God | Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses | Longbranch Community Church | Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church |
| Highway 25 Carthage |
Hogan's Creek Road Carthage | Highway 141 Lancaster |
658 Lebanon Highway Rock City |
| New Rivers Worship Center | South Carthage Pentecostal Church | The Lighthouse Mission Church Of God | Trinity Full Gospel Church |
|
20 Volunteer Circle
Carthage TN 37030
|
Hwy 70 | Bradford Hill Road Carthage |
325 Main St. Carthage |
| Turner Chapel A.M.E. Church | |||
| 113 Avenue East Carthage TN | |||
POST OFFICES of SMITH COUNTY
| Alexandria | Opened:April 2, 1821 | Closed:May 2, 1836 |
| Bagdad | Opened:December 26, 1832 | Closed:May 26, 1892 |
| Bairdsville | Opened:February 19, 1855 | Closed:April 10, 1860 |
| Bluff Creek | Opened:August 24, 1889 | Closed:March 1, 1906 |
| Opened:July 10, 1909 | Closed:February 28, 1913 |
| Bratton's | Opened:December 10, 1827 | Closed:January 18, 1842 |
| Brevard's | Opened:March 13, 1830 | Closed:May 10, 1837 |
| Bridges | Opened:July 10, 1890 | Closed:September 30, 1893 |
| Opened:November 2, 1894 | Closed:November 21, 1904 |
| Opened:February 11, 1908 | Closed:March 15, 1910 |
| Brush Creek | Opened:August 4, 1879 | Closed:December 19, 1896 |
| Opened:January 6, 1897 | Closed:May 1, 1923 |
| Opened:July 15, 1926 | Closed:Operating |
| Liberty | Opened:March 10, 1808 | Closed:September 21, 1836 |
| Long Creek | Opened:March 2, 1835 | Closed:August 24, 1835 |
| Marada | Opened:January 24, 1891 | Closed:May 31, 1907 |
| Maggart | Opened:June 3 1886 | Closed:October 31, 1903 |
| Meadorville | Opened:April 24, 1837 | Closed:January 18, 1842 |
| Monoville | Opened:June 13, 1884 | Closed:August 12, 1885 |
| Opened:August 31, 1885 | Closed:Operating |
| Montgomery | Opened:March 22, 1819 | Closed:ca.1824 |
| Montrose | Opened:January 30, 1851 | Closed:August 13, 1867 |
| Opened:March 25, 1872 | Closed:July 6, 1876 |
| Mulberrry Grove | Opened:February 23, 1824 | Closed:November 2, 1827 |
| New Durham | Opened:January 10, 1834 | Closed:December 8, 1834 |
| New Middleton | Opened:July 18, 1854 | Closed:February 26, 1965 |
| North Alexandria | Opened:May 1, 1923 | Closed:July 15, 1926 |
| Oliver | Opened:August 17, 1893 | Closed:October 13, 1907 |
| Peyton's Creek | Opened:April 17, 1848 | Closed:January 30, 1857 |
| Opened:December 30, 1857 | Closed:September 22, 1866 |
| Opened:April 6, 1871 | Closed:November 25, 1872 |
| Pleasant Shade | Opened:February 9, 1833 | Closed:September 22, 1866 |
| Opened:July 28, 1867 | Closed:Operating |
| Punch | Opened:May 25, 1905 | Closed:October 31, 1907 |
| Riddleton | Opened:May 3, 1875 | Closed:Operating |
| Rome | Opened:May 7, 1830 | Closed:December 31, 1910 |
| Opened:April 29, 1914 | Closed:December 15, 1932 |
| Round Lick | Opened:April 8, 1814 | Closed:May 7, 1830 |
| Salt Lick Creek | Opened:March 1, 1833 | Closed:January 18, 1842 |
| Sebowisha Smith | Opened:August 3, 1910 | Closed:June 15, 1912 |
| Snow Creek | Opened:July 23, 1869 | Closed:June 7, 1871 |
| Opened:July 10, 1871 | Closed:August 28, 1872 |
| Stone Bridge | Opened:July 1, 1844 | Closed:May 23, 1849 |
| Stonewall | Opened:October 18, 1875 | Closed:July 31, 1920 |
| Sykes | Opened:April 9, 1886 | Closed:January 26, 1895 |
| Opened:March 12, 1895 | Closed:August 31, 1957 |
| Tuxedo | Opened:December 9, 1896 | Closed:January 6, 1897 |
| Williams Mills | Opened:February 25, 1840 | Closed:May 10, 1842 |
| Witcher's Cross Roads | Opened:January 19, 1833 | Closed:January 31, 1854 |
HOMES of SMITH COUNTY
| Oaklawn Home Lovers Lane | Davis-Hull House | Swope-Fite-Ligon Home | Capt James Bradleys' Home |
PARKS of SMITH COUNTY
| Smith
County Park A Corps of Engineers Park Located on Old Hickory Lake Open year around |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Picnic Area Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming- Lake Water/Jet Skiing |
| Dam
Area Park Dam Rd Take Hwy 261 off Hwy 85 Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Hiking Picnic Area Playground |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Water/Jet Skiing |
| Defeated
Creek W Point Rd Hwy 85, follow signs to Point Rd Open Mar 25 to Oct 31 Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
ACCOMMODATIONS RV Parking Hook-ups Electric Water Sewer Dump Station Laundry Restrooms Showers Tent Camping |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Hiking Picnic Area Playground Walk/Jog Trail |
WATER
ACTIVITIES Boat Dock Boat Launching Canoeing Fishing Swimming-Lake (Developed) Water/Jet Skiing |
| Overlook
Park Hwy 263 Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Hiking |
| Bearwaller
Gap Trail Hwy 85 Located on Cordell Hull Lake |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Camping (Primitive) Hiking |
| Rome Fireman's Park | Rock City/ Community Center Building Picnic Area |
| Lock
7 Park Located on Old Hickory Lake A Lions Club park Community Center Building Picnic Area Playground |
WATER ACTIVITIES Canoeing Fishing Water/Jet Skiing |
SPECIAL DAYS of SMITH COUNTY
| Country
& Bluegrass Jamboree Defeated Creek Marina Held second weekend in June Features crafts, food, games, music and dancing |
Crusin' the Cumberland Sept Rome Ferry Landing |
| Crusin' the Cumberland Sept Defeated Creek On the sternwheeler, Music City Queen Touring through Jackson, Smith, Trousdale, and Wilson counties |
Smith Co Holiday Open House Smith County area Held second Sunday in November Businesses are decorated for Christmas and hold special sales |
STATISTICS for SMITH COUNTY
| SIZE of SMITH COUNTY |
| Square Miles | 325 |
| Miles of City Streets | 33.98 |
| Miles of County Road | 430.00 |
| POPULATION of SMITH COUNTY |
| 1870 | 15,994 |
| 1880 | 17,799 |
| 1890 | 18,404 |
| 1900 | 19,026 |
| 1910 | 18,584 |
| 1920 | 17,134 |
| 1930 | 15,473 |
| 1940 | 16,148 |
| 1950 | 14,098 |
| 1960 | 12,059 |
| 1970 | 12,509 |
| 1980 | 14,935 |
VISITOR CENTER of SMITH COUNTY
| Chamber of Commerce | Box 70 Carthage (37030) Located on Square |
CONTRIBUTED J COFFEE 5/2/03
Gen. John
Coffee made Andrew
Jackson what he was but old John did not
have any political aspirations himself.
My great great
grandfather, Joshua
Coffee,
(b.1810-d.1890) , 2nd cousin of Gen. John Coffee, was born in Smith
County
Tennessee. His wife was Delilah (Conger-b.1814-d.1845). They
lived in
Gordonsville. My great grandfather Joshua David Coffee and
all of his
siblings were born in Smith County Tennessee. My line of that Coffee
family moved to Fannin County Texas in 1855 and my great great
grandfather
remarried Sarah (Hill) in 1850 after my great, great
grandmother died
and moved to Stanislaus County California in 1867. Most of
the Coffees in
northern California are descended for Joshua Coffee. I copied the 1850
Smith County census from the internet a year ago at USGenWeb@rootsweb.com
CARTHAGE, Tennessee
ATTRACTIONS of CARTHAGE
| Courier Building Built 1917 Was the early site of the Carthage Courier Brick for the building came from the Joseph Myer house on bank of Cumberland River |
| Cordell Hull Bridge A toll bridge was built 1906 The Cordell Hull Bridge opened 1936 |
Old City Cemetery Opened 1854 Originally shared site with Carthage Methodist Church |
| Riverview
Speedway 371 Dixon Springs Hwy Carthage |
Smith County Courthouse Completed 1879 Listed on the National Historic Register in 1979 |
Walton Hotel Main St Built by Monroe Fisher around 1905 |
HISTORY of CARTHAGE
| The historical
Carthage, was founded on the north coast of Africa, by ancient
Phoenicians Famed as a cultural center 800 years before Christ Courthouse built and post office established, 1806 Steamboats came to area in the 1820's Carthage incorporated in 1817 South Carthage incorporated in 1963 Three ferries provided access across the river in Carthage |
HISTORICAL SOCIETIES of CARTHAGE
| Smith County Historical Society | P.O. Box 72 (37030) |
PEOPLE of CARTHAGE
| William Walton William Walton was first settler in area about 1787 He redeemed a land grant issued by North Carolina for services in Revolutionary War Walton's Ferry was chosen as the county seat Walton deeded 50 acres in exchange for $1.00 to form city named Carthage Built Walton Rd that ran from Kingston through Carthage to Nashville |
| Cordell Hull Was Secretary of State under President Roosevelt, lived in Carthage |
HOMES of CARTHAGE
| Cullum Mansion Cullum Rd Built for William Cullum with slave labor and hand-fired brick 1848 Placed on National Register 1983 |
Judge Fisher's Home One of oldest buildings in Carthage Originally served as a tavern |
| Swope/Fite/Ligon House Originally the home of a Dr Swope and family Used as hospital during Civil War |
Davis/Hull/More House Built by Captain Calvin Nevins Davis 1889 Placed on National Register 1983 |
| House 401 Main St |
House 403 Main St |
House 412 Main St |
House 505 Main St |
| House 607 Main St |
House 618 Main St |
House 704 Main St |
House 801 Main St( Brick) |
House Main St |
PARKS of CARTHAGE
| Carthage
City Park Industrial Dr Carthage Industrial Dr Carthage |
OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES Baseball/Softball Field Picnic Area Playground Tennis Courts Volleyball |
WATER ACTIVITIES Swimming-Outdoor Pool |
SPECIAL DAYS of CARTHAGE
| Smith County Horse Show | Carthage Fairgrounds Carthage Held 4th Friday night in June Sponsored by Civitan Club |
Crusin' the Cumberland Sept Carthage Landing Carthage |
| Fall Heritage Festival October On the square of Carthage Carthage Held 2nd Saturday Features antiques, crafts, food music, and games |
Carthage Christmas Parade December Downtown Carthage Held first Sunday after Thanksgiving Sponsored by Carthage Lions Club |
STATISTICS for CARTHAGE
| POPULATION of CARTHAGE |
| 1960 | 2,021 |
| 1970 | 2,491 |
| 1980 | 2,672 |
| 1990 | 2,386 |
| LOCATION CODES for CARTHAGE |
| Zip | 37030 |
VISITOR CENTER of CARTHAGE
| Carthage-Smith County Chamber of Commerce | P.O. Box 70 Carthage TN 37030 Phone: 615-735-2093 |
DIXON SPRINGS, Tennessee
GOLF in DIXON SPRINGS
| Greenhills Golf | Hwy 25 Private |
PEOPLE of DIXON SPRINGS
| Major Tilman Dixon | City founded by
Revolutionary War Major Tilman Dixon from land grant Dixonia, the Home of Major Dixon still standing |
HOMES of DIXON SPRINGS
| Dixona | Hwy 25 W Located in Dixon Springs Oldest house in Middle Tennessee Built on land from a Revolutionary War grant of 3840 acres Built by Tilman Dixon around 1787 to 1789 Came up Cumberland River by canoe from Mansker's Station with William Walton Walton settled in Carthage area, and Dixon in Dixon Springs As a major, fought in Revolutionary War at King's Mountain Was the first Post Master, merchant, tavern keeper, and built the first school in the area |
GORDONSVILLE, Tennessee
HISTORY of GORDONSVILLE
| Incorporated in 1909 |
PEOPLE of GORDONSVILLE
| John Gordon | John Gordon founded town in 1800 |
LIBRARY of GORDONSVILLE
| Gordonsville Public Library | 63
Main St En Gordonsville |
SPECIAL DAYS of GORDONSVILLE
| Gordonsville Fun Festival | Ivy Agee Memorial Park Gordonsville Held first Saturday in June Features antiques, crafts, art, food, and games |
Classic Car Show July Gordonsville |
| Gordonsville Christmas Parade | December Downtown Held first Sunday in December Sponsored by town of Gordonsville |
STATISTICS for GORDONSVILLE
| POPULATION of GORDONSVILLE |
| 1960 | 249 |
| 1970 | 601 |
| 1980 | 893 |
| 1990 | 891 |
| LOCATION CODES for GORDONSVILLE |
| Zip | 38563 |
1/5/01 O. Neal
I was living in Carthage in 1926. There was an
old rickety toll
bridge across the river close to where the Cordell Hull Bridge was
installed. A
gentleman named "Mitch" Moore was the toll keeper. I remember
that
tare approach to the bridge was pretty high above the bottom land on
the Carthage side of the
river. There was a hinged pole that stopped cars and buggies from
going onto the
bridge unless it was raised by the toll keeper. I was a child at
that time, so Mitch
seemed like an old man. He may have been anywhere from forty to
sixty. Along
about that time, they put a high tension line across the river.
The tower and the
wires, as I remember were ten or fifteen feet below the level of the
approach to the
bridge. No one would have considered that the event that took
place could have ever
taken place on this earth.
I believe there was an outhouse close to the toll house, but I am not
sure. One
morning, bright and early, Mitch had to urinate. As he had done
many times before,
he went over to the railing across from the toll house and
proceeded. He didn't know
that the electricity had been turned on so he got the rude shock of his
life.
It is said that it knocked him down, but the connection was not too
good so he survived
and collected toll until the Cordell Hull; bridge was installed and
opened.
(Note: Needless to say, I am an old guy (80).
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