IMAGES From Nostalgiaville
TENNESSEE-
Smith County
, TN

Memories are the Essence of Civilization

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Your help is needed to make this site better for all the people inside and outside of Smith County, Tennessee.  We are particularly interested in documenting the history of Smith  County.  If you have useable information we are anxious to 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
Boat Dock
Boat Launching
Boat Rental
Canoeing
Fishing
Swimming-Lake (Developed)
Water/Jet Skiing

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

Adventist

Lancaster Seventh Day Adventist 742 Lancaster Highway

Baptist

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

Church of Christ

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

Church of God

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

Church of God of Prophecy Bowlings Branch

Independent Church of God

The Church of God Hwy 53, Gordonsville Road
South Carthage

Emmanuel

Emmanuel Church of Jesus Emmanuel Church of Christ
Buffalo Valley School House Oneness Pentecostal
Hwy 70 East, Chestnut Mound

Methodist

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

Nazerene

Carthage Church of The Nazarene Carmack Ave
Gordonsville Church of the Nazarene Main Street
Gordonsville

Presbyterian

Union Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Sykes Community
Upper Cumberland Presbyterian Pleasant Shade

Other

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 Williams Chapel A.M.E Church
113 Avenue East Carthage TN Old Hwy 25-Riddleton Circle
Riddleton 37151
Established 1865

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

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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

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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

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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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