Montgomery County Historical Society
Our charter is to promote interest in and the enjoyment of the history of Montgomery County, TN and adjacent areas; to ascertain, preserve and promote local history; to identify and preserve local historic sites, structures, artifacts and other materials and promote their preservation; to hold periodic meetings in keeping with the interest of the society.
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The first train station, built in 1859, was located on Depot Street. There was a passenger station, freight station and hotel when the Memphis, Clarksville and Louisville lines opened on April 15, 1861. L&N moved the passenger station to its present location in March of 1882. The present frame building was remodeled in 1901. There were further alterations made in 1916 and 1924. The last ticket sold for passenger service was on February 28, 1966. The train station closed down completely in the mid-1970's. In 1982, L&N sold the station and an acre of land to the city of Clarksville for $12,000. In 1995, with Tennessee's Bicentennial only a year away, local citizens formed the Tennessee 200 Montgomery County Bicentennial Committee and began restoration of the train station with donations of money and labor. The ribbon cutting for completion was on August 9, 1996. The L&N Train Station is now home to the Montgomery County Historical Society and is used for meetings, dinners, art shows, birthday parties, showers, weddings and other rentals. There is a static display of a diesel locomotive and a former Illinois Central caboose next to the station. Free tours of the station, its museum and gift shop are available during staffed hours. Donations are gratefully accepted. You can rent the station any day of the week between the hours of 7am and 10pm for $50/hour! It is a great place for birthday parties, dinners, meetings, ceremonies, church services, bridal teas or baby showers! You can fill out a rental agreement form at the station or online at our website www.mchsociety.org
Mission: The Montgomery County Historical Society was formed in 1924 with the following mission: to promote interest in and enjoyment of the history of Montgomery County, Tennessee, and adjacent areas; to ascertain, preserve and promote local history; to identify local historic sites, structures, artifacts and other materials and promote their preservation; to hold periodic meetings in keeping with the interest of the society.
This a Nashville Public Television original documentary narrated by Roseanne Cash. Will air on the 21st and repeat on the 24th.
Another Suffrage Fast Fact!
BY ONE VOTE: WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN THE SOUTH, NPT's documentary marking the centennial of Tennessee's historic 1920 vote to ratify the 19th Amendment, premieres Thursday, Nov. 21, at 8 p.m. Rosanne Cash narrates.
#NashSuffrage100 #WomensVote100 #CitizenNPT
March 22nd at APSU
Col. William A. Forbes and the 14th TN Infantry is Ferrell's 9th published work.
Fort Donelson National Battlefield
One hundred-fifty-seven years ago today, the first Union victory of the Forts Henry, Heiman, and Donelson Campaign occurred, and in addition to opening up the Tennessee River to a mostly uncontested river access all of the way into northwestern Alabama, the engagement signaled a significant advancement in, and test of, inland naval warfare.
The just received, state of the art (our term), heavily armored and significantly armed "city class" ironclad gunboats were fully a new weapon that would change inland naval warfare.
The battle for Fort Henry was the first formidable test of these vessels in combat - proving the sheer benefit of the design, but also bringing realization that the modern gunship was not without its vulnerabilities.
The mission of the growing Western Gunboat Flotilla prior to the campaign was to defend the upper Mississippi and Ohio rivers and intercept contraband heading south. When the ironclads were completed the flotilla had an offensive power, but unfortunately, Flag-Officer Foote did not have enough men to man all of the available vessels.
On this date, February 6, 1862, for his first major operation on the western waters, Foote used four ironclads, and the three wooden gunboats, which held-back for long-range, but less effective, fire against the fort. Five other ironclads were laid up for repairs or were immobilized for lack of available men to serve on the vessels.
The seventy-five minute heavy bombardment between the new gunboats and that of Fort Henry was intense. The boats absorbed the blows of many hits, and the USS Essex was disabled by a single shot that proved devastating to those on-board.
A chance 32-pound shot penetrated USS Essex, hitting her middle boiler, sending scalding steam throughout half of the ship. Thirty-two men were killed or wounded, including her commander, William D. Porter, and the ironclad was forced out of action for the remainder of the campaign.
After an hour and a half of shelling the boats drew to pointblank range and forced the battered garrison to surrender.
The bulk of the Confederates escaped, but Confederate Brigadier General Lloyd Tilghman had remained behind with a small force to man the guns, and was captured.
The first real test of the new ironclad gunboat design proved a success, and this purely naval victory propelled Foote to national renown and sent a wave of panic throughout the western Confederacy.
Only eight days later the second test for Federal squadron would take place -- on the Cumberland River directly below the heights of the batteries of Fort Donelson.
Tennessee State Library and Archives
Newspapers are some of the most valuable resources for piecing together history. On Jan. 26 the Tennessee State Library and Archives is hosting a free workshop with tips and tricks to make your newspaper research more fruitful.
Attendees will watch 'Old News is Good News: Using Historical Newspapers for Your Research' presented by Genealogist Taneya Koonce, MLS, MPH. Koonce is an avid genealogist with more than 18 years of professional experience in information organization and management. Koonce is also the State Coordinator of the TNGenWeb Project, is a Board Member of the Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society, and is President-elect of the Nashville Chapter of the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. Koonce will navigate attendees through the benefits of using historical newspapers and highlight strategies to make the newspaper research process even more successful.
The workshop will be held 9:30 a.m. until 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, in the Library and Archives auditorium. Although the presentation is free and open to the public, registration is required due to seating limitations in the auditorium. For more information, visit our blog at: https://tslablog.blogspot.com/2019/01/library-and-archives-hosts-free-how-to.html
To reserve seats, please visit newspaperresearch.eventbrite.com
Thanks to our Master Gardener volunteers! We appreciate you.
Tennessee State Library and Archives
The Tennessee State Library and Archives is pleased to announce that Tennesseans will have free online access to the full run of The Tennessean (1812 to today) through the Tennessee Electronic Library (TEL).
For more information, visit https://sos.tn.gov/news/tennessee-state-library-gives-free-access-190-years-tennessean
Clarksville High School on Greenwood after 1916 fire.
~ Old Clarksville High School ~
Clarksville High School first opened in 1907 on Greenwood Avenue. The $40,000 building represented a commitment to providing quality public education to local students. By 1910 the school was opened up to students living outside the city limits. Enrollment surged and work began on an addition to accommodate more students. Unfortunately, just as the addition was complete the original building was destroyed by a fire on November 19, 1916. Work quickly began to rebuild the school, and by 1918 it was open for classes again. The building remained in use until the 1960s when it moved to the current location on Richview Road.
(Images courtesy of the Library Genealogical Materials Collection)
Mt. Olive Cemetery Historical Preservation Society
Have teachers heard about these resources to help students learn Tennessee history? Help spread the word.
Our Education Outreach team is pleased to announce the launch of the DocsBox program https://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/docsbox for the 2018-2019 school year! DocsBoxes are educational standards-based resources that provide a hands-on approach to the primary sources housed at the Library and Archives. Topics include the Civil War, Woman Suffrage (new for 2018-2019!), 1920s, and more! Visit our website https://sos.tn.gov/products/tsla/docsbox for more information about this exciting program!
This landscaped area near our rear entrance was a thicket of weeds until recently rescued by a terrific team of volunteer Master Gardeners: Betty Cole, Judi Gardner, Theresa Bray, Shirley Butler & Katie Smith - You are the best! What an improvement. We appreciate your hard work.
Thank you, Master Gardeners!
Voyage of Adventure - Retracing Donelson's Journey
In 1779, John Donelson set out on a river journey that would lead to the founding of Nashville. Photographer John Guider followed 240 years later, capturing contemporary images of Tennessee’s waters in a boat of his own making. This is the story of one man’s love of nature. It’s also a story of the Frontier, but not the American Frontier; America was yet to be born.
Premieres Thursday, July 26, at 8 pm on Nashville Public Television.
https://www.wnpt.org/voyage-of-adventure/
In this segment from NPT's original documentary "Voyage of Adventure: Retracing Donelson’s Journey," photographer John Guider goes through the lock at TVA's Chickamauga Dam in Chattanooga.
See more of Guider's ambitious history-inspired river trip tomorrow at 8 p.m. on NPT.
July crowd of 100+ enjoyed Frank Lott's presentation
Check out Fold3 to view these historic documents and explore records of your Revolutionary War ancestors during a limited time free access.
Happy Independence Day! See some of the original documents that made it possible. https://blog.fold3.com/the-continental-congress-adopts-the-declaration-of-independence-july-4-1776/
Always interesting and informative! Program meetings address a variety of topics and historical eras.
Plan to visit the State Archives in June!
Come see all three of the state’s original constitutions on display as we commemorate Statehood Day! Public viewing will be in our lobby June 1 to 2 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CDT. No reservation required.
We’re also hosting a free lecture on Tennessee’s first governor John Sevier and Tennessee’s road to statehood, but registration is required due to seating limitations.
More --> https://sos.tn.gov/news/original-constitutions-workshop-planned-statehood-celebration
Excellent presentation on U.S. Colored Troops and Mt. Olive Cemetery Preservation
Mount Olive Cemetery Historical Preservation Society and Fort Defiance hosted a presentation of Clarksville’s United States Colored Troops.
Dec 27th in Tennessee History - Middle Tennessee, 1806: At the close of his last visit to Tennessee, Aaron Burr joined a flatboat flotilla down the Stones and Cumberland Rivers bound for New Orleans. Within a few months, Burr was arrested in Natchez on charges of treason.
Dec 25th in Tennessee History - French Lick, 1779: James Robertson and a party of 200 settlers arrived at the Cumberland River, which was frozen. They walked across to the side that later became early Nashville.
Dec 15th in Tennessee History - near Mansker Station, 1807: William Bowen, pioneer and successful plantation owner, died at age 65. His two story home, built in 1788 and known as the Bowen-Campbell House, is the the oldest brick house in Middle Tennessee.
Dec 14th in Tennessee History - Jonesborough, 1784: Leaders of the Watauga settlements met to declare the formation of the State of Franklin. The move was later disputed by North Carolina.
Dec 13th in Tennessee History - Nashville, 1850: "Tennessee No. 1," the first steam locomotive in the state, arrived by river from Cincinnati. Its trip from the wharf to South Cherry Street took four days, pulled by mules.
Dec. 7th in Tennessee History - Pearl Harbor, 1941:
The USS Tennessee, whose guns had not seen action in 20 years, downed 4 enemy aircraft in the infamous Japanese attack.
Dec 5th in Tennessee History - Mobile, AL, 1814:
The court-martial of 150 TN militiamen began. They had thought their enlistments were over in 3 months, not 6. At the Dec 14th conclusion of the trial, 5 Tennesseans were sentenced to death by shooting.
Robertson County Historical Society
"Like" this post if you're excited for the 2017 Christmas Tour of Homes this Sunday!
If you haven't purchased discounted tickets yet, you only have four days left to do so! They can be purchased online using the link below or at the Robertson County Historical Society Museum during open hours.
Discounted ticket sales end this Friday at 5 pm, so grab them now!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2017-christmas-tour-of-homes-tickets-38928015743?aff=efbeventtix
Dec. 4th in Tennessee History - Memphis, 1956:
Elvis Presley, in a chance encounter at Sun records with Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis & Johnny Cash, sang a series of popular and gospel songs. The unplanned collaboration of the four performers became know as "The Million Dollar Quartet."
November 30th in Tennessee History:
1925 - The Grand Ole Opry began radio broadcasting.
Nov 18, 2017 Craft Fair
November 15th in Tennessee History: 1880, Morgan & Scott Counties - The formal opening of Rugby, the English utopian colony, intended for the 2nd and 3rd sons of the British gentry, who could not inherit their fathers' wealth by law.
November 14th in Tennessee History - 1785 in Jonesborough, the legislative body of the "Lost State of Franklin" met for the first time.
November 12th in Tennessee History: 1895 in McMinn County, Harry Burn was born. August 18, 1920, as a member of the TN House, he cast the deciding vote to ratify the !9th Amendment which granted American women the right to vote.
Thanks, Dennis, for promoting Montgomery County Historical Society!
JOIN the MONTGOMERY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY today!
The MCHS was founded in 1924, to "promote interest in and the enjoyment of the history of Montgomery County, TN, and adjacent areas" among many other missions.
My family is a proud member of the MCHS. Membership costs only $25 a year for individuals ($35 for families) and $10 for students. We meet at Civic Plaza on Pageant Lane on the third Monday of each month at 7pm. At every meeting, members are invited to give presentations and share stories of our area's past; these stories are often of special interest to them because they are stories of their own family as well.
The MCHS needs new members and needs young members. We need the next generation of storytellers and historians to step forward and harbor our history, so that the legacy is never lost. As a history and genealogy buff, I can tell you - this is a group worth belonging to. If you love hearing and sharing stories of our past, please join us. Please visit their website at http://www.mchsociety.org for more information. #REUNITE
Like this Farmers' Market? You can support and help it gain recognition by going to markets.farmland.org and voting. Enter "Clarksville" in the search box, scroll down to click on "Montgomery County Farmers Market" and then "Recommend This Market." You will need to enter your name plus email address and click on the stars (or boxes) and "Submit." Thank you for supporting YOUR farmers' market.
Blackberries!!!
Produce, flowers, baked goods, barbecue sauce, pickles and more!
Support Historic Collinsville. Great place to visit and volunteer. Tell your friends.
Always interesting and informative! Program meetings address a variety of topics and historical eras.
May 2017 Meeting: Carolyn Ferrell on Early Clarksville Hotels & Donation for Serepta Jordan Diary preservation.
Farmers Market 2017
MCHS support historical document preservation with $500 donation.
After 15-20 minutes, the solution in the washing tray becomes noticeably discolored as dirt and other acidic compounds begin to wash out of the paper.
Always interesting and informative! Program meetings address a variety of topics and historical eras.
Cemetery Dug Up, Moved Without Informing Family
An old family cemetery was dug up and moved, and the family never even knew about it.
Kurt Bryant's presentation at the February 2017 MCHS Program Meeting.
Have Your Party at the Depot!
Women of Defiance were honored with stories of their lives and demonstrations of traditional skills on March 11th at Ft. Defiance Visitors' Center.
Kurt Bryant gives interesting and entertaining presentation with stories and photos from his father's years delivering the mail on rural route 7, the longest in the county, at the February 2017 MCHS meeting.
189 10th St
Clarksville, TN
37040
GIFT SHOP and MUSEUM are OPEN TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS and SATURDAYS, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Tours are available at no charge. The TRAIN STATION is also AVAILABLE for RENTAL. For information on rentals, visit our website at www.mchsociety.org Watch for our FARMER'S MARKET in the Spring!
| Tuesday | 09:00 - 13:00 |
| Thursday | 09:00 - 17:00 |
| Saturday | 09:00 - 13:00 |
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