Dyer County Historical Society

Dyer County Historical Society Preserve historical artifacts from the area and educate the public regarding local history.

01/14/2025
Did you know that, in 1951, you could fly commercially from Dyersburg to Jackson, round trip, for $3.90?  This is from t...
01/10/2025

Did you know that, in 1951, you could fly commercially from Dyersburg to Jackson, round trip, for $3.90? This is from the Jackson Sun, December 31, 1950.

December 3, 1990.  Do you remember what was special about that day?  Dr. Iben Browning predicted that was the day we wou...
12/25/2024

December 3, 1990. Do you remember what was special about that day? Dr. Iben Browning predicted that was the day we would have the great New Madrid earthquake.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tgounley/the-day-the-earth-stood-still

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jackson-sun-earthquake-day/161523113/

On Dec. 3, 1990, an earthquake was supposed to level the small town of New Madrid, Missouri and become one of the biggest natural disasters the country had ever experienced. The ensuing mayhem — and quiet — instead brought fleeting attention to a high-risk seismic zone in the heart of America th...

First, this is not from Dyer County, but it could have been.  This is from Prairie Farms, Alabama.  This is March, 1939....
12/17/2024

First, this is not from Dyer County, but it could have been. This is from Prairie Farms, Alabama. This is March, 1939. Notice the cured meat hanging from the ceiling, the wall full of home canned vegetables, even the flour sack hanging next to the meat. This is how our grandparents and great grandparents lived.

12/13/2024

Come on out to Sorghum Valley tonight. I will be there in the booth for the museum from 5:30 until 8:30. Stop by and say, "Hello!" I will be across the way from the free hot chocolate.

12/12/2024

We will have a booth set up across from the hot chocolate station tonight, Friday and Saturday nights, 5:30 to 8:30 at the Sorghum Valley Christmas. Stop by and say hello.

12/12/2024

As the year draws to a close, we want to thank all our members for their support. Your donations allow us to preserve our County's history for future generations.

Thanks to everyone that helps with your financial support, but a special thank you goes to our corporate level sponsors:

Danny and Susan Walden Bronze Level Sponsor
White and Associates Insurance Bronze Level Sponsor
Carol McDowell Bronze Level Sponsor
Dave Cook Bronze Level Sponsor
Security Bank Bronze Level Sponsor
Terry McCreight/McCreight Funeral Home Bronze Level Sponsor
Helen Enochs Silver Level Sponsor
First Citizens National Bank Silver Level Sponsor
John Lannom Gold Sponsor

12/03/2024

In October, 1917, a passenger train on the Chicago, Memphis and Gulf railway was pulling an American Express car containing a safe. In the safe was around $12,000 in cash and $4,000 in silver coins (other reports value the silver at $10,000). The money was from the First National Bank and the Bank of Commerce, both in Memphis and it was intended for banks in Tiptonville and Ridgely.

When they stopped to take on water, two masked men forced their way into the express car and tied up the agent on board. Early reports stated that they used dynamite to blow up the safe, but it was later found out that they simply searched the agent, took the keys out of his pocket and simply unlocked the safe. They took the $12,000 cash and left the silver, apparently not wanting to deal with the weight. They left the agent tied up and chained to the floor of the express car and the train departed on its way, headed north. After a few more stops (passengers getting on and off), someone became suspicious and went to check on the agent in the express car and discovered him bound and gagged, but otherwise unhurt.

Sheriff Bryant of Dyer County formed a posse and took up the search. Leads at the time suggested that Will Buntyn of Tiptonville was likely one of the robbers. Buntyn was captured in Carruthersville and transported to Dyersburg. He was tried and found guilty, but he appealed to the Tennessee Supreme court and was out on bond when he died, so he was never convicted and the robbery was never officially solved.

11/30/2024

"How do you go from Ripley to Dyersburg?"

"Well, you go Flippin around the Curve, through the Gates, down the Halls and past the Fowlkes to get to Dyersburg..."

In 1957, there was a push to clean up Dyersburg and provide better housing for those less fortunate.  If you lived in Be...
11/30/2024

In 1957, there was a push to clean up Dyersburg and provide better housing for those less fortunate. If you lived in BelAir or one of the other nicer neighborhoods at the time, you probably didn't see the poor living conditions in some other parts of the city.

100 years ago, if you were rich, you might be able to sit around the Victrola and listen to "You can't fool an Old Hoss ...
11/28/2024

100 years ago, if you were rich, you might be able to sit around the Victrola and listen to "You can't fool an Old Hoss Fly".

OH YOU CAN'T FOOL AN OLD HOSS FLY by Billy Jones, recorded in 1924. A bit of a wacky song. Enjoy!

Today in history, 100 years ago.November 28, 1924.
11/28/2024

Today in history, 100 years ago.
November 28, 1924.

In 1959, Dyer County was obviously still very much segregated.
11/24/2024

In 1959, Dyer County was obviously still very much segregated.

Newton William (N. W.) Calcutt migrated from Ontario Canada to Michigan where he met his future wife, Celia Carney.  Tog...
11/23/2024

Newton William (N. W.) Calcutt migrated from Ontario Canada to Michigan where he met his future wife, Celia Carney. Together in the late 1880's they settled in Dyersburg. Before his death in 1949, he was a businessman and bank board member. Interestingly, his death certificate was signed by his son in law, Dr. Lyle Motley.

We were honored to have Dr. Karen Bowyer and Beverlee Weatherly bring a special program to the November meeting of the D...
11/15/2024

We were honored to have Dr. Karen Bowyer and Beverlee Weatherly bring a special program to the November meeting of the Dyer County Historical Society. These two ladies traveled to Huntsville, Alabama in May to interview a special Dyer County native. Dr. William R. Lucas was born in Tatumville in 1922. He attended the Tatumville School through 9th grade and finished high school in Newbern. His life story takes him through school at the West Tennessee State Teacher's College in Memphis. He spent time in the Navy, attended school at Harvard and Vanderbilt. He received his Phd and landed a job in Huntsville with NASA. Dr. Lucas spent years helping to develop rocket technology that became the basis for the United States space program. The Marshall Space Flight Center was under the direction of Dr. Werner von Braun up until 1974. That's when Dr. Lucas became the director of the MSFC. He served in that position until 1986 and was instrumental in rocket technology that supported the Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, International Space Station, Space Shuttle and the Hubble Space telescope. Here is the interview that Dr. Bowyer and Ms. Weatherly conducted with Dr. Lucas.

Obion Cooperage was the forerunner to Forcum James that later was located in Dyersburg.  More of this story is in our pr...
11/09/2024

Obion Cooperage was the forerunner to Forcum James that later was located in Dyersburg. More of this story is in our private Facebook group. If you have ties to Dyersburg and Dyer County, you can request membership.

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305 College Street
Dyersburg, TN
38024

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