Jefferson map 3

Originally uploaded by lorbsel

Sometime in 1802 or early 1803, Robert Weakley and Thomas Bedford laid out the Town of Jefferson in the forks of the Stones River, and began selling lots. Some of the early purchasers of land in Jefferson were: Michael Snyder who purchased lot # 56, Robert Kanady (Kennedy) purchased lot # 6 and Bradley Gambrel purchased lots 84 and 80.

Thanks to Carson for sharing pictures of an original map of the town of Jefferson!

The Sanford Cemetery is located just east of the Sam Ridley Pkwy / Blair Rd intersection.  It is a good sized cemetery containing at least 38 graves.  The area, until recently, was quiet and rural.  With the growth of Smyrna, development is occurring rapidly.  The area that has for years been home to the Sanford Cemetery will soon be the home of a luxury apartment complex, The Verandas at Sam Ridley.  To the credit of the developers, it appears that the cemetery plot is being preserved and perhaps access will even be improved.

The cemetery was surveyed in 1965 by Shirlie Chaney, Andrew Chaney and Franklin Thomas.  Their transcription was included in the cemetery books published by the Historical Society in 1975.  Thanks to the hard work of many people, a lot of these old cemeteries are known and their legacy preserved.  The earliest listed grave is that of Aquilla Noe who died in 1896.  There are also several unmarked graves and some marked only by fieldstones.

Throughout Smyrna’s long and storied history, there have been plenty of firsts. Sometimes such things are mundane and ordinary and get lost as time passes. Even the most basic of things happen for a “first” time and have untold impact on the lives and stories of a community. For instance, when natural gas lines were first connected in Smyrna, the year was 1957. A seemingly ordinary thing, but it allowed some people (like the Cheneys on Oak Street) to live in Smyrna all year instead of moving back to Nashville for the winter. The Cheneys lived in Idlers Retreat….the lovely home recently restored by the Kline family. Natural gas allowed them to more efficiently heat their large home.

More ordinary firsts in Smyrna’s history:

The first Smyrna post office opened in 1852

Smyrna was first incorporated in 1869.

The first telephone switchboard in Smyrna was installed in 1905

The first annual Smyrna fair was held in 1914

The first Smyrna fire engine was put into service in 1916

Sam Ridley was first elected mayor in 1947

The first official Smyrna police car was bought by the town in 1959

The first Nissan truck built in Smyrna rolled off the assembly line in 1983

The Smyrna Fire Department was originally organized in 1916 by the citizens of the town. The first fire truck was a modified 1913 Studebaker owned by the Hager family and the first “fire station” was located at 103 N Lowry Street.

In July 1941, the city commissioners purchased the property at 110 S Front Street to serve as City Hall and the engine house. The upstairs was converted into living space and various families lived there temporarily to answer fire calls and take care of the equipment. In 1984, the arrival of Nissan necessitated the opening of station #3 on Enon Springs Rd near the plant.

With the growth of the town, the fire department hired its first full time employee in 1989. Currently the department has 5 stations and 50+ employees. The complete story is available here.

Mapleview Unknown

Originally uploaded by lorbsel

 

While wandering through Mapleview Cemetery recently, I came across the gravestone pictured to the right. I’m not sure which cemetery these were moved from…if I were guessing I would say the Mutual Aid Society Cemetery on Odom Court.  You can get more information on it by clicking on the link to the Rutherford County Tombstone Photo Project over on the right side.  (Wonderful website Kim…thanks for all the time you put into it!!)

The records for Mapleview would probably reveal the original burial location….I just haven’t checked them yet.

I always find it sad to come across “unknown” graves. At some point in time, someone knew these folks and cared for them. At least these were moved to a peaceful cemetery and given a marker. That doesn’t always happen and that is sad too….

Equestrian history

Originally uploaded by lorbsel

For a quick history lesson, visit Smyrna’s greenway trails. Besides the fact that it is good exercise, there are “markers” along the trail that tell interesting facts about Smyrna’s early years. One of the markers located near the Rec Park on Sam Ridley Pkwy gives a brief description of the town’s early racetrack.

In the early part of the 20th century, the area that is now home to the town’s wastewater treatment plant, was home to a racetrack. Horse racing was very popular in Middle Tennessee and there were several tracks in the area. One source I’ve seen identified Smyrna as one of only 2 sites in the state to host a Steeplechase prior to the current one held in Warner Park (in Nashville).

The pictures shown on the marker are said to be “examples of racetracks” like the one that was located in Smyrna and are not necessarily pictures taken at the Smyrna track.

Jefferson school

Originally uploaded by lorbsel

Jefferson school was one of the earliest in the county. The picture shows the last Jefferson school building. This one was demolished due to the creation of Percy Priest Lake. It was located east of the King Johns Home on Jefferson Pike. The King Johns Home is still standing and is pictured at the top of the page.

This picture was taken around 1946. The young lady on the front row, 2nd from left is Glenna Hunter Thomas. If you recognize others in the picture, please let me know.

Thanks to Carson for sharing the photo!

The construction of Sewart Air Base (originally known as Smyrna Air Base) was ordered in December, 1941 shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Deactivated in July 1947, it was reactivated as a an Air Force base in August, 1948 to serve the newly established United States Air Force.

On March 25, 1950, the base was renamed after Major Allan J Sewart Jr., a Nashville native. Major Sewart was killed in action during a bombing mission in the South Pacific in 1942. More information on the base renaming can be found here.

Through the years the base served as a training base and the sole base for the C-130 Hercules. The base closing was announced on December 9, 1965 and on March 9, 1970, the last C-130 left the runway at Sewart.

In a previous posting, information was sought as to the location of JS Young Rd (and the identity of JS Young!). Well, you can all sleep better tonight knowing that both questions have been answered! Evidently, JS Young Rd is now known as Nissan Drive. The section of road in front of the Nissan Plant was called JS Young Rd in its previous incarnation as a small, lightly traveled thoroughfare. When the plant was built, the road was enlarged and improved and renamed.

JS Young was the grandfather of former, long-time mayor Sam Ridley and his twin brother, (also former mayor) Knox Ridley.

I don’t personally have a lot of memories surrounding the old Sewart airbase. I’ve heard some stories and vaguely remember life before Sam Ridley Pkwy. Mike was kind enough to share some interesting tidbits. Thanks Mike!

The golf course was an air force golf course and the clubhouse was down where the number 12 green is now. The number 12 green used to be the #18 green. When the base closed, the airport authority took over ownership of the golf course and leased it to Smyrna.

There used to be some large above ground fuel tanks right below where the clubhouse is now, but they were torn down several years ago by the airport and I believe they were torn down about the time that the new clubhouse was constructed. There used to be a rail spur that ran down on the south side of Sam Ridley to the warehousing area and the commissary area. The old commissary building is still there, but the rail lines have been long since removed. Of course, Sam Ridley Blvd didn’t exist back then. The main entrance to the base was on Weakley Road, but most people used the entrance off of US 41. There was a small guard shack down in the vicinity of the Smyrna Town Center where visitors would stop and pick up visitor passes for the base.

There were three swimming pools on the base, but they’ve all since been closed and filled in. I filled in the last one which was on the National Guard property. The old officer’s club was turned into the Smyrna Country Club. I remember spending many saturday nights at the country club listening to Bill Bodaford (sp?) and his band. After the impoundment of J. Percy Priest lake, the air force built a beach area down by the lake. The area is still there, but of course, all of the sand is long gone.

There is a dedication plaque to Major Sewart adjacent to ‘A’ Street (it’s still called ‘A’ Street on the National Guard base) in front of building 603.