Glimpses of Hohenwald's Past

June 5, 1952

Ernest “Pop” Rasbury won a monkey on a bet with a hotel manager while he was accompanying Senator Estes Kefauver on the campaign trail in Florida. After Florida Governor Fuller Warren challenged Kefauver to a public debate, Rasbury made the statement that “the governor would not show up” and offered to bet a Florida monkey against a Tennessee racoon that the governor would not be on hand for the meeting. The hotel manager agreed to take Rasbury’s challenge; and when the hour for the debate arrived, Governor Warren was nowhere to be seen. Rasbury won his new pet which he named “Blondy,” and he constructed a cage house for it on East First Street, just east of the Rasbury residence.

Clovis Anderson was advanced in rate to boatswain’s mate, third class USN, at the U.S. Naval Communications Station, Guam, Marianas Islands.

“The Strange Door,” starring Charles Laughton and Boris Karloff, and “Lightning Guns,” starring Charles Starrett and Smiley Burnette, were the Friday and Saturday night films showing at the Strand Theatre.

June 7, 1962

Bids for the construction of the Lewis County Hospital were opened. Hospital committee chair J. H. Warf stated that construction was expected to begin in a short time.

Mayor W.C. Keaton was scheduled to speak at the 23rd Annual Tennessee Municipal League convention in Nashville, TN.

Annie Lee Pace retired on May 31, having been employed as a cashier for the Hohenwald MLEC office for 16 years.

G.Y. Bennett, driving car 88, came in first in the slow heat race at Hohenwald Speedway. Hassell Spears placed first in the fast heat race in car 470. Ronald Lynch won first in the consolation race in car 48. Hassell Spears won the feature race of the afternoon.

James E. Bryant began ten weeks of USMC basic training at Parris Island, SC.

Mr. and Mrs. Walter Darden were honored by friends with a house warming at their remodeled home on Swan Avenue.

Pfc. and Mrs. Elmer Adair were given a surprise party in honor of the 2nd anniversary. The event was held at their home in San Pedro, CA.

Funeral services were held for Annie Barber, 83; Thomas Depriest, 66; Dora Gardner, 56; and for Jim McCann, 71.

“Jailhouse Rock,” starring Elvis Presley, and “Experiment in Terror,” starring the Glenn Ford and Lee Remick, were the Friday and Saturday-night double feature shown at the Highlands Drive-In and at the Strand Theatre.

June 8, 1972

Leo Greengrass was awarded in absentia a Middle Tennessee Heart Association citation for meritorious service for work during the 1972 Heart Fund drive. The Lewis County Campaign accounted for a total of $2,435.91 for a record 27% increase.

The 1970 Census of Housing counted 2,395 housing units in Lewis County, and 2,058 households had at least one television set (902 UHF equipped). 915 housing units had air conditioning, 1,891 had a clothes washing machine, 842 had a clothes dryer, and 179 houses had a dishwasher.

Approximately 54 runway lights, along with a security light and rotating beacon, were installed at John A. Baker airport as part of an updating program. Airport committee chair J. H. Warf reported that other improvements expected to be completed within the year including building an office with a telephone, restrooms, and the installation of a gas pump.

Dr. Mary Priestley was awarded a faculty research grant by Piedmont University to publish the first volume of a three-volume chronology of S. T. Coleridge.

Funeral services were held for Jennie Clay, 83; and for Mary Turnbow, 69.

“Going Home,” starring Robert Mitchum, and “Adios Sabata,” starring Yul Brenner, were the Friday and Saturday night movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In.

June 10, 1982

It was announced that the office of County Judge would be abolished effective September 01, 1982, and replaced, for the most part, by the new office of County Executive. County Judges were selected for 8-year terms, but County Executives would be elected for 4-year terms.

A single engine Piper Cub crash landed at the John A. Baker Airport, after the pilot, Charles Thrash of Memphis, had trouble. Thrash reported the engine quit when he attempted to switch to a full fuel tank from an empty tank. When he attempted to land at the local airport to check the problem, the plane wouldn’t function properly and skidded 400 yards off the runway and another 50 yards and hit a chert pile. He was taken to St. Thomas Hospital for treatment and released.

Bobby Johnston was presented the Outstanding Jaycee of the Year and Key Man award by Danny Prater.

Terry Collins was named the new minister at Lomax Church of Christ. He and his family would relocate here from Vernon, AL.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Tiller celebrated their 40th anniversary with a dinner held at New Hope Baptist Church.

The following births were announced: Wendell Seth, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Casteel; Joseph Allen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Johnny Ray Bunch; David Paul, son of Mr. and Mrs. Phil Lang; Shawn Daniel, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark; Daniel Erwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jim McEwen; and Chelsey Jane, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Davis.

Funeral services were held for Nora Downey, 94; and for Thelma Grimes, 70.

“Forbidden World,” starring Jesse Vint, and “Rabid,” starring Marilyn Chambers and Frank Moore, were the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday movies showing at the Highlands Drive-in Theatre.

June 11, 1992

Troy Barber on first place in the 24th annual Insurers Youth Golf Classic held at the Hohenwald Golf and Recreation Club.

Kim Curl, Andrea Kea, and Monica King represented Lewis County at the 46th annual Girls State Convention held at MTSU.

Cordell Short was named administrator for the Hohenwald American Counseling Systems facility.

Ermadean James was honored for her 67th birthday with a fish fry held by Terry and Judy Bunch.

A USSSA Men’s softball tournament was held at Memorial Park on June 6 with 15 teams participating.

First Citizens Bank announced the 5th Annual “Back to Back Fun” fundraiser for June 13. Scheduled activities included a car wash, bake sale, talent show and white elephant sale. Proceeds would be used to make improvements to the Wilhelm Tellplatz Park.

Marine Staff Sgt. Carl Smith returned home following a six-month deployment aboard the U.S.S. Whidbey Island.

Funeral services were held for Alice Butler, 58; Buford James, 75; and for George Willet, 74.

June 6, 2002

Bruce McIntyre was named the new preaching minister for the Hohenwald Church of Christ. He and his family moved here from Abilene, TX.

Marie Miller won a lift chair at the health fair sponsored by the Lewis County Health Council on June 1.

Marlene Zacher, a descendant of Swiss immigrants Fredrick and Bertha Tribelhorn, and her husband visited Hohenwald to locate her ancestors’ grave and search for information on the Tribelhorn family. The Zachers were enroute from Florida to their home in Wisconsin when they decided to drive to Hohenwald.

Jody and Sarah VanGieson celebrated their 1st anniversary.

Michael and Linda Gavin celebrated their 35th anniversary with a night out with dinner and fun with their grandson.

Duke and Opal Cowan celebrated their 49th anniversary with family and friends in Montezuma, GA.

Funeral services were held for Dorothy Bobo, 82; and for Ronnie Kilpatrick, 55.

This article was written using local history resources available at the Lewis County Public Library and Archives. Libraries are guardians of history. Visit the library and archives to learn more about our community’s unique past.