Glimpses of Hohenwald's Past

April 15, 1954

L & M Construction Company had neared completing pouring the concrete floor and was in the process of setting the steel for the factory building. It was hoped that the factory would be ready for operation by July 1, 1954.

A total of $438.58 was raised during the 1954 Lewis County Shrine Junior League Cripple Children paper sale.

Bertha Ashton, County Welfare Director, reported that 75 Lewis County families (167 children) received children welfare grant aid.

Billy Broadway won the LCHS talent show and received a cash prize.

Lorretta Shaw won the talent show sponsored by the Boy Scouts and received an appearance on WSM Junior Opry.

Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Brown, Jr. announced the birth of their son, Donald Milton.

Turner Bresbois and Mrs. Joe Miller were honored for their birthdays with a celebration held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Turner Bresbois.

Mrs. T. M. Lawson was honored for her 79th birthday with a surprise dinner hosted by her children.

Funeral services were held for Joe Graves, 63; and for John Primm, 80.

“The Nebraskan,” starring Phil Carey and Wallace Ford, and “Junction City,” starring Wild Bill Elliott, were the Friday and Saturday movies showing at the Strand Theatre.

April 16, 1964

Mayor W. C. Keaton signed a proclamation naming May 1 as Law Day USA in Hohenwald.

LCHS football coach John Tucker accepted a position as head football and basketball coach in Dickson, TN. Tucker has been head football coach at LCHS for five years.

Two youth were injured in a scooter mishap when they were hit by a man backing out of his driveway.

The 1964 LCHS Senior Play, “Backwoods Romeo,” was scheduled to be presented on April 17.

The Lewis County Library Board of Trustees decorated a window at Nichol’s Café with books from the library in celebration of 1964 National Library Week.

M.Sgt. Leonard Riley completed 20 years in the armed services, having served 10 years overseas. He entered the Navy in 1944 and later transferred to the Army.

Navy Fireman Grady Brown was serving aboard the USS Shangri-La.

Private Billy Jones participated in Exercise High Top IV in Hawaii.

Mr. and Mrs. D.D. Humphreys, III announced the birth of their son, David Douglas, IV.

Funeral services were held for Belle Bates, 71; and for Voshie Hinson, 90.

“Heroes Island,” starring James Mason, and “The Gun Hawk,” starring Rory Calhoun were the weekend movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In Theater.

April 18, 1974

John Merritt, head football coach at TSU in Nashville was announced as the guest speaker at the Lewis County Sports Banquet scheduled for April 19th.

Three juveniles and one eighteen-year-old were arrested and charged with stealing bicycles. Recovered were seven bicycles, some of which had been torn down, reassembled and repainted.

Lewis County Ambulance Service announced that Joe Smith and Frederic Smith completed the advanced Emergency Medical Technician training and successfully passed all categories of the National Registry examinations. With the advancement to National Registered EMTs, they were licensed to work anywhere in the United States.

Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Barber announced the birth of their daughter, Leigh Anna.

Mr. and Mrs. Willie Bennett celebrated their 50th anniversary at the home of their son, William.

Funeral services were held for Robert Gardner, 64; and for Roy Hedge.

A ten-pound bag of Idaho potatoes were on sale at Baxter’s Bestway for $1.69. Fresh whole fryers were on sale at IGA for $0.39 a pound. Celery was on sale at Piggly Wigglyl for $0.18 each.

“3 in the Cellar,” starring Wes Stern and Joan Collins, and “Pick Up on 101,” starring Leslie Warren and Martin Sheen, were the weekend movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In Theater.

April 19, 1984

First Citizens Bank advertised a grand opening and ribbon cutting for their “24-hour money belt banking” machine on April 26th. Anyone using the ATM machine on April 26, 27, and 28 would be eligible for $100 to be given away at a drawing each day.

Contracts for Phase II of the bridge replacement program would be let in the following two weeks. Fourteen bridges would be replaced with concrete bridges in Lewis County.

The 1984 Senior Play, “Up the Down Staircase,” would be presented April 20 and 21st at the LCES auditorium.

Alaina Carroll was crowned Tennessee State Dixie Doll in the Southern Dixie USA pageant in Memphis.

Poppy Hedrick was crowned “Cinderella Miss” at a pageant held at CSCC.

Theresia Hinson and Michelle Roder caught eight crappie while fishing in Kentucky Lake.

The following births were announced: Brandon Lee, son of Lt. and Mrs. Bill Hill; and Michael Lee, son of Tony and Pam Doyle.

“Tank,” starring James Garner, was the weekend movie showing at the Highlands Drive-in Theatre.

April 21, 1994

Tennessee Treasures, a traveling museum filled with information and articles of Tennessee history was in Hohenwald for two days on April 18 and 19. An opening ceremony was held at noon on April 18. Approximately 1,772 individuals toured the travelling museum.

Work on the Sesquicentennial Bandstand was completed. The structure memorialized the 150th year of Lewis County, and was funded through a series of fundraisers by the Sesquicentennial Committee.

Approximately 300 individuals toured the new jail during its open house held on April 17th.

The Alpine Players, a local repertory theater company, would present a Neil Simon comedy, “Jake’s Women,” on three nights as a fundraiser to help the LCHS band purchase new uniforms.

Paul E. Hensley completed Army basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.

Beverly Newcomb, manager of the Hohenwald Pizza Hut, was presented the Quality Award for Best Quality, Service, and Cleanliness in 1993 by Pizza Hut Official Donald Kendall.

Paula Spears, Lewis County Extension Leader, was awarded the Dean Don Felker Financial Management Award for a curriculum Spears developed on money management for children.

Robbie Hooks placed first in fighting at the Southern American Karate Championships held April 9th at TSU in Nashville.

Hohenwald Subway announced their sponsorship of a food drive on April 24. They would give each customer donating a can of food during specified hours a free six-inch sandwich.

The following births were announced: Chaislynn Ray, son of Dale Crosland and Misty Whitehead; and Kalum Wiggington, son of Patrick Halfacre II and Amy Wilson.

Funeral services were held for James Carroll, 37; Eugene Floccari, Sr., 68; Mavis Loveless, 98; Alfred McDonald, 73; Ervin Mathis, Jr., 53; Bailey Sharp, 84; and for Myrtle Whitehead, 94.

April 16, 2004

Redstarr’s Progressive Throw Down Hoe Down Picking Party would take place in throughout the community on April 17 and 18. Numerous musical performances would take place at the Emporium on Main Street, The Highlander Restaurant on East Linden, and Fall Hollow on Highway 412 East. Two film crews and photographers would be on hand for this Pespi-sponsored event. Organizer Sandy Hardin stated that this event was being held to increase tourism and bring much needed revenue to the area.

A Lewis County businessman was indicted on eight counts of sales tax evasion for filing alleged false quarterly sales tax returns.

A variety show and auction was planned for April 17 to raise funds for the Lewis County Senior Citizens Center.

Funeral services were held for Eva Conner, 93; William Hamblin, 53; Ezra Harper, 70; Minnie Marlin, 93; and for Lela Staggs, 95.

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.