Glimpses of Hohenwald's Past

June 10, 1954

The Herald reported “Strange Doings with Tomatoes—Potatoes Here.” Wilburn Carroll brought by the newspaper office a tomato vine that was growing from the top of an Irish potato. The odd vine was grown on the farm of Gillie Davis on Buffalo Road. The newspaper dubbed the food item a “Pomato” adding, “if you don’t believe us, come by the Herald as we have the ‘Pomato’ to back us up.”

Kenneth Graves, David Griner, Gerald White, and Bobby Wiggins attended Boys State.

The annual Tennessee picnic and reunion of former Hohenwald residents was scheduled to be held at Dixon, IL on June 20.

Ella Lawson was honored on her 63rd birthday with a surprise basket lunch dinner.

Funeral services were held for Mary Fite, 92.

Wallace Poore advertised a 1954 deluxe Apex Aero Cleaner, vacuum cleaner, on sale for $7.95 with the purchase of any 1954 Admiral Automatic Electric Range starting at $195.40.

B&O Pharmacy ran a coupon for an Ever-Ready fountain pen for $0.49. The coupon was valid for only 8 hours on June 12.

“Man in the Dark,” starring Edmond O’Brien and Audrey Trotter, and “Marshall of Cedar Rock,” starring Alan “Rocky” Lane, were the Friday and Saturday movies showing at the Strand Theatre.

June 11, 1964

Dr. Larry Laughlin, who was a resident physician at Lewis County Hospital for three months, left to return to Nashville where he would begin a three-year orthopedic residency at Vanderbilt.

Steven Saulnier was commissioned Ensign in the U.S. Navy upon his graduation from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Sophomores A.B. Sisco, Jr. and Jimmy Barber, both LCHS graduates, led Austin Peay State College’s 1964 golf team to an 11 to 4 seasonal record.

Hershel Harris set a new track record at Hohenwald Speedway, rounding the track in 16.21 one hundredth seconds.

Jerry Fite was elected commander of the VFW Meriwether Lewis Post 1814.

The Hohenwald Babe Ruth baseball team defeated Centerville with a score of 9 to 7, holding their position as leading team in Tri-County League with six wins to only one loss. Ronald Sharp was the winning pitcher.

Johnny Poore joined the Cavaliers Quartet and would be featured in a program held at Linden High School on June 15.

William Skelton graduated from U.S. Air Force Non-Commissioned Officer Preparatory School at Amarillo AFB.

Funeral services were held for Cora O’Guin; and for Dora Horton.

“Feudin’ Fussin’ and A-Fighting,” starring Donald O’Connor, and “Comin’ Round the Mountain,” starring Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, were the weekend movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In Theater.

June 13, 1974

The Herald reported that the A.B. Sisco Day held on June 8 was a “big success.” Approximately 500 former students and fellow teachers gathered throughout the day to honor Sisco. Eugene Durham was master of ceremonies for the day. Speaking during the ceremony were John Ellis, Robert Johnson, A.F. Bridges, Earl Saxton, A.O. Ramay, Reverend Ben Wakefield, Cordell Hull, Lillie Mitchell, Terry Hickerson, and Dwight Staggs.

Tommy Shaw hit a hole-in-one while playing the number four hole at the Hohenwald Recreation and Golf Club.

Karen Smith and Sam Cothran attended the 19th annual 4-H Regional Resource Development Conference at Fontana Village, NC.

Funeral services were held for Ella Davis, 82.

IGA Grocery advertised a “Grand Opening.” Drawings would be held for 24 bags field with free groceries and a portable television. The store had been purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Paul “Pete” Harris and Mr. and Mrs. Homer “Speedy” Milam.

“Little Laura and Big John,” starring Fabian Forte and Karen Black, and “The Spikes Gang,” starring Lee Marvin and Gary Grimes, were the weekend movies showing at the Highlands Drive-In Theater.

June 14, 1984

Approximately 2,500 to 3,000 people attended the annual Lewis County Hospital birthday celebration held on June 9. The Genesco men’s team won the male volleyball trophy, the girl’s team from the Hospital won the female volleyball trophy at the event. Metalum was the winner in the tug of war contest; and Gary Don Turner took first place in the horseshoes contest.

Two persons escaped from the Lewis County Jail having chiseled a hole in the ceiling of the jail and then using a hack saw blade to cut through the plaster. One escaped by way of an air duct to the roof. He then returned to the jail kitchen, where he picked up the keys and opened the jail.

Approximately $200 was taken from the cash register at Save-A-Lot after burglars disconnected or unplugged the security alarm and entered from the backdoor.

Brownie Scout Troop 843 and Girl Scout Troop 242 held a Court of Awards. Brownies Heather Shultz and Tina Whitehead received awards for perfect attendance; Tara Carroll received an award for selling the most cookies. Girl Scout Kathy Sharp received an award for selling the most boxes of cookies; perfect attendance awards were given to Tracy Harris, Zina Shultz, and Kim Staggs.

Richie Anderson was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army at a commissioning ceremony prior to the MTSU Spring commencement.

Doug Spurgeon caught a 9.5-pound bass while fishing in Dogwood Lake.

Mylie Williams was selected as Student Secretary of the Year at Freed-Hardeman College.

Funeral services were held for Vada Davis, 87; and for Willa Dugger, 50.

“Weekend Pass” was the weekend movie showing at the Highlands Drive-in Theatre.

June 9, 1994

A large group of Lewis Countians attended a special program held by Rail America, then-new operator of South Central Tennessee Railroad Authority rail line. The event was at Watson Siding in Hickman County to christen a new train engine named “Miss Minnie Pearl.”

McDonald’s Restaurant of Hohenwald was named an “Outstanding Store for 1993” by the McDonald’s Corporation of the Nashville Region.

The winners of the South Central District Senior Games from Lewis County attended an awards banquet in Columbia on May 26. All winners in the 13-county district were recognized. Receiving top honors from Lewis County were Luella Carroll who was named female athlete of the year and Lester Bartley, Male Athlete of the Year.

Carrie Turner on the Youth Gaited Horses class at the Lewis County Bridle and Saddle Club Horse Show.

The Watauga Saxaphone Quartet from Kingsport performed at the Sesquicentennial Bandstand in Wilhelm Telplatz on Maple Street.

Todd Hinson completed naval recruit training at Great Lakes, Illinois.

Marguerite Bullion retired from Henry I. Seigel after 33 years of service.

Ruth Brown retired from Henry I. Siegel after 36 years of service.

Joe Qualls won $393 by catching a tagged fish at Uncle Curly’s Fish Camp in Perry County.

William and Tammy Scott announced the birth of their son, William Daniel.

Funeral services were held for R.C. Hensley, 64; Mary Kelley, 45; Geneva Sanders, 83; and for James Spears, 67.

June 10, 2004

The main headline of the week was “Councilmen Cringe at City’s Charter.” A personnel policy passed in 1986 was found to be in disagreement with the Charter of the City of Hohenwald, with officials stating the charter superseded the policy. A resolution to pass a new dismissal policy found no second on a motion and was withdrawn.

The Lewis County Jaycees announced they would host a Spring Motorcycle Run for Kids on June 12.

Kebrina Davis donated 10.5 inches of her hair to Locks of Love.

Jeremiah Helms enlisted in the U. S. Navy.

Michael Jones enlisted in the U. S. Navy.

David and Angela Hensley announced the birth of their daughter, Kylee Nicole.

Funeral services were held for Pauline Couch, 92; Luther Hinson, 86; Leland Staggs, 77; and for Mary Staggs, 87.

In statewide news: Results of the latest census of agriculture conducted by the USDA showed that 11 percent of Tennessee farms produced 86 percent of the state’s agriculture in 2002.

In national news: Missouri Governor Bob Holden posthumously “freed” York, the only African American member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

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.