rescue squad

rescue squad, a photo by lorbsel on Flickr.

An image of the Smyrna Rescue Squad. No idea of the date.

Sam Davis Easter Eggstravaganza

It is egg hunting time and the Sam Davis home has arraigned a fun family time just for Smyrna.

March 30, 2013 

13th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza 

Hop on over to the Sam Davis Home for the 13th Annual Easter Eggstravaganza!  Continuing the community-wide event the Davis family hosted many years ago, the Sam Davis Home will be hosting Easter activities from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm on Saturday, March 30, 2013.  The Easter Bunny always makes a special appearance and loves to see the plantation filled with children enjoying games, face painting, and more!  Three egg hunts are scheduled for the morning activities: children ages 0-3 hunt at 10:30 am, ages 4-6 hunt at 11:00 am, and ages 7-10 hunt at 11:30 am.  Guided tours of the historic home will be offered every hour on the hour for a reduced price.  Bring your Easter basket and don’t forget to wear your best bonnet or handsome hat for this year’s Easter Eggstravaganza!  Admission is only $5 per vehicle.  Easter Eggstravaganza is a weather dependent event.  Please contact the Sam Davis Home at (615) 459-2341 or visit www.samdavishome.org for more information.

What they gathered for the boys

Click image for larger version

On November 29th, 1861 the Nashville Union and American newspaper had a report from the Smyrna Soldiers' Aid Society. Their efforts were akin to the care packages from home we send our soldiers in the Middle East and the assistance many volunteers give local care groups and veterans hospitals.

Report of the Smyrna Soldiers’ Aid Society. 
Organized September 2d, at Smyrna Depot, Rutherford county Tenn., with eighty seven-members. 

CONTRIBUTIONS.
261 shirts, 26 overcoats, 10 linen coats, 38 pair winter pants, 11 pair summer pants, 26 pair drawers, 225 pair socks, 11 vests, 12 pairs boots, 8 pairs shoes, 14 pairs gloves, 23 comforters, 1 pair suspenders, 2 soldiers knives, 1 soldiers belt, 15 cotton kerchiefs, 2 silk kerchiefs, 5 hats, 1 blouse, 46 towels, 183 pillows, 109 pillow cases, 5 mattresses, 1 feather bed, 3 curtains, 19 quilts, 16 comforts, 194 blankets, 106 sheets, 12 coverlets, 2 winter bed spreads, 4 table cloths, 3 bed ticks, 180 mouth mops, 66 poultice bags.

Now when I was looking at the list most of the items were easily understandable.  It was when I got to the item listed as “mouth mops” that I will admit total confusion. I first thought of a very small mop used to brush your teeth with, but I could find no reference online to anything of the sort. I reached out to the Tennessee State Library and Archive (TSLA) and asked them for some assistance on reading this article. They were also at a loss, but they figure that the item is the humble napkin.  Sounds obvious at this point, but by itself it was a little odd.

Another item was the wording. If you look closer at the image you will see that I have put some of it into the more modern way of writing.
Example

“15 cotton kerchiefs, 2 silk do.,”

I also asked the TSLA about this and if I was reading it right. It seems ‘do.’ Is shorthand for ‘ditto’.

“15 cotton kerchiefs, 2 silk kerchiefs,”

It was used to allow more to be printed and removed repetitive words in article and documents.

Back to the list as now we are getting into the food items.

4 bottles chow chow, 7 gallons jelly, 3 gallons jam, 4 gallons cordial, 1 gallon cherry bounce, 41 gallons wine, (grape, blackberry and raspberry,) 18 jars of pickles, 4 barrels of pickles, 4 jars preserves, 6 barrels bran, 16 barrels catsup, 2 bags okra, 1 bag corn starch, 1 bag Irish moss,  bags crackers, 7 bushels dried apples, 1 bushel fresh apples, 28 bags dried peaches, 10 ½ bushels potatoes, 2 barrels potatoes, 106 bushels peas, 6 gallons popcorn,

I've linked to a few other pages if you’re interested in what a bounce, cordial, or bran is according to their time. Some of the reading is rather interesting.

10 gallons whisky, 4 pounds bees wax, 100 pounds white soup, 100 pounds flour, 5 pounds rice, 28 pounds butter, 2 bags of dried fruit, 1 bag dried damsons, 1 bag dried raspberries, 1 bottle brandy, 25 dozen eggs, 7 chickens, 5 turkeys, 2 boiled hams, 1 jug of milk, rags, bandages, lint, cotton, sage, red pepper, mutton tallow, ad infinitum.

I was surprised how much dried fruits were sent in general and how little rice and meats, the boiled ham are a dried salty ham that you boil to tenderize it. I will admit that the whisky was interesting when added to all the wine, bounces and cordials. I would recommend following the link on 'lint' as it is interesting. As is proper they packaged them up according to their rules from the constitution and sent them off.

DESTINATION OF BOXES SENT OFF .
Box to Western Virginia, Sept 7th.
Box to a Kentucky company, encamped at Nashville Fair Grounds, Sept 28th.
Box first to Nashville Hospital, Sept. 28th.
Box second to Nashville Hospital  Sept. 28th.
Box third to Nashville Hospital, Oct.
Wagon load to Nashville Hospital by Mrs. Mayes and Mrs. Wells, Oct.
Box to Capt. Gooch’s company, Oct 12th.
Box to Knoxville Hospital, Nov 9th.
Box to Martin’s Regiment, Nov 11th.
In Addition to the reported contribution, sent wagon load to Soldiers’ Relief Society, Nashville, by Mrs. Beomfild Ridley and Mrs. Nelson, Nov 23rd.
Sent second wagon load Nov. 23d, by Mrs. Buchanon.
Send third wagon load by Mrs Northway and Mrs Ralston, Nov 23rd, to S.R.Society.

To keep this from being longer then needed I will stop here and finish later this week with the treasurers’ report and who gave fund and other material donations and labor to the group.

I hope you are enjoying some of the essoteric lists that I am writing about. I have about 2-3 more to go, then I go to a series called 'maps'.

Announcement from the Smyrna Gov.

The town government and administrators are going to do their annual retreat to prepare the next years budget.

The Town Council of the Town of Smyrna will conduct a workshop retreat on April 15-17, 2013 for the purpose of discussing various matters relating to the Town of Smyrna (including, without limitation, budgeting and capital budgets). 

The workshop retreat will be held at the Park Vista Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The workshop retreat will begin on Monday, April 15th and will conclude on April 17th.  Members of the media and the public are invited and encouraged to attend.

I have always wished they could do it closer, say in Nashville. I understand the need to get everyone together in a comfortable place to work out all of the details of the budget.

Spring Break Competition

The Parks and recreation department for Smyrna with the Boys and Girls club have planned another big event for the local kids. Flyer included below the information for those interested.

Spring Break Competition
Smyrna Parks and Recreation Department In Partnership with
Smyrna Boys and Girls Club presents
HOOPS MADNESS SKILLS CHALLENGE 

• 3 Point Contest
• Free Throw Contest
• Half Court Heave 

Ages 7 - 18                                                  
Thursday, April 4th
6pm - 8pm 

FREE EVENT
Smyrna Boys and Girls Club located at 198 Culbertson Street
Giveaways for winners in each age group event.
The winner of the Half Court Heave will receive a new Basketball!
For more information contact: 

Marty Smith, Smyrna Parks Athletic Coordinator 615-459-9742 ext. 2622

For the love of their boys

It is a universal concept that moms love sons, sisters love brothers, and they all love and worry about their loved ones that go off to war. No matter the cause of the war this has become a common thread that connects generations throughout history.

To no ones surprise this same feeling was happening in Smyrna in the early days of the Civil War. Because of that the fine ladies of Smyrna got together and organized their selves into an aid society to help their young boys and other young boys as they went off to war.

In the now defunct Nashville Union and American newspaper the September 11 1861 edition it went into details about the formation of the Smyrna Soldiers; Relief society.

Soldiers’ Relief Society. 

At a meeting of the ladies of the neighborhood of Smyrna Depot, Rutherford county and vicinity, on motion of Rev. H. B. Hill, Mrs. Ferguson was called to the chair. By request of the President, Rev H. B. Hill offered prayer. Rev. Wells stated the object of the meeting, to organize ourselves into a society for the relief of our soldiers, now battling for our rights in Virginia, East Tennessee and Missouri, or wherever the flag of the Southern Confederacy floats.
The president appointed the following ladies to draft a constitution; Mrs. B. L. Ridley, Mrs H. B. Hill, Mrs. Beacher, Miss T. Allen.  

The following constitution was adopted: 

Click for Larger Image

Constitution.
This Society shall be called “The Smyrna Soldiers’ Aid Society.” Its object shall be to provide clothing and comforts for the soldiers.
Article 1st – This Society shall consist of a President, six Vice Presidents, managers, secretaries and treasurer.
Article 2nd – Any person may become a member by signing this constitution and contributing their efforts and means to aid and assist the soldiers.
Article 3rd – The Society shall meet the second and fourth Thursday in every month.
Article 4th – It shall be the duties of the President to preside at the meetings and in connection with the Vice President and Managers to solicit contributions.
Article 5th – The duties of the Secretaries shall be to keep a record of the proceedings of the society and to mark all packages.
The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all moneys subscribed to the society, subject to the orders of the President.     

The Society was organized, consisting of eighty-seven members. Mrs. Ferguson elected President; Mrs. Dr. Gooch, Mrs. Martin, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Hill, Mrs. Dr. Richardson. Vice-Presidents ; Mrs. W. H. Blackmore, Mrs. Walter Keeble. Secretaries; Mrs. Sarah Allen, Treasurer. 

The President ordered a copy of these proceedings to be sent to the ‘Union and American” for publication. Thereupon the meeting adjourned. 

Mrs. Fergusen, President
Mrs. Walter Keeble, Mrs. W.H. Blackmore, Secretarys.

In two months times these same ladies were in the Union and American again as it talks about their efforts to help their young boys. These packages will be the part two of this ‘list’ episode.

If you're interested in the "Union and American" newspaper the Library of Congress has a bit of history on it.

Smyrna's Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Don't forget that tomorrow is the Easter Egg hunt, barring rain.

Pancake Breakfast this Saturday

The local chapter of the Lions club announced that they would be holding a Pancake breakfast this coming Saturday. Good food and good company. A good way to spend a morning.

The Smyrna Lions Club is hosting their annual Pancake Breakfast this Saturday, March 23rd from 8:00 am - 10:00 am at the Smyrna Senior Center, 100 Raikes St., Smyrna (just behind the Smyrna Public Library). Activities for the children!! Great food!!! Please come join us....donations will be accepted.

Tax Help this Saturday

The Smyrna Library has on hand people to help you with your taxes. This is the LAST DAY that they currently have this service planned.

Free VITA Income Tax Assistance 

Saturdays: Feb. 16, 23; March 9, 23
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Please arrive early, as registration is done the day of the assistance. 

Please bring the following:

• All Forms W-2 and 1099
• Information for other income
• Information for all deductions/credits
• Copy of previous year's return
• Proof of account for direct deposit or refund (voided check)
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer ID notices/cards for self, spouse, and dependents (both spouses must be present if filing jointly)
• Proof of ID for self and spouse
• Total paid to day care provider(s) and tax ID number(s)
• Birth dates for self, spouse and dependents; proof of foreign status if ITIN 

Volunteers will not prepare Sch. C with losses, complicated Sch. D, Form SS-5, Form 8606, Form 8615, or Form SS-8.

Not with a smile

My upcoming column this week in the Smyrna AM addresses the issue of the UAW trying for a third time to unionize the Nissan workers. While I was looking at some old articles online about Smyrna, the union, and Nissan, I came across one that surprised me a good deal.

I was not even living in the state when Nissan came to Smyrna the 1980's. At the time Smyrna only had a census population of 8,839 in 1980. In 2010 the census was at 39,974, so we can easily say it is now 40k plus. That means most of Smyrna was even living here during the ground breaking in 1981.

That also means that so many people cannot know about how troubled that simple ceremony was, and it was not a happy time. The Herald Journal newspaper, and I'm not sure where it is from, goes into detail about the rock throwing, the need for hospital visits, the vandalism and the request by the Smyrna police for extra reinforcements from the county, the state, and even a helicopter flying over head.

Datsun later became Nissan.
Click image for larger version

It is so easy to forget how things went down in the beginning. History is often overlooked and forgotten, even relatively recent history. I read this article and thought the readers of This is Smyrna might find it interesting as most here are post-Nissan residents.

Great American Clean-up Event/s

For those interested, and I hope a lot of you are, here is some information about the Great American Clean-up. It is happening this coming weekend and they could use some volunteers...plus getting your kids away from the game station is always good.

Smyrna Stream Clean-Up Dates
As part of the nationwide Great American Clean-up Event, the Town of Smyrna is conducting three stream clean-ups this spring. The dates and times for these Saturday cleanup events are March 23rd, April 6th and May 4th from 8am – Noon.
This is a great way for you and your group to make a difference in Smyrna!
Youth Groups, scouts, churches, schools, businesses and individuals are welcomed to be a part of these Community Stream Clean-Up Events. Gloves, bags and bottled water will be provided. You may call Greg Upham for more information (615) 355-5701, or just meet us in the Smyrna Town Hall parking lot at 315 South Lowry Street.

Goodwill career help for women

Here at This is Smyrna, we hope we can help you find a job or improve your situation. This is not happening in Smyrna, but just down the road in Murfreesboro. I hope this can help you in some way.

Murfreesboro Goodwill Career Solutions "Beyond Jobs"  

Date: 3/18/2013
Time: 1:00 PM TO 2:00 PM
710 Memorial Blvd
Suite 210
Murfreesboro, TN 37129 

Phone: 615-898-1887 

Event Description: Are you on the right career path? "Beyond Jobs" connects women with the tools they need to advance their careers, succeed in the workforce, and achieve personal and career goals. If you are a woman 18 years of age or older and are unemployed or working less than 20 hours per week, please contact the Murfreesboro Career Solutions Center at 615-898-1887 regarding the Beyond Jobs program. We will be hosting an Initial Meeting at 1pm on Monday 3/18/13 at the Murfreesboro Career Solutions Center at 710 Memorial Blvd, Suite 210, Murfreesboro.

How green is Smyrna?

Smyrna was green before green was hip. This coming week we will have a small historical mystery and how Smyrna had a 'green' industry before the green friendly Nissan LEAF.

Food Bank fundraiser

The LaVergne First United Methodist Church is having their last food bank fund raiser and like last time, you're invited. The money stays local and all funds raised goes wholly to help the food bank.

fire-slinging

fire-slinging, a photo by Donna Tomlin on Flickr.

A local photographer took this and other like images at Percy Priest lake here at Smyrna. A nice mix of fire and a long exposure can get you some lovely images.

Donna Tomlin has other great pictures if you are interested.

fire-slinging

fire-slinging, a photo by Donna Tomlin on Flickr.

A local photographer took this and other like images at Percy Priest lake. A nice mix of fire and a long exposure can get you some lovely images.

Steel wool

Steel wool, a photo by Donna Tomlin on Flickr.

A local photographer took this and other like images at Percy Priest lake. A nice mix of fire and a long exposure can get you some lovely images.

Lists....banking edition

In 1918 the Audit Company of New York, United States Mortgage and Trust Company published the book titled "Trust Companies of the United States". While this might sound dull and boring it does list a single company in Smyrna that year. In 1920 the US census had our population listed as just 463, so having a trust company seems a pretty good thing.

This trust company was the Smyrna Bank & Trust co.. On page 508 of the book it lists all the public information and the list is interesting in my view, but lists like this normally are to me.

In the book I noticed that our neighbor, LaVergne, had no trust companies listed, but their size back then was minuscule, so it was not surprising.

The numbers might seem horribly small, but with inflation and such the website Measuring Worth finds that $39,209 the amount of assets the bank carried translated using different means a more meaningful number.

Current data is only available till 2011. In 2011, the relative worth of $39,209.00 from 1918 is: 

$586,000.00 using the Consumer Price Index
$404,000.00 using the GDP deflator
$1,170,000.00 using the value of consumer bundle
$1,900,000.00 using the unskilled wage
$2,940,000.00 using the Production Worker Compensation
$2,610,000.00 using the nominal GDP per capita
$7,800,000.00 using the relative share of GDP

I figure a good midway point for these figures will give you an idea of the value held by this bank in Smyrna in 1918.

This bank was not the only one is Smyrna, but the only one listed in the book. In 1908 the Bank of Smyrna (later People's Bank of Smyrna) was founded. It was destroyed in the great Smyrna fire of 1913. Not sure if reopened for business or closed, because back then the idea of FDIC insurance was way in the future.

The last bit of interesting information hearkens back to the phone book of 1930, just 12 years later. Not a single person in Smyrna with the same last names of these bank officials have a phone listed. I find that very odd as people of worth normally would want to stay in contact, yet not one is listed as having a phone.

So this is this weeks edition of lists. A list of all of the assets and values of one bank in Smyrna in 1912...Not horribly exciting, but interesting. The next edition of 'lists' involve hometown pride during the Civil War.

The return of 'lists'

A new episode of the series 'list' tonight. A view into the financial past of Smyrna.

They chose me!!!

Just was voted on and now will be serving one year on the new Smyrna Charity Assistance Board. I think it will be a good experience and if it works out for me and my bad knees I will try to 're-up' next year when my initial time is up.

Tonight they make the appointments

For those who took the time to fill out an application to be on a town board, commission or committee, the appointments are happening tonight. The meeting starts at 6pm and the appointments are near the end of the agenda, but the agenda is not crowded. I hope those who applied get picked and I wish you all luck and well wishes.

I'm rather excited as I have applied for the new Smyrna Charity Assistance Board. I think it will do lot of good and will allow people to feel that they have a vested interest in the workings of so many different non-profit groups.

I'm watching it tonight on Channel 3, it will stream the meeting live and is one of the great services of the town.

Zama Japan

Smyrna's sister city is Zama Japan. Every couple of years they have an exchange program with students from that city and they are getting ready for next years exchange. The main item they need are host families. Right now the Town of Smyrna is accepting applications (pdf) for local host families. If you feel that this could work for you think about it and then fill the form out.

The Sister City Concept
Smyrna Sister City Program is part of a national not-for-profit volunteer movement initiated more than 40 years ago by President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s people-to-people concept. The goal of people-to-people was to further international understanding and goodwill between the people of the U.S. and the rest of the world. Sister cities programs enable citizens from throughout the world to learn more about each other through educational, social, cultural and business exchanges.

This could be a great educational experience for your family so don't pass by as opportunity knocks.

local food bank fundraiser

A local LaVergne food bank run by the LaVergne First United Methodist Church will be hosting a fundraiser in Smyrna tomorrow and you and your hunger are invited. The money earned goes solely to the food bank so it stays in our area. Have a good meal and a bit of the money goes to help others have a good meal. 

Teddy Bear Tea

The Sam Davis home has a lovely program planned for young ladies and their Teddy Bears with a special Tea Party. Please call for reservations as seating is limited and have a fun time.

Sam Davis Home, Teddy Bear Tea 

March 16th 2013 

            Dress in your Sunday best and bring along your favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed animal or doll) as we invite you to attend the Teddy Bear Tea at the Sam Davis Home.  This tea party is a wonderful way for young ladies ages 4-10 to spend a few hours with their favorite bear and special lady, whether she is her mother, grandmother, aunt, older sister, or another.  Enjoy delectable treats and savory teas, create a fun craft and cozy up with your teddy bear as you travel on an adventure in Story Time!  Tour the inside of the Sam Davis Home with Fannie Davis as she shows you where the young ladies of the house once played and sipped tea.
Teddy Bear Teas will be held on March 9^th and 16^th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  With four tea times to choose from, this is an event that should not be missed!  Reservations are required with the admission price of $10 per guest, excluding teddy bears.  Reservations can be made by phone at (615) 459-2341 or by email at admin@samdavishome.org.  Please make reservations early as this popular event fills quickly.

Mobile Health Unit for March

The Mobile Health Unit Collaborative is a reflection of MTMC's Mission which calls us to "improve the health of individuals and communities" and to have "special attention to the poor and the vulnerable." This Collaborative effort helps achieve access to health care, helping overcome barriers and obstacles. MTMC, as a faith-based institution, is motivated by the principles of Human Dignity and the Common Good. These same principles are shared by our collaborative partners: The Guidance Center, Primary Care & Hope Clinic, Saint Thomas Corporate and Community Medicine, and Saint Thomas Emergency Services and Event Medicine. The Mobile Health Unit is in service four days per week. We are available to serve during these hours of operation, and we are happy to answer questions at any time.


Primary Care & Hope Clinic:

Thursday, March 21st:  Wherry Housing, 8 - 12
Thursday, March 28th:  Smyrna Middle, 8 - 12



Special Events
*Free Health Screening at Habitat For Humanity, Thursday, March 14th, 8 - 12 (ages 18 and older)
*Black Fox Family Literacy Night, March 21st, 5 - 7:  free blood pressure/glucose checks
*Special Kids Race, Saturday, March 23rd

History presentation this Saturday

A email letter from local Representative Mike Sparks gives details on a free historical presentation you might want to attend. While the exploits of Sam Davis is relatively well known in the area, the actions of other locals are sometimes overlooked and overshadowed.

Saturday, March 9, 2013, 9-11AM: FREE HISTORY LESSON!!! 

Quick - who can tell about DeWitt Smith Jobe?  Dee Smith?  General Thomas Benton Smith?  Didn't think so. 

DeWitt Smith Jobe was a member of the famous Coleman Scouts.  DeWitt was captured, tortured (eyes gouged out, tongue cut out & dragged behind a horse) is one of the most amazing stories of the Civil War which happened here in Rutherford County.
The story doesn't end with DeWitt's horrific death by Union troops as his cousin, Dee Smith, also a Confederate soldier it is said he killed upwards of fifty Union soldiers as retribution for the death of his beloved cousin. 

Feel free to come listen Rutherford County's official historian Greg Tucker, former Smyrna High history teacher William McPeak, Sons of Confederate Veterans James Patterson, John Moore (a distant relative of DeWitt) and others will speak. 

The event is open to everyone at NO CHARGE! 

Many thanks to David Tucker, Al Anderson, Jonathon Fagan, Lori Barnard, Ashley North, Giles Creek Baptist and others for their help.

Not all lists are good

Not all lists are good and uplifting. This is one of those occasions.

There is part of the blogger platform that allows you to see statistics to help you make your site better. Sometimes the statistics and information is simply sad. This is one of those days.

One of the informative items is a list of keywords that people searched for in google or some other search engine, that brought them to my website. The image below shows the terms used to find 'This is Smyrna' for the last month.

Of the 10 search terms or phrases, half of them are about the drug Molly. Molly is MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methamphetamine) in a crystallized form.

Back in January 2012 I did a single post that mentioned Molly and a Smyrna Police drug Bust. One single time. This is disheartening on so many levels. TN-Zero is a local task force set up to deal with the problems of 'Bath Salt' style drugs, and drugs in general. If this shows the depth of the problem, then they really have a lot of work ahead of them.

Tax Help this Saturday

The Smyrna Library has on hand people to help you with your taxes.

Free VITA Income Tax Assistance 

Saturdays: Feb. 16, 23; March 9, 23
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. 

Please arrive early, as registration is done the day of the assistance. 

Please bring the following:

• All Forms W-2 and 1099
• Information for other income
• Information for all deductions/credits
• Copy of previous year's return
• Proof of account for direct deposit or refund (voided check)
• Social Security cards or Individual Taxpayer ID notices/cards for self, spouse, and dependents (both spouses must be present if filing jointly)
• Proof of ID for self and spouse
• Total paid to day care provider(s) and tax ID number(s)
• Birth dates for self, spouse and dependents; proof of foreign status if ITIN 

Volunteers will not prepare Sch. C with losses, complicated Sch. D, Form SS-5, Form 8606, Form 8615, or Form SS-8.

Look into volunteering

Yesterday was the official last day to apply for a position on one of the many boards, commissions, and committees...but it isn't to late to apply. On the February Town Council workshop Mayor Tony Dover stated that while they had some applications already, the need for more was there and they would take them as they got them.

I try to point out activities that happen around town and places that do good like the food bank or the clothing shop at Wherry Housing. There are a lot of things to do in Smyrna. I'm physically unable to do a lot due to my knees, but try to help others find out about them through this blog.

People talk about how the people have no say in government...but then never go to a town council meeting unless they're upset over some slight. The same people talk about how bad the economy is or how they wish they could help the ones the economy has shafted.

I understand that life is busy. You have jobs, your kids have activities that take up many nights each week, and at the end of the week you wonder where the time flew. That's life...but at the end of the day you have food, a job, several good sets of cloths, and no need to look at free health services from a van. Others are not that lucky.

Take a moment and look into the archives of the blog and see where you could make a difference. Do you feel you could volunteer for a sports league, work in the food bank outside of the holidays, go to the Smyrna Police Citizens Academy and become a volunteer for their alumni group.

Charity and change begins at home. I served 3 years on the Storm Water Advisory board and you might not believe it, but it was fun. I was even vice-chair for one year. This year I have put my name in for a board and hopefully will get it, and if I do I will try to make my community a better place.

At the end of the day isn't that what we all want?

Smyrna's Annual Easter Egg Hunt

Make plans for the Smyrna's Annual Easter Egg Hunt. 

I will post a reminder for this event the day before.

Help support our local food bank.

Who you gonna call?

Lists part 2

The phone book from last Friday is interesting for the fact that there is only one government telephone number listed...sort of.

The First Smyrna mayor was Joseph Engles, an Attorney. He first took office in 1869 when Smyrna was first Incorporated. He was the mayor until the town was dis-incorporated in 1881.

A little from an online timeline will help.

1881 Smyrna incorporation is revoked by the state of Tennessee.
1905 First telephone switchboard is installed in Smyrna.
1908 Bank of Smyrna (later People's Bank of Smyrna) is founded.
1915 Smyrna gets electrical power and is reincorporated with Dr. J.W. Engles, son of Joseph Engles, as mayor.
1916 John Hager, Sr. converts a 1913 Studebaker into the first Smyrna fire engine.
1924 Smyrna assesses property tax to support a fire department.
1930 Census counts 531 Smyrnæans.
1937 Smyrna builds a municipal water system with fire hydrants.

Note that the first phones were in 1905, so maybe Peyton Clothing co had that number 1 number since the beginning, or was it a system where you had to call 'Sarah' like in the Andy Griffith Show to connect you to Mount Pilot.

In the 1930 phone book the Mayor at the time was Dr. J.W. Engles, the son of the first Mayor. He was listed and you could get him by dialing 57.

There is two listings that oddly enough have the same number. The Smyrna Auto co. and the Fire Department. Who you gonna call? Both I guess.

This is just a section from the town website for the Smyrna Fire Department.

At this time Ben Culbertson, the grandfather of current Fire Chief William Culbertson, was appointed the first official fire chief and placed in charge. The engine was housed at the Smyrna Auto Company, located at 108 North Lowry Street. Mr. Doss O'neal, who is pictured with the 1924 Model-T, worked at this site and kept the apparatus in good condition. In 1931, the Town Commissioners again voted to replace the 1924 Model -T. A 1931 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton truck was selected. This apparatus carried a large water tank and had a force pump mounted on the engine itself. 

By 1937 the Town was equipped with water hydrants and the 1931 Chevrolet was reworked for a smaller tank but was equipped with fifteen hundred foot of hose. No major fire losses were reported after the implementation of city water. A humorous side note from this era, was that if a fire occurred at night, the responding fire fighters would have to break a small glass pane at the Smyrna Auto Company  to gain entry, due to being locked at nights.

 I guess "break glass in case of fire" really meant something back then.

One of the Photos of the first Smyrna firetruck shows many of the original volunteer firemen. This is the vehicle they had when the 1930 phone book was printed. Awesome isn't it.

From right to left on the rear was Allen Gooch, Sam Edmondson and Alden Maddux. Seated as the driver is Doss O'Neal, Chief Ben Culbertson is seated in the passenger seat. The first doctor in Smyrna, Dr. J.M. Shipp is to the right of the apparatus in the white shirt, facing the camera. Photo taken at delivery of apparatus by train in 1924.

Of course this image of their shiny new truck was in 1924, but most are listed in the 1930 phone book.

Allen Gooch (A number for Mrs. Allen Gooch is 15)
80  Sam Edmondson
60  Aldon Maddux
Doss O'Neal (No O'Neals in any community in the phone book)
6  Chief Ben Culbertson.

Back then in a community of only 531 people I guess everyone knew the mayor to a point, as either a friend, their doctor, or mayor. Talk about the smallness of a community.

Today and tomorrow

Only today and tomorrow is left for you to decide if you want to volunteer for any of the Smyrna community boards, commissions and committees.

Council member Henry Cole posted the following for those who want to know what positions are opening. Now understand that for the most part the people in these positions that decide to stay will get the vote to stay in...but there is always some turnover and you could be just what they're looking for.

The Smyrna Town Council will appoint citizens to the following Boards and Committees at the March Council Meeting. To Apply Go to The Town Website Smyrnatn.org
a. Appointment of one (1) member to the Packaged Liquor Board to serve unexpired term ending 2015.
b. Appointment of two (2) members to the Board of Zoning Appeals to serve three (3) year terms ending 2016.
c. Appointment of one (1) member to the Citizens for Sister City Relations to serve unexpired term ending 2014 and two (2) members to serve three (3) year terms ending 2016.
d. Appointment of four (4) members to the Parks Advisory Board to serve two (2) year terms ending 2015.
e. Appointment of three (3) members to the Planning Commission to serve two (2) year terms ending 2015.
f. Appointment of two (2) members to Project Assistance to serve three (3) year terms ending 2016.
g. Appointment of two (2) members to the Board of Adjustment & Appeals to serve unexpired terms ending 2015.
h. Appointment of two (2) members to the Beer Board to serve four year terms ending 2017.
i. Appointment of four (4) members to the Storm Water Advisory Committee to serve two (2) year terms ending 2015.
j. Mayor to appoint two (2) members to the Historic Zoning Commission to serve five (5) year terms ending 2018.
k. Appointment of two (2) members to the Industrial Development Board to serve six (6) year terms ending 2019.
l. Appointment of three (3) members to the Arts Commission to serve two (2) year terms ending 2015.
m. Appointment of one (1) member to the Smyrna Charity Assistance Board to serve one (1) year terms ending 2014, a Council Representative to serve one (1) year term ending 2014, two (2) members to serve two (2) year terms ending 2015, and two (2) members to serve three (3) year terms ending 2016.
n. Mayor to appoint one (1) member to the Smyrna Housing Authority to serve a five (5) year term ending 2018.

If interested you will need to print off the following form (PDF LINK) and get it in by the end of business on March 5th...tomorrow.

Who is number 1?

This is the first of a series of posts I am going to call 'lists'. In society one of the main lists that we deal with is the list of those with phones. In 1930 the phone directory of Rutherford County was all in one and here it is for those that might be interested in a glimpse into the past for Smyrna.

One thing that stands out are the numbers...or lack of in a way. To call these numbers you had just a short number for most. On the cover to contact Kerr's Drug Store in Murfreesboro you had to only call 179. 

Now you might not of heard of Kerr's Drug (Picture), but they have a nice history in Murfreesboro. The Albert Gore center in Murfreesboro has this to say about that store and its history.

Martha and Jesse Messick owned Messick Family Drugstore on the Murfreesboro Square. Prior to the Messicks’ ownership, the drug store was operated as Kerr Drugstore, named for Colonel B.B. Kerr, the owner who filed for bankruptcy in 1930. In 1962, Jesse Messick returned to work at Kerr Drugstore as a pharmacist after having previously worked there as a soda jerk in his teenage years. When the owner died, Messick bought the business and named it Messick Family Drugstore. In 1984, the Messicks opened Messick Home Care, a medical equipment supply company, in the back of the store. Jesse Messick died in 1988 on the same day ground was broke for the Messick Home Care building. In 1997, Martha Messick and her family were forced to sell Messick Family Drugstore and Messick Home Care due to rising costs and hardships associated with managed healthcare and insurance companies. The drugstore was sold to the Revco Drugs chain and the home care business was sold to Housecall Medical Resource.

I will admit that I am one of those sad history loving people that could spend hours every day looking into the past of our community.  Here is the inside cover of the 1930 phone book for our county.

Instead of putting the whole thing here I just will show the Smyrna section. It should be noted that if you look at the smaller communities listed on the cover that LaVergne is not there. In the Smyrna listings a couple are annotated as being LaVergne. I guess to small to have their own listings.

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Now on page two of the Smyrna section you might note that Davis Garage on Dixie Highway, telephone number 47-J, is bold. I guess they spent a hint more to get looked at for business sake. Now finding pictures of some of these old stores is a might difficult, but the work of one writer has helped me here. Leslie N. Sharp wrote this nice book titled "Tennessee's Dixie Highway" and it covers the section from Springfield to Chattanooga. On the cover is the Davis Garage in all of its glory in 1922.

Tennessee's Dixie Highway

Davis Garage was located where Dixie Highway, now called locally "Old Nashville Highway" and Hazelwood intersected. I'm not sure what corner, maybe one of our readers knows which one.

Her book is for purchase at Amazon.com so if you want to learn a little about this important road please go and purchase it.

Now the big question as I asked "Who is number 1"? It seems it is Peyton Clothing Company with the telephone number of 1. A number not hard to remember. I'm not sure if that means they bought the first phone in Smyrna, or they were where the local exchange was, but the honor of being number one in the 1930 phone book goes to Peyton Clothing Co.

The sad part for me is that I cannot find out anything on Peyton Clothing co. in the regular places I look. Do you or someone you know have anything you'd like to share about it? Comment away.

I will be using this phone book for one or two more posts in the next week or so...then I will pull out another list to play with.

Who is number 1?

Who's number 1 in Smyrna? Find out tomorrow in a new multi-part series I call 'lists'.

Teddy Bear Tea

The Sam Davis home has a lovely program planned for young ladies and their Teddy Bears with a special Tea Party. Please call for reservations as seating is limited and have a fun time.

Sam Davis Home, Teddy Bear Tea 

March 9th 2013 

Dress in your Sunday best and bring along your favorite teddy bear (or other stuffed animal or doll) as we invite you to attend the Teddy Bear Tea at the Sam Davis Home.  This tea party is a wonderful way for young ladies ages 4-10 to spend a few hours with their favorite bear and special lady, whether she is her mother, grandmother, aunt, older sister, or another.  Enjoy delectable treats and savory teas, create a fun craft and cozy up with your teddy bear as you travel on an adventure in Story Time!  Tour the inside of the Sam Davis Home with Fannie Davis as she shows you where the young ladies of the house once played and sipped tea.
       Teddy Bear Teas will be held on March 9th and 16th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.  With four tea times to choose from, this is an event that should not be missed!  Reservations are required with the admission price of $10 per guest, excluding teddy bears.  Reservations can be made by phone at (615) 459-2341 or by email at admin@samdavishome.org.  Please make reservations early as this popular event fills quickly.