Author Archives: Clint

First Baptist Lawrenceburg Celebrates Three Decades on Springer Road

Congratulations to First Baptist Church of Lawrenceburg as they celebrate 31 years at their Springer Road location. FBC Lawrenceburg was organized at the Opera House on the Public Square in 1896, and held its first baptism in Shoal Creek that … Continue reading

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The Day Lawrence County Woke Up in a Different Country

One-hundred-and-fifty-four years ago today, Lawrence Countians awoke in a different nation than the one in which they had gone to bed. On June 8, 1861, Tennessee voters went to the polls to approve or disapprove of the legislature’s May decision … Continue reading

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Is This the Oldest Image of Lawrenceburg?

This woodcut of the Public Square in Lawrenceburg may be one of the oldest images of the city in existence. Although the picture’s origin is unclear, it has made appearances in several books about local history. The image is not … Continue reading

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Labor of Love: The Birth of Lawrence County High School

If schools had birth certificates, this is what Lawrence County High School’s would look like. On January 6, 1908, the County Court of Lawrence County voted 24-to-1 to establish a government-funded, tuition-free high school in Lawrenceburg for the students of … Continue reading

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The Deerfield-Ethridge Tornado of 1995

Today (May 18) is the 20th anniversary of the 1995 Deerfield-Ethridge Tornado. On May 18, 1995, an F-4 tornado cut a huge, 29-mile path of destruction across Piney, Deerfield, Brace, and Ethridge, killing three and injuring 32. The massive twister … Continue reading

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The Deerfield School Basketball Teams of 1936

In the days when each community had its own school, there was no lack of ballgames–or friendly community rivalry–in Lawrence County. This picture shows the Deerfield School basketball teams of 1936. From left, first row: Coach T.D. Rayfield, Edith Clayton … Continue reading

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Old Ladder 2

Thanks to Ben Carpenter, one of our Alabama readers, for sending us these great photos. This antique fire truck once belonged to the Lawrenceburg Fire Department, but is currently sitting in a field between Mt. Hope, Alabama and Moulton, Alabama. … Continue reading

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The Lawrenceburg Postmaster Who Was Fired by the President

A few months ago, I mentioned a local legend concerning President James K. Polk’s squabble with a local postmaster. Tonight, I have an update about the validity of that legend. Polk was no stranger to Lawrence County. Although he lived … Continue reading

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Raash Sowell: The Freed Slave Who Wasn’t Afraid of the Klan

It took a lot of guts for a black man to stand up to the Klan in the uncertain days of Reconstruction. But that’s exactly what one of Lawrence County’s newly-freed slaves did in the late 1860s. Reverend Payton Sowell … Continue reading

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Murray Ohio Scholarships

Murray Ohio not only employed thousands of people from Lawrence and surrounding counties, it also helped many local students pay for college. In addition to the massive amount of scholarship money the company awarded to Lawrence County’s students, the company … Continue reading

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