Maxwell's Big Star - Bolivar, TN

Apparently, Maxwell's Big Star was at one time a chain of grocery stores in and around west TN, but the location in Bolivar at the town square seems to be the only one still around.

Bank of Bolivar

One of the oldest buildings in Bolivar, the Bank building dates back to the late 1800's. In 2007, a massive fire practically wiped out the whole southern block of the courthouse square.

My visit to town was 4 1/2 years after the fire. You can tell this building has some nice architectural detail to it, but also can see the fire damage as well. (The three windows on the side are busted and there's smoke damage above each. You may not be able to tell from this photo, but the roof is also missing. Still, this is the only building from the block still standing. Until the fire happened, there has been courthouse square beautification plans for the block, and I saw evidence of similar work along other sides of the square.)

Court Square Historic District sign - Bolivar, TN

There have been three courthouses in Bolivar. The first was a log structure built in 1824, but three years later it was moved and expanded into a house, which still stands today. The second courthouse was built in 1827 of brick and also placed in the town square. During the Civil War, Union General Samuel D. Sturgis ordered the entire town to be razed and the courthouse as well as many homes were destroyed in an 1864 fire.

A new Courthouse was needed, so the third and current courthouse was completed in 1868 in the same location. The two story brick building features a pedimented portico with four Corinthian Columns atop an arched brick entranceway. Other features include a rusticated stone base and a square clock tower with a bell atop the center of the roof. In 1955, three story brick wings were added on either side.

About 20 years ago, the trees in front of the courthouse were planted, so pictures from a couple of decades ago show architectural details better. Around the Square, Market Street is US64 and Main Street is TN18/125. Warren Street on the East Side had recently undergone a renovation and may be pedestrian only now. In front of the courthouse is a bust of Simon Bolivar, for whom the town was named, which was presented as a gift from Venezuela. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bolivar Court Square Historic District.

Hardeman County Courthouse - Bolivar, TN

There have been three courthouses in Bolivar. The first was a log structure built in 1824, but three years later it was moved and expanded into a house, which still stands today. The second courthouse was built in 1827 of brick and also placed in the town square. During the Civil War, Union General Samuel D. Sturgis ordered the entire town to be razed and the courthouse as well as many homes were destroyed in an 1864 fire.

A new Courthouse was needed, so the third and current courthouse was completed in 1868 in the same location. The two story brick building features a pedimented portico with four Corinthian Columns atop an arched brick entrance-way. Other features include a rusticated stone base and a square clock tower with a bell atop the center of the roof. In 1955, three story brick wings were added on either side.

About 20 years ago, the trees in front of the courthouse were planted, so pictures from a couple of decades ago show architectural details better. Around the Square, Market Street is US64 and Main Street is TN18/125. Warren Street on the East Side had recently undergone a renovation and may be pedestrian only now. In front of the courthouse is a bust of Simon Bolivar, for whom the town was named, which was presented as a gift from Venezuela. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Bolivar Court Square Historic District.

Western Mental Health Institute - Bolivar, TN

It was a gloomy fall day when I drove past the 125 year old Insane Asylum, but in a way I suppose that's appropriate. Of course, these days they're not called insane asylums anymore. One can only hope that an upgrade in the name also leads to an upgrade in patient care as mental health hospitals do tend to be poorly funded.

The Institute is in West Tennessee in the town of Bolivar. I didn't realize it at the time, but I probably shouldn't have been driving around here at the time. (Guards probably don't like that.) Shown here is the original building which today is the Administration building. It had wings on either side which were condemned and removed in 1980. Today, the building just off US64 is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Western State Hospital Historic District.

If you do a google search of this place, you'll likely find a bunch of ghost stories or other such hauntings, but it's no Waverly Hills Sanatorium.

Luez Theater - Bolivar, TN

A previous theater relocated to this spot in 1948 and has remained virtually unchanged ever since. The theater was originally managed by Louise Mask. She wanted a theater name that was only four letters long and picked Luez because of the similarity to her name.