First Farmers & Merchants Bank - Columbia, TN

High St. Branch

Columbia Hydroelectric Station

The construction of the hydroelectric station was completed in 1925. It was designed by Freeland, Roberts and Co. and built by Foster & Creighton for the Southern Cities Corporation. It is one of the remaining hydroelectric stations in Tennessee that predates the TVA. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since February 9, 1990. This view of the dam and the Duck River is easily accessible from Riverwalk Park.
focus.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/89002364

Mid South Live Steamers - Spring 2021 Public Meet

Live Steamers are scale model replicas of trains, but big enough to ride. The chapter in middle Tennessee is the Mid South Live Steamers which meets at Maury County Park in Columbia, TN. They have free, open-to-the-public meets twice a year in the spring and fall.

James K. Polk Ancestral Home - Columbia, TN

From Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_K._Polk_Ancestral_Home
The James K. Polk Ancestral Home is a historic house museum at 301 West 7th Street in Columbia, Tennessee. Built in 1816, it is the only surviving private residence of United States President James K. Polk. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1961, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The James K. Polk House is located just west of the commercial central downtown area of Columbia, at the southwest corner of West 7th and South High Streets. It is an L-shaped brick building, two stories in height, with a gabled roof. The front facade, facing West 7th Street, is three bays wide, with the main entrance in the rightmost bay, recessed in a segmented-arch opening. The door is flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a semi-oval transom window with tracery, and the interior walls of the recess are paneled. The other bays house windows, which are topped by lintels of brick and a stone keystone. The interior retains finishes period to its construction, but has otherwise been adapted for museum displays. The property includes a reproduction of the kitchen outbuilding that would have been present during Polk's residency; none of the outbuildings from his time survive.

The house was built in 1816 by Samuel Polk, and was the home of his son, U.S. President James K. Polk, for several years as a young adult. It is the only surviving private residence associated with President Polk to survive. James lived in the house until 1819, when he left to read law in Nashville, and for a time after his return to Columbia, where he opened his law practice. The house remained in the Polk family for many years, and passed through several owners before its acquisition by the state of Tennessee in 1929. The museum is operated by the James K. Polk Association. The fountain on the site was moved here in 1893 after Polk Place, the president's later home, was demolished.

Elm Springs - Columbia, TN

Elm Springs is a two-story, brick house built in 1837 in the Greek Revival style. It is located just outside Columbia, TN. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986 and has served as the headquarters for the Sons of Confederate Veterans since 1992.

For more history:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elm_Springs_(house)

Nelson House Hotel - Columbia, TN

The Nelson House, also known as the Columbia House Hotel was built in 1828 with Pleasant Nelson as the proprietor. For many years, it was the area's premier hotel including stays by President Andrew Jackson and future President Andrew Johnson. During the Civil War, Confederate Lt. Andrew Wills Gould died here after a clash with Nathan Bedford Forrest. After an ambush and defeat, Forrest held Gould responsible for the defeat. When they met at the Masonic Hall down the road, Gould shot Forrest, who stabbed Gould. Forrest quickly recovered but Gould died at the hotel after a massive infection.

Mayes-Hutton House - Columbia, TN

From Wikipedia:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayes-Hutton_House
The house was built in 1854 for Samuel Mayes, who sold his slaves as he believed slavery would come to an end, and re-invested his money in this house.

The original portion of the house has a large 54 foot by 58 foot section with an 18 by 18 foot attached wing on the west of the back side. The brown brick house sits on a stucco-covered limestone foundation. The front of the house, probably heavily modified in the 1870s, includes four fluted Corinthian columns supporting a pediment, and a parapet, presenting a massive front facade. The interior is less ostentatious. but well designed, with a central hall that continues through the house, a free-standing stair, and balcony.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural qualities on July 8, 1970.

The Church House (aka Barrow House) is a historic mansion along 7th Street in Columbia TN. It was built in 1873 in Second Empire architectural style. The first owner was Sheriff Latta, but was sold to Robert Church in 1885, and then inherited by grandson Robert Church Barrow.

For full info:
focus.nps.gov/GetAsset?assetID=c165e8c2-4000-4cee-af0e-45...

Columbia, TN Union Station

The old Union Station in Columbia was built in 1902 replacing an older, long demolished, building that had stood nearby. It served the community for both Louisville & Nashville, NCStL and Duck River Valley Narrow Gauge Railroad and was in use until the 1960s when passenger service was discontinued with cancelled freight and parcel service following. This building once served as one of the hubs of the community but is unused and neglected today despite its presence on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church

This church building is located in Columbia, TN. Here is the text of the historic marker:

In October 1843, free blacks in Columbia established Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist congregation in Tennessee. Edmund Kelly was its first pastor. The original church was built several blocks southeast of this site, and it served as a school during the Reconstruction Era. The present building was built in 1885.

Bicentennial Bell Tower - Columbia, TN

To celebrate Maury County's Bicentennial, local leaders had this 48'-10" bell tower built. It is located behind the Maury County Visitors Center on w. 7th St. (US412) across the street from the Polk house. The bell was salvaged from the Civil War era Andrews School building.

James K. Polk's Fountain

Also known as "Polk Memorial Fountain" this originally was located at Polk Place, which was the President's home in downtown Nashville. When Polk's home was torn down, the fountain was moved to the Polk Ancestral Home in Columbia, TN.

A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home - Columbia, TN

A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home is an important Civil Rights site in Tennessee and is threatened due to neglect. It has been collapsing for several years and threatens the First Missionary Baptist Church next door. It was listed in the Tennessee Preservation Trust's Ten in Tenn threatened historic properties in 2010.

Here is the historic marker
Side One
Side two

Rippavilla Plantation - Spring Hill, TN

Completed in 1855, Rippavilla is a Greek Revival mansion build for Confederate soldier Nathaniel F. Cheairs IV. The Civil War battle of Spring Hill happened on the grounds.

Today the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is open for tours and the 'Swanky Plank' Marketplace. It is located along highway US31 across from the public entrance to the Saturn plant.

Faded Tobacco wall ad - Columbia, TN

This faded ad is seen along Main St. south of the Columbia town square. The top is for Columbia Grocery Co. The rest of the faded mural is for Tobacco.
Some of the words we can make out: "New Process" "Refined" "Best for Smokers"
Bottom right: "Tag on 5c bag tells how"
Someone else was able to identify this was an R.J. Reynolds advertisement.

Pop Geers Monument - Columbia, TN

I'm not sure how many times I've driven along W. 7th St. in Columbia (US412), but it wasn't until this day that I noticed the tall obelisk in a park up the side of a hill. I've spent years combing through every brochure and tourist guide in Middle Tennessee, and can't recall ever reading of this place. This monument and the park on the side of Mt. Parnassus are dedicated to Edward "Pop" Geers.

In the late 19th Century, Harness Racing reached its golden age and was one of the most popular spectator sports in the U.S. Pop Geers who lived and trained horses in Columbia was one of the most accomplished men in the sport. As a driver (harness racing has drivers, not jockeys) Geers recorded the first one mile race in under 2 minutes. He was killed in a race at the West Virginia State Fair in 1924. This monument was dedicated to the "Gentleman Racer from Tennessee" two years later.

For more, see this youtube video: youtu.be/m3jMRD32R_Y

Columbia, TN Mural: Who is John Galt?

This is the iconic view from the Ayn Rand novel Atlas Shrugged. You never know what you will find in small towns.

This is one of seven small murals around the Nelson House Hotel a block north of the Columbia, TN town square. They have been painted by local mural artist Bonnie Callewaert. Three of them are visible in a parking lot next to the historic hotel and the other four are behind the building. Other than Aesthetics, I can't find any info on why or when on these.

recently uncovered Selz Shoe wall ad - Columbia, TN

NOTE: This photo is over two years old. I do not know if it is still available

This old painted wall advertisement for Selz Royal Blue shoes was recently uncovered in Columbia, TN. Advertised as "The Sole of Honor" the Selz shoe company in Chicago was in business from 1890 to 1929. This can be seen along Main St. in Columbia on the south side of the town square next door to Ted's. When a new building is built in this spot, it is unknown if the 90+ year old sign will be preserved. Go see it now to make sure you see it.

Cross Bridges Methodist Church

Cross Bridges is a small rural community in Maury County west of Columbia along US412. According to the sign out front, this congregation was established in 1882.

Columbia, TN Union Station

The old Union Station in Columbia was built in 1902 replacing an older, long demolished, building that had stood nearby. It served the community for both Louisville & Nashville, NCStL and Duck River Valley Narrow Gauge Railroad and was in use until the 1960s when passenger service was discontinued with cancelled freight and parcel service following. This building once served as one of the hubs of the community but is unused and neglected today despite its presence on the National Register of Historic Places.