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| | Dyersburg, Tennessee
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Dyersburg, Tennessee 38025
County: Dyer
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In 1818 Andrew
Jackson and Isaac Shelby, Governor of Kentucky, signed a treaty with the
Chickasaw Indians in which the Indians relinquished ownership to their hunting
grounds in West Tennessee. After the treaty was signed and the Chickasaw Indians
ceded the territory, immigration began from Virginia
and North and South Carolina with the county settling.
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Dyersburg
is located on what was know as
“McIver’s Bluff”, a grant from the State of Tennessee. In the early 1920’s Joel H.
Dyer of
Jackson,
Tennessee
became the owner of the McIver
grant of 640 acres for the purpose of building a county site. Sixty acres
originally composed the town of
Dyersburg, divided into 86 town lots.
The original plan of the town was determined in 1825 and incorporated on
January 10, 1850. In 1903 the old charter was
repealed and a new charter granted to the Town of Dyersburg.
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Attractions
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 General Strahl’s Grave
and Cannon
This Civil War Cannon was brought here from
Fort
Pillow
by a group of citizens. |
 Lenox
Bridge
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| The
Troy Avenue Historic District
A residential neighborhood located north of the business district
constructed from 1890 through 1940. Buildings are primarily one to three
stories in height, built mainly of wood & brick and reflect styles
ranging from Queen Anne, Classical Revival, Mediterranean Revival, and
Craftsman bungalows. The earliest house in the district is "Latta
Woods" built in 1852.
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Emerison
E. Parks Covered Bridge |
| The
Walter E. David Wildlife Exhibit |
Newbern
Railroad Depot and Museum
Every September the residents of Newbern and the surrounding areas get together
to celebrate Depot
Days! This week long, annual event is centered around the Historic
Depot, located in the heart of downtown Newbern, and offers a
variety of activities.
The Depot was constructed in 1920 to replace the original building which burned
in 1918, and serves Newbern and
Dyer
County
as railroad museum, dinner
theater & arts activity center, as well as a working train station for
Amtrak. Purchased by the city in 1990, it has been lovingly restored to its
original form through private and corporate donations. The Depot is open to
visitors on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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 The
Dyer County Courthouse
Dyer County Court House
In October, 1823
Dyer
County
was established and named in honor of Henry Dyer. In 1824,
McIver's Bluff was selected as the county seat.
Dyersburg
was incorporated in 1850. This is when
McIver's Bluff became officially known as
Dyersburg
. The present court house was constructed in
1911.
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Court
Square Historic District |
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The
Soldier in Grey
"Soldier
in Grey," a statue dedicated in 1905, on the anniversary of the Battle
of Shiloh. The statue is inscribed with the battles in which soldiers from
Dyer
County
have fought, and
also contains a time capsule with the names of Dyer County Confederate soldiers.
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Bank
of Dyersburg
100
North Main Street
listed
on the National Register of Historic Places - June 16, 1983 |
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Emerison
E.
Parks
Covered Bridge
One of only three covered bridges remaining in the states,
the structure was originally built in 1904 to traverse the
Obion
River
Drainage
Canal
. In 1997 the bridge was
dismantled and reassembled in the nearby town of
Trimble
on
Parks
Plaza
.
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Reelfoot
Lake
,
just 22 miles north of
Dyersburg
, was formed by a series of
large earthquakes in 1811 and 1812. The magnificent cypress trees, their
“knees” (roots) protruding from the water, give the lake a mysterious
quality that draws people from all over the world. Many people visit the lake to
view the many species of birds that migrate through the area. Among the most
beautiful are the American bald eagles that arrive to build their nests and
spend the winter. Of course, the fish are plentiful so it’s a sportsman’s
paradise! Visitors to the lake can also take a boat ride, picnic, walk out on
one of the many piers for a close up look or just sit and relax while enjoying
the view. At the Visitor’s Center there is a museum depicting the history of
the area with examples of the variety of wildlife that call the lake home. |
The
Baird-Brewer
Building
was originally named the
Baird-Dulaney
Hospital
in the early 1900's.
The famous clown, Emmett Kelly was born here
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The Security Bank now occupies the Cordell Hull
Hotel building. This famous landmark was built in the 1940's and named in
honor of United States Secretary of State, Cordell Hull.
The fifth floor of the Security Bank has not been
renovated and looks much like it did during the days as the Cordell Hull Hotel.
An original room key is on display in the bank's lobby. |
Prior to 1966, the McIver's Grant Library
building was the home of the United States Post Office.
Students pause in front of the McIver's Grant
Library building. The library was moved to this location in
1966. |
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The new Post Office is named in memory of Jere
Cooper, a prominent lawyer who was elected to Congress for several years and
served as chairman of the
House Ways
and Means Committee. |
The Latta House (1852) is the present home of
Bart and Molly Williams. It is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and is located on the highest point in the city of
Dyersburg
. The house was built by Samuel R. Latta, a pioneer
lawyer and founder of one of
Dyersburg
's first public schools. The style of the house
is known as "Piano Style". |
The Okeena Springs are located at the base of
Elm Avenue
. These springs attracted the early settlers and
may have provided fresh cool water for drinking.
Okeena is a Chickasaw word meaning
"groundhog". |
Dyersburg
High
School
was
built in 1924 on Science Hill which is now called College Hill.
 Later
Dyersburg
High
School
was rebuilt and now houses the
Dyersburg
Middle
School
. |
Mrs. Nell Thomas ran the children's orphanage
Home on
Phillips
Street
which is now the Dyersburg City Schools' Central Office. This angel
monument was erected in her memory
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Bank of
Dyersburg
(added 1983 - Building - #83003030)
Also known as Citizens Bank Building
100 N. Main St.
,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Architecture/Engineering,
Event
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Architectural
Style:
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Modern
Movement
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture,
Commerce
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Period
of Significance:
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1875-1899,
1900-1924
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Commerce/Trade
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Financial
Institution, Professional, Specialty Store
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Current
Function:
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Vacant/Not
In Use
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Dyersburg
Courthouse Square Historic District
(added 1991 - District - #91000222)
Also known as See Also:Bank of
Dyersburg
Roughly bounded by Church,
Main
, Cedar and Court Sts.,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Architecture/Engineering,
Event
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Architect, builder, or engineer:
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Biggs,Asa
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Architectural
Style:
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Italianate,
Classical Revival, Other
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture,
Commerce, Politics/Government
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Period
of Significance:
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1850-1874,
1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Commerce/Trade,
Government
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Courthouse,
Financial Institution, Specialty Store
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Current
Function:
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Commerce/Trade,
Government
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Current
Sub-function:
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Courthouse,
Financial Institution, Organizational, Specialty Store
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Dyersburg
Sanatarium
(added 1999 - Building - #76002241)
Also known as Watson House
124 McGaughey,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Person,
Architecture/Engineering
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Architect, builder, or engineer:
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Unknown
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Architectural
Style:
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Second
Empire, Other
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Historic
Person:
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Watson,W.P.
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture,
Social History
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Period
of Significance:
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1875-1899,
1900-1924
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Domestic,
Health Care
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Hospital,
Single Dwelling
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Current
Function:
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Vacant/Not
In Use
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Gordon--Oak Streets
Historic District (added 1992 - District
- #92000428)
107--302 Gordon and 114--305 Oak Sts., and W side 711--
731 Sampson Ave.
,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Architecture/Engineering
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Architect, builder, or engineer:
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Multiple
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Architectural
Style:
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Tudor
Revival, Bungalow/Craftsman, Other
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture
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Period
of Significance:
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1900-1924,
1925-1949
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Domestic
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Secondary
Structure, Single Dwelling
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Current
Function:
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Domestic
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Current
Sub-function:
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Secondary
Structure, Single Dwelling
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King, Edward Moody,
House (added 1990 - Building
- #90001658)
512 Finley
St.
,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Architecture/Engineering
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Architect, builder, or engineer:
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Mahan,George,Jr.
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Architectural
Style:
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Colonial
Revival
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture
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Period
of Significance:
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1900-1924
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Domestic
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Secondary
Structure, Single Dwelling
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Current
Function:
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Vacant/Not
In Use
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Latta House
(added 1978 - Building - #78002586)
917
Troy
Ave.,
Dyersburg
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Historic
Significance:
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Person,
Architecture/Engineering
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Architect, builder, or engineer:
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Latta,Samuel
Rankin
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Architectural
Style:
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No
Style Listed
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Historic
Person:
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Latta,Samuel
Rankin
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Significant
Year:
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1852
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Area
of Significance:
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Architecture,
Law
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Period
of Significance:
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1850-1874
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Owner:
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Private
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Historic
Function:
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Domestic
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Historic
Sub-function:
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Single
Dwelling
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Current
Function:
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Domestic
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VISITING
DYER
COUNTY
: Newbern
The portion of
Tennessee
lying west of the
Tennessee River
was not opened for settlement
until long after
Tennessee
became a fluorishing and
wealthy state. As far as there is any authentic record, the lands in this
section were owned by the Chickasaw Indian tribe. Various treaties were made
with the Chickasaws with hopes of obtaining their territory for settlement. Much
of the land was covered by grants from
North Carolina
but as yet none of it had been
settled by white people.
The final treaty by which the Indians relinquished all of
West Tennessee
was signed
October 19, 1818
, by Isaac Shelby and Andrew
Jackson on behalf of President James Monroe, and by the chiefs on behalf of the
Chickasaws.
In 1823 The General Assembly of Tennessee passed an act to establish two new
counties west of the
Tennessee River
,
Dyer
County
being one of them.
A large part of this section was given in grants by the State of
North Carolilna
and some by the State of
Tennessee
, usually for services rendered
to the state or the county.
A map of original grants shows that Newbern is located on land originally owned
by J. W. Clark in the northern part of his 5000 acre grant. As early as 1839
settlers began to clear forests and build homes on a ridge halfway between the
Obion and
Forked
Deer
Rivers
. In 1850 Mr. Owen Philyou of
New Bern, North Carolina, staked a claim and built a log house in the area where
Newbern now stands. In the fall of 1851 Thomas McSpaddin and his brother erected
a business house on the south side of
Main Street
--what is today the public
square. It was occupied by the family and used as a dry goods and grocery store.
In the spring of 1852, C.E. White of
Trenton
,
Tennessee
, bought Mr. McSpaddin’s
house and stock of goods and moved to Newbern. Roads were being built in all the
surrounding areas making the inland more accessible for trade and settlement and
a ferry was built across the
Forked
Deer
River
at
Dyersburg
.
By 1853 there were two dry goods stores, one blacksmith shop, one saddle shop
and one cabinet maker. The
village
of
Newbern
was small and depended greatly
on the families in the immediate area for financial, spiritual and educational
growth.
There are conflicting stories of how the town got its name but the most widely
accepted is that Mr. Philyou came to this area by ox cart from
New Bern
,
North Carolina
, and bought eight hundred
acres of land. Shortly before his death Philyou divided his property among his
seven children. It was his preference that each child receive exactly 100 acres
of land, therefore 100 acres were left. To avoid any dispute as to its division,
he told a group of his neighbors that they could have the extra 100 acres for
the purpose of building a town. The neighbors gratefully accepted the offer and
insisted that the new town be named for Philyou. He declined and suggested
instead that the town be named for his home town of
New Bern
. The way the name Newbern
differs in word arrangement from
New Bern
was probably the result of
poor education among the early settlers.
Today Newbern has approximately 3000 residents who call this peaceful small town
home. Located only 9 miles from
Dyersburg
, many people enjoy the short
ride to work in the city. But many don’t have even that far to go! Newbern is
home to 10 manufacturing companies employing approximately 2000 people.
The
Tennessee Technology Center at Newbern is a source of great
pride for the people of Newbern and all of
Dyer
County
. The center is a
post-secondary and adult institution which provides programs to serve the
training needs of a wide area by providing technical instruction and skill
training in trade, technical and other occupations. It provides skilled trained
employees to the local businesses and industries in areas specified by the
employers themselves. The programs are designed to not only prepare people for
employment but to upgrade the skills of those already in the workforce. The
center is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
The Oakview Recreation Center
has something to offer just about everyone! The center boasts a riding arena, 9
hole golf course, walking track, playground, ball fields, basketball courts,
tennis courts, swimming pool and an outdoor pavillion that seats 250. Oakview is
widely used year round for numberous family activities such as picnics and
reunions. It offers a safe place for jogging, walking or just enjoying the day
with friends and family.
VISITING
DYER
COUNTY
: Trimble
The town of
Trimble
had its beginning in 1873, the result of the
building of a railroad from
Paducah
,
Kentucky
to
Memphis
,
Tennessee
, which ended at a bluff near the
Dyer
County
line just across the Obion River Bottom. Here
the bankrupt railroad remained uncompleted for several years on five acres of
land donated by Jesse Pieerce, the founder of Trimble. Finally, businessmen
contributed money and Judge Lawrence S. Trimble of
Paducah
reorganized the company.
Delta
Heritage Center
photos take month 2006, TMC.
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