Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1914-12-17
SOME HISTORY
OF WHITWEL

A News rerorter while Whitwell
Friday met Mr.. I. NJ. Walker at tue
saw and planning mill plant of Walker
Bros Mr.. Walker is postmaster Ut
Whitwell now aud though a mamber
of the firm of Walker Bros, divides his
time between toe mill and postoffice.
He was about to leave for his 'post-
official duties for tue afternoon, but
as he met the reporter said. 'bet me
tell you something of the early history
of Whitwell
yep" said the reporter, pulling
his note book, sire away.
And Mr.. Walker began: ~
"Right there where the road crosses
the tracks below the mill yard was
the end of the N c. & st L. prev
ious to 1888 There was no depot
there, the train pulling in and un-
loading frei ght aud passengers for
conveyance TO Dunlap by vehicle aud
wagon When the extension to Dun
lap was contemplated IN 1899, the
route was surveyed straight M thru
the railroad yaros pass the ores ut
c., l. d r. r tippla, but some par
ties owning lands above there raised
such kick that the railroad company
dropped back and made a curve near
the former CheekyilIe school house
thus avoiding controversy.
"Most of the land now occupied by
the T. G l, & r r plant in 1888
was a wheatfeld, and Joe Smith maize
the last crop on it in taat year. His
field reached from tue Walker Spring
Branch near mill, to the little water
course near tipple. The rest Of the'
land was pasture with a few apple
trees GU it,
1.-THE first store in Whitwell was To-
Gated on tue little rise just east of
where the old hall stood, and was
owned by Walker 81 Hayron in 1888.
The building has long since been re-
moved, The second store in Nhitwell
was the old building now used as a
DOCTORS office, formerly used az a drug
store by w. 3 ketner The FIR t
building erected by the English Com
pany opening the mine here was the
building usad as an Office by tho I
c., / q r. r. Co The company
st ore was built later.
The building il which the postoffice
was located when the place was known
as Cheekville still STANDS, and is on
the side of mountain little above
the ball ground The place was known
as Cheekville then When the mines
opened up q. G Shirley put up store
on dill east of plant, ana for years
did hourisning business.
''My father, j A. Walker, was
first postmaster in the place when it
was called Cheekville. The postoffice
was later moved to building on Main
street, since used rs Doctors Office,
but destroyed by fire Bsfor5 the fire,
however, my father put up store
building across the street on site of
his present store, and he was post
master during Cleveland's terms.
This building was also destroyed by
fire. e E Bull succeeded him as
postmaster and moved the Office to
small addition to Kelly 81 Grayson's
store on site of present Shirley Build
ing. W. E McCurry succeeding as
postmaster, moved Office to building
now occupied by L. l. Shirley as
meat market. The postoffice is now
located in the block owned by Layne
q Havron. hardware dealers, and |
quarters are much more commodious
than any of the other places and the
postofice business is rapidly grow
ing"
The News desires articles of an his |
torical nature regarding the early set
clement of this valley, and from any |
portion Of it, no matter how small OF
the place. We would ap |
preciate articles Of this character.