1950s Christmas: Downtown Transformed into Winter Wonderland

I have vivid memories of each December during the 1950s when downtown Johnson City was magnificently transformed into a winter wonderland of holiday enchantment, thanks to city officials, storeowners and eager shoppers.

Little About Coming Stock Woes in 1929 Newspaper

Readers of the August 17, 1929 Johnson City Chronicle would find few clues to the enormous financial havoc about to wreck the country in just over two months – the stock market crash.

Island Was Scene of Harrowing Experience

Kathy Reed sent me a September 25, 1936 Johnson City Beacon newspaper clipping bearing the title, “Gray Station Folk Hearing Again of Miracle of 1901.” The account referenced a June 13, 1901 Johnson City Staff newspaper article concerning a May 21 destructive flood around Spurgeon’s Island.

Journal Entry Helped Clear Mystery of Plane Crash

Merrill Moore, former anchorman at WCYB TV, attempted for years to learn the truth about a purported military plane crash in East Tennessee during World War II. Eugene “Jeep” Jones, former chief engineer at WETB Radio and a friend of Moore, recalled hearing about a P-51 Mustang going down on Coffee Ridge in Unicoi County.

City's Vicious Storm in Early 1900s One to Remember

My late grandmother, Mrs. Earl B. Cox, experienced firsthand a bad storm that once ravaged Johnson City. She saved an undated Comet newspaper clipping titled, “Awful Storm Wednesday Afternoon - Thousands of Dollars in the Growing Crops Were Destroyed and Many Glass Broken.”

Great Flood of 1908: Brush Creek in Johnson City Rose 12 Feet Above Its Banks

The worst flood in Johnson City history occurred on May 29, 1908, as noted by a June 1959 TVA report, “Floods on Brush Creek in Vicinity of Johnson City, Tennessee.”

Community Events Big Part of Fourth of July Celebration 1897

July 4th holidays of yesteryear were observed with colorful flag displays, community synchronized events and wholesome family get-togethers. The one for 1897 was no exception with festivities being held the following day on Monday.

Bidding A Sad Fairwell to the Gardner Apartments at Watauga and Market.

The old apartment building, originally known as the Gardner Apartments, at 319-321 W. Watauga where I lived during the first eight years of my life (1942-1950) burned and collapsed into a mountain of molten rubble.

Comet Article Recalls Night Turning to Day for City in 1888

The July 5, 1888 edition of The Comet newspaper contained a bold headline: “Promptly at 8 o’clock last Friday night, the electricity was turned on for the first time and for Johnson City, night turned to day.”

"Tourist of the Week" Program Once Unique City Feature

In June 1962, the Johnson City Chamber of Commerce kicked off its first “Tourist of the Week” program, aimed at making out-of-state tourists motoring through the city keenly aware of the many amenities offered to them.

City Celebrated With World When News Broke of War's End

The August 14, 1945 Johnson City Press Chronicle headline with "PEACE" written across the top of it in large bold letters said it all: "Japan Bows; War Over.”