Bob Cox's new book: Available Sept. 15. Come along and experience a place of homegrown music and enduring memories. Experience Johnson City.

Click on the book cover to order Bob Cox's book, "Fiddlin' Charlie Bowman - An East Tennessee Old-Time Music Pioneer and His Musical Family"

Welcome to the wonderful world of upper East Tennessee history. My name is Bob Cox, an avid history buff who has collected material from the region's olden times since I was a young lad. I am a weekly columnist and occasional feature story writer for the Johnson City Press. I wish to thank this newspaper organization for permission to archive my work on this website. My main purpose for this endeavor is to capture and preserve for future generations this area's rich history. This site contains a smorgasbord of history articles that I have written about the glorious beginnings of this beautiful mountainous region. I am indebted to the many historians of days gone by for their meticulous historical record keeping. My focus area lies within the area between East Tennessee, southwest Virginia and western North Carolina with particular emphasis on Johnson City. I enjoy hearing from readers. Share your historical recollections and tidbits with me, and I will attempt to include it in future articles. I can be reached at boblcox@bcyesteryear.com. And now ... sit back, relax and return with us to those glorious days of yesteryear. See how many of the following questions you can answer about the history of Johnson City and its surrounding area. Click on “Answer” to link to the article that contains the answer to the question. Where does Hacker Martin Mill that once stood along Cedar Creek in Gray, TN now reside? Answer John Buda, owner of John’s Sandwich Shop, was famous for what yummy fast food product? Answer What movie theatre in downtown Johnson City featured the first 3D movie to be shown? Answer Columbia Records’ Johnson City Sesssions were held at what downtown business and location? Answer What service club in Johnson City played a role in the career of the Father of Country Music, Jimmie Rodgers? Answer What concession stand item at the Liberty Theatre was described as being the best on the planet? Answer The legendary myth of foxhound Old Limber is credited with helping elect what governor of Tennessee? Answer The annual Burley Bowl parade and football game was played during which holiday season? Answer What two grammar schools in Johnson City located less than a mile apart once shared the same name? Answer Where were the first two locations for the beautiful Lady of the Fountain? Answer What unusual event took place in Johnson City in 1910 that dealt with the city’s founder, Henry Johnson? Answer Pat Watson’s Trading Post on Spring Street in the 1950s was focused on exchanging and selling what kinds of products? Answer What East Market Street downtown hotels shared the same location over the years? Answer First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt once stayed in which Johnson City hotel? Answer What four turntable speeds were standard on record players in the 1940s and 1950s? Answer What city school was purported held together by chewing gum put there by ages of students? Answer How did the Princeton Arts Center get its name and what was the original use of the building? Answer The Johnson City public school system originated in 1864 when a log school house was built where? Answer What three containers did rural mail carriers routinely encounter when delivering mail along country roads? Answer What humorour prank did WBEJ radio disc jockey Hap Henley do to determine if people were listening to him on the radio? Answer What business was located directly under Jobe’s Opera House at the corner of E. Main and Spring streets? Answer What favorite downtown eatery on E. Main Street in the 1940s was known as “Uncle Arthur’s Place? Answer What school once stood on a hill at the intersection of West Main and Watauga? Answer What company used a blue horse head to advertise “50,000 Prizes For All You Lucky Boys And Girls?” Answer What 1950s juvenile radio program featured an elf with a high-pitched voice, created by speeding up a reel-to-reel tape recorder? Answer What Erwin based railroad spanned 277 miles over the rugged terrain of four mountain ranges, crossing through five states? Answer What occurred at 12:00 noon on Friday, July 15, 1949 from 200 miles away that had a big impact on Johnson Citians? Answer What cultural event with a name meaning, “two moccasins tied together,” became an annual recreational and learning university? Answer What radio personality once frightened Bristol residents by claiming over the air that a monster was loose? Answer What was the name of the Fire Department mascot that rode with firemen to fires between 1928 and 1936? Answer What was the name of the 25-acre “lovers’ lane” hideout that was once situated along the Holston River just below what is now Boone Dam? Answer What product was associated with five red and white signs that once populated major highways? Answer