In March 1987, Tom Hodge greeted George Devault to his office to view a priceless deed. The Devault Bridge and the Norton Arney Farm had been front and center in the news that year. The bridge was being widened with two additional lanes to accommodate the new four-lane Bristol-to-Johnson City highway. Furthermore, the Arney Farm had been acquired by the city with plans for it to be made into a park.

Hodge was covering the Tennessee General Assembly in Nashville when W.W. Faw, then Washington County's representative, got a resolution passed which named the bridge after the Devault family.

George had a copy of the original Sept. 30, 1797 handwritten deed to the property lying on both sides of the Watauga River. The property was conveyed from John Bean of Washington County to Henry Devault of York County and State of Pennsylvania for 950 pounds of Virginia money. The tract totaled 537 acres.

The deed identified the land as adjoining Benjamin Cobb's property, along with that of Robert Alison and the Massengills. William Bean was noted for being the first permanent white settler in the area. He built a cabin on Boones Creek near its junction with the Watauga River. According to Devault, the cabin was moved to a spot behind the Devault home and was used both for storage and as a smokehouse.

The old structure was still in decent shape, except for a spot where meat had been on a table next to a wall, causing damage to a couple of logs. George extended an invitation to Tom to visit the cabin.

The Cobb, Alison and Massengill names are quite recognizable to that area. Some years back, a furor occurred over a parcel of land known as Alison Woods, considered one of the finest strands of hardwoods in the Eastern United States.

The subject next turned to the Massengill Monument, which was then located at the intersection of the Bristol and Kingsport highways. Tom commented that it was surprising how many people passed by the memorial every day without taking time to stop and read the text on it.

The deed refers to the Watauga River, although the river through that area became part of the Boone Lake impoundment.

Vintage Norton Arney Motor Co. Ad When the Business Resided on Wilson Avenue

Devault addressed the question, “How did the Arney Farm come into being?” It seems that a descendant who owned that portion of the Devault farm sold the property because it was not adequate for farming. Norton Arney, a long-time automobile dealer in Johnson City acquired it. According to George, some of the original land covered in the 190-year-old deed resided in the Devault family.

Tom noted that one of the more interesting aspects of old deeds like this one was that boundaries to the property were often marked by such objects as trees. For example, a description might start out as “beginning at a hickory tree on the bank of the river and ending at a double walnut tree some 100 yards to the north.”

Tom surmised that in the 190 years that had passed at that time, the trees were likely long gone, having fallen victim to old age or a woodsman's ax.

Hodge concluded by saying, “Anyway, the deed allows us to slip back in time, a long way back when Tennessee had just been a state two years. And if you crossed the Watauga River, you did it by fording because there was no Devault Bridge there.”

Tom doubted that Henry Devault, in his wildest imagination, could foresee a time when some of his property would be used for soccer, softball and other recreational sport.

The historic Boones Creek community was the site of the famed old Boone tree that for more than 150 years carried the inscription carved by Daniel Boone with his hunting knife: “D. Boone cilled a bar on the tree in year 1760.” On Friday, May 14, 1948, the community residents hosted a noteworthy open-house event.

Johnson City Press-Chronicle

The affair was sponsored by the Boones Creek Community Club, which was the 1947 winner in the Washington County and East Tennessee Community Improvement Contest.

Roy Brumit, president of the community, said everything was in readiness for the entertainment of an estimated 600 visitors from 150 communities in 25 counties.

Approximately 75 representatives of the Knoxville Civic Club, sponsor of the East Tennessee contest, awarded more than $3000 annually to contest winners. Also, representatives of the Johnson City Press-Chronicle were guests of honor. They annually sponsored the Washington County contest with a contribution of $700.

In addition, invitations were extended to Extension Service personnel at the University of Tennessee, as well as presidents of the other 14 Washington County community clubs, radio and newspaper representatives from Knoxville, Kingsport and Johnson City. Several Tennessee Valley Authority personnel were also on hand.

Between 18 and 20 automobiles transported the Knoxville delegation. They were met at the Greene County line by representatives of the Boones Creek community, Extension Service personnel and Press-Chronicle representatives, led by a state Highway Patrol escort. The officers escorted them through historic Jonesboro (Jonesborough) and Johnson City to Boones Creek.

All of the communities' facilities were open to visitors. The day schedule started with a tour at 10 a.m., starting  at the high school building, luncheon at noon in the school cafeteria and a program following the luncheon.

The concluding feature of the program was the awarding of a silver platter to Carl S. Jones, Jr., publisher of the Press-Chronicle, sponsor of the country contest. The award was made by Terry Horn, chairman of the East Tennessee contest for outstanding service in the development of better homes and farms in East Tennessee.

The tour included three stops. The first was at the home of Mrs. J.D. Kefauver with a view of her kitchen and walk-in freezer. The Keefauver Brothers' prize-winning Angus herd was also inspected.

The next stop was the super-pasture demonstration project sponsored by the Boones Creek Community Club and at the farm of Mrs. W.T. Hayes. The final visit was at the Wayland Crouch home to inspect a new dairy barn and the owner's herd of registered Hereford cattle.

Buses were then engaged to take the visitors on a tour where community leaders pointed out points of interest, including remodeled and new homes, registered cattle, good pastureland, churches and several historical spots. Sound practices of farming  and organizational development techniques were explained to the invited guests.

During lunch, the visitors were taken for a ride to the top of the John Glaze Hill for a panoramic view of the community. The program began at 2 p.m. with group singing and devotions by the Rev. Paul White. Roy Brumit, club chairman, gave the welcome address and recognized the visitors. Reports on 1947 community work was given by Ivan Range, Mrs. Lee Carter, Wayland Crouch and W.M. Bowman.

Explanation of the community work was outlined by the building of a pyramid, which represented the communities endeavor to build and develop the people, soil, plants and animals, country homes, business and industry, city homes, public utilities, taxes and roads, schools and recreation and churches.

And finally, the newspaper participated in the program by explaining the part of business and industry, city homes, public utilities, taxes and roads.

My column today is a collection of “Newsy News” from Okolona between 1886 and 1902:

Feb. 1886:Mr. W.G. Anderson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Okolona's M.E. Church, South, thanked the people of Johnson City and surrounding area for contributions made for a new church building. Regrettably, he announced that the building had burned just as it was nearing completion. He promised that his church would immediately begin work on another building, a new brick one measuring 28 by 44 feet. 

Apr. 1886: Although Buffalo Creek was rarely in the local news, Okolona had a sweet little creek that was sodden with the finest of grass and beautifully hedged with the yellow of golden willow. During corn-planting time, their little summits glistened with frost and snow as they displayed their frigid loveliness.

The Okolona post office changed hands from Mr. Buck to Dr. A.J. Peoples. Since the former one had served the community so long and with such honesty, it was hopeful that Dr. Peoples would keep Mr. Buck as his assistant to “bring in some sunshine and a few cherries at the proper season of the year.”

May 1886: Mr. S.M. Anderson offered his 250-acre farm for sale. It was located along the waters of Buffalo Creek, one mile from a good merchant mill. His farm had a good fence, was in a fine state of cultivation, was well timbered and watered, had six or seven good springs and had running water through the farm. It contained a fine brick house, a large well-constructed barn, an apple house and granary and all other necessary outbuildings. There were upwards of 1000 fruit-bearing trees, including peach and apple.

Mar. 1890: Fifty teams were needed to haul bridge timber and ties on the CCC Railroad in Carter and Unicoi counties. Interested parties were to apply to V.E. Steen, contractor, Okolona Post Office.

Jun. 1896: W.S. Anderson, known as “The Apple King of East Tennessee,” became the leading authority on the culture and the preservation of apples. He had on his table some very fine apples of that year's growth as well as preserved ones from the crop of 1895, a distinction to which few fruit growers had ever made claim. He developed a system of preserving apples intact as they came from the trees. (Can anyone shed more light on Mr. Anderson?)

Sep. 1897: The Rev. H.M. Peebles and his little son of Okolona, who had been suffering with diphtheria, were much better and expected to recover soon.

Nov. 1898: While fishing near his home at Okolona, John K. Haynes, the 10-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. George Haynes fell in the creek and was drowned. He was afflicted with a falling sickness and supposedly fell in the creek during a spasm. 

Dec. 1898: Mr. Zach Pugh came to Johnson City from his Okolona home and combined business with pleasure by subscribing to The Comet newspaper, a duty he believed  every man owed to his family.

Jul. 1899: An excursion was advertised that would run from Johnson City to Unaka Springs on Sunday, July 30. The train departed Market Street at 8 a.m. and returned at 6 p.m. The outing afforded residents a splendid opportunity for spending a day in the beautiful East Tennessee mountains. Round trip fare was as follows: Johnson City $.65, Okolona $.60, Marbleton $.50, Rose Hill $.40, Unicoi $.25, Rock Creek $.30, and Erwin $.20. Tickets could be purchased at Gump Brothers on Main Street.

Nov. 1902: My column photo shows a South & Western Railway Co. passenger schedule between Johnson City and Spruce Pine, NC, a distance of 64 miles, which included 22 stops. The Okolona stop was between Johnson City and Marbleton. The “f” identified flag stops, meaning you had to flag down the train in order to gain access. The “t” defines those stops with telephone availability.

In 1929, Helen Jackson, a former resident of the Southern mountains and a current resident of Brooklyn, NY, had cautious words to describe the Southerners she loved so much. They supplied her business with high quality pedigreed mountain pottery: “I love my mountain people,” she said, “and I don't want to call them illiterate. They just haven't had the advantage of an education.”

Jackson routinely traveled to the Unaka Mountains and returned with ware for her New York business. The majority of it was used to make lamp bases with parchment shades that she designed herself.

This mountain range, along the Tennessee-North Carolina border, supplied fine clay for the potters whose work sheds were dotted in all directions throughout the region that she had known since childhood. She, like the other children of the region, always took great delight in watching her talented neighbors at work.

“My lamps are pedigreed lamps,” she explained, ''They're made of the same clay that was used by the famous Josiah Wedgwood & Sons, a firm known for making highly prized ware. I even have the log made by the Wedgwood firm that was sent to America from England in 1767.”

The rich veins of clay in those mountains had been known to the Cherokee Indians, who inhabited the region years before any white settlers arrived. The Indians made use of it for their own purposes and when the first white colonists arrived, they quickly learned of the presence of this superior clay. The fame of their products spread not only throughout the colonies but also to England, with the result that Wedgwood sent representatives to America to obtain five tons of the prized clay.

English potters migrated to the new clay fields and the inhabitants of the district were the descendants of those early settlers. They used the same primitive method that their ancestors relied upon, such as weighing out clay by using a bucket of stone for a weight.

The ancient kick-wheel of centuries past was still the preferred choice of mountaineer potters and each piece was burned in wood-fired kilns. “My potters don't want new methods,” declared Mrs. Jackson. “They say that power-wheels would spoil their product because they shape a vase as much with their feet as with their hands, feeling their product as they made it. It is this individual attention to each piece that gives this unique pottery its own particular charm. Each article is different from the rest.”

Many shapes such as “Bible” pitchers were made by the potters when Mrs. Jackson first began studying their work. Many of the shapes were evidently traditional, having continually been handed down from parent to offspring.

Helen Jackson Displays Her Unaka Mountain Pottery Products in 1929

The colors of the vases were particularly delightful because no kiln full of pottery ever came out the same; each vase took on different coloring, depending on its nearness to the open flame. From the same firing, one vase would emerge as bright red, another streaked with brown and a third having dark red with green shadings. The possibilities were beautifully endless.

Mrs. Jackson carefully named all her lamps. “The Widow” was a dark, metallic vase with a shade of black and gray. “The Cedars” came out red, yellow and green-white, showing slim evergreens pointing upward on the shade. Many of her designs were taken from the subtle effects in pieces of chintz (glazed calico textiles) she had chosen.

“The Fountain,” in red and cream, displayed a red vase with a creamy shade, each panel showing a spraying fountain. Mrs. Jackson had some huge porch vases that stood several feet high, beverage bottles with pinched in sides that made them easy to handle, cups to match, corncob stoppers, lovely long-necked pitchers, flower vases and a dazzling variety of sizes and shapes in lamps.” 

Mrs. Jackson concluded by saying: “I have the added advantage of being adaptable for seasonable usage. There were autumn colors, those suggestive of winter holidays and others reminiscent of summer's glory.” 

A May 1892 Jonesboro Herald and Tribune newspaper offered a diversity of news reports and low priced ads from the surrounding area:

An Advertisement from 1892

“Green coffee, 15 cents a pound at The Bee Hive, Johnson City.”

“Misses Addie Patton, Bonnie Broyles and Ada Roach attended commencement exercises at Washington College last week.”

“Does your watch need repairing? If so, take it to I.N. Beckner, Johnson City, who guarantees satisfaction on all work in his line.”

“Charles A. Ross of The Twinklings returned Monday night from a week's visit to Washington College and vicinity. He reports a lively time.”

“Brooms 10 cents each, best tea 50 cents a pound, good tea 40 cents a pound, sugar 23 pounds for $1. Pure drugs and medicines at The Bee Hive.”

“Miss Dolly Johnson, one of the ladies who leaped from the Loveman Block during the great fire in Chattanooga, is in the city visiting Mr. and Mrs. C. L. Taggart.”

“J.T. Browing, editor of the Staff and President of the Alumni Association of Washington College, attended commencement exercises at that place last week.”

“As H.P. Little left the city last Saturday afternoon on Train 1 , he was singing, “Home, Sweet Home.” We can't say where he landed, but to our surprise, he returned Sunday night.”

“Miss Gertie Hilbert, after a protracted stay in the city, returned to her home near Matuta (Washington County community, no longer in existence) Thursday morning, accompanied by the heart of one of our best young men. She would have taken him, but he could not leave his mother.”

“The event that has been so long looked for by the society people of Johnson City was consummated last Wednesday evening by the marriage of R.S. Boyd to Miss Forme Barkley, one of the most charming and accomplished young ladies. The knot was tied by Rev. J.C. Atkins at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Will Harr on Fairview Avenue. A reception was tendered the happy couple at the Hotel Carnegie by the young men of the city and never before has such an elegant reception been given in Johnson City.”

“Attention, GAR (Grand Army of the Republic): Jonesboro Post No. 85, Department of Tennessee, GAR is hereby called to meet in a called meeting at 2 p.m. sharp, on Friday, May 27, 1892, for the special purpose of taking proper steps to observe Memorial Day. The members are all requested to be present.”

“It is said that the East Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia Railroad will put into effect a new time card next Sunday. The changes proposed will be about as follows: Train #2 will be one hour and a half later and Train #3, one hour later. There will be little if any change for numbers, 1 and 4.”

“Beware of Ointments for Catarrh that contains mercury. Mercury will destroy the sense of smell and completely derange the whole system when entering it through the mucous surfaces. Hall's Catarrh Cure, manufactured by F.J. Cheney & Co., Toledo, Ohio, contains no mercury and is taken internally directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. The price is 75c per bottle.”

“Owing to the settlement of the affairs of the CC&O Railroad, the Iron Belt Land Company of Johnson City has decided to have a sale of lots in their magnificent addition, West Park, in Johnson City, on June 1 and 2.” 

And finally: “The prohibitionists of Washington County are hereby called to meet in mass convention in the court house in Jonesboro on Monday, June 6, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for representative and a full or partial county ticket, as may be deemed most advisable. Let everybody who believes in the annihilation of the rum power be present.”

Today's feature is a continuation of the one that began on January 26. The information from The Comet newspaper addresses the origin of Johnson City's Lady of the Fountain. I chose to quote rather than paraphrase it. My comments are shown in parenthesis. Forward me any remarks or questions you might have.

A Closeup of the Lovely Lady of the Fountain (aka Greek Water Carrier)

1909-02-04

“Ladies Public Fountain Committee: Under Parks and Public Improvements, Rev. John T. Brown of the committee stated there was no definite report to make, but that the committee would meet with the Ladies' Public Fountain Committee, Mrs. James A. Summers, chairman, on Tuesday afternoon and take up the matter of purchasing and installing a fountain in the Public Square and otherwise improving the enclosed triangle.”

1909-06-24

“The New Fountain for the Square: The fountain for the Public Square purchased by Mrs. James Summers and associates, as the result of tag day and other enterprises, is arriving and will soon be in place. When this is completed and the square otherwise beautified, it will be transformed from an eyesore to an ornament to the city. All honor is due to the good women who have had this matter in hand.”

(The fountain impressively made the transition from a proposed simplistic public water hole to a beautiful bowl with eight spigots for pedestrians, pans for watering animals and a statue that sold by the manufacturer as the “Greek Water Carrier” mounted above it.

1909-07-01

“Fountain Now Being Erected, Busy with Foundation: Workmen are busy with the foundation and putting in the pipe line. The new bronze fountain will be useful as well as ornamental for all time. It will be only a few more days until the Public Square will be the most attractive spot in the city. This will be the best money that has been spent in Johnson City in a public way for a long time and the ladies, God bless them, are entitled to all the credit.”

1909-07-01

“Gump's Rebuilding Sale: A full page advertisement elsewhere in this issue of The Comet will carry good news to many homes in this city where there are men and boys to be shod. For 29 years, Gumps has been a household word in Johnson City and vicinity and stood for clothing of quality. The business has grown steadily with the town and now has outgrown its quarters, in a sense.

“In other words, the house is going to put on a new front to make a suitable background for the Public Square when the handsome new fountain is placed. Contractor Curtis will begin remodeling the building on July 15 and to give his corps of workmen elbow room, this big sale has been inaugurated, the first in the history of the firm.

“The prices offered are astonishing when it is realized that only the highest class of clothing, furnishings, hats and shoes are carried in stock, advertised by the makers and standard the world over. You don't have to be your own judge to purchase at this sale, the brand on the articles tell the story. This sale will be a big success because the people know from experience that the Gump reputation is behind every article offered in the sale and the prices will do the rest.”

1909-07-08

“Help Lift the New Fountain Debt: The fountain cannot be presented to the city until it is entirely free from debt. The committee is not willing to be responsible for the money necessary to complete the work. At a recent meeting, they decided to make a statement in the local papers so the people will know how their money is to be expended.

“Subscriptions can be left at Summers-Parrott Hardware Co. The list has already been started so bring your contribution at once and we can start the fountain to bubbling. Contributes on Tag Day totaled $527.50.

“The project cost $802.03: cost of the fountain purchased in New York (Lady of the Fountain portion was purchased in New York while the bowl came from a Lenoir City foundry), $515; Freight, $25.45; foundation, $63; concrete walkways leading to the fountain, $96; and two drinking troughs for horses, $74.50. Contributions from local businesses were Unaka National Bank, $15; Summers-Parrott Hardware Co., $10; Hart & Houston, $5; Wm. Silver & Co., $5; Bank of Commerce, $5; Dosser Brothers, $5; H. Gildersleeve $25; and Gump Brothers, $5.”

The Lady of the Fountain as It Appeared at Mayne Williams Library When It Was Located at the Site of the Old Downtown Science Hill High School

1909-07-15

“Mrs. James Summers sent the following list of subscription since the last issue of The Comet: Watauga Electric Co., $5; Johnson City Traction Co. (streetcars), $5; William G. Mathes, $10; Frank Henderson, $5; Brading & Marshall, $10; Wofford Brothers, $5; Humane Society, $13.50; Charles Cargille, $3; and cash, $5.

“Money was also donated to provide two additional 8-foot walkways across the triangle to the fountain: M.I. Gump, $20; J.C. Paving Co., $5, P.Q. Miller (Justice of the Peace), $5; and W.F. Jones, $5.”

1909-07-22

(The much anticipated news finally arrived.) “The Fountain is Now Bubbling: The water wagon is in constant eruption in this city now and forever more. Tuesday, the new fountain on the Public Square was connected with the reservoir and the bubbling drinking cups have been doing double duty since. When the additional walks now being laid are finished and the curb put in along the Southern Railway, the public can get a general idea of how beautiful the Square will look with the finishing touches of grass and flowers are added.”

1909-07-22

“Elks Help Swell Fountain Fund: Johnson City Lodge No. 825 B.P.O.E. (Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, also said to be the “Best People On Earth”) gave a check for $51 to Mrs. L. Armbrust this week to help pay the balance due on the fountain and improvements the ladies have undertaken on Public Square. This is the largest contribution from any organized body and was as thankfully received as it was cheerfully given. In this generous gift, the Elks have maintained their reputation for doing the proper thing upon all occasions, this proving their right to be known as the B.P.O.E.”

1909-11-11

(An advertisement in the newspaper shows Tunnell's Studio no longer located on “Public Square” but on “Fountain Square.” It appears that the square was renamed about that time, which has remained until the present. Walter P. Brownlow must have been proud to have the fountain erected in his honor. He died on July 8, 1910, almost exactly one year after the fountain started bubbling.)

Walter P. Brownlow for Whom the Fountain Was Dedicated

(I conclude with one interesting observation. Mrs. James Summers, wife of former Mayor James A. Summers was instrumental in getting the fountain established downtown. She was also the one who acquired the statue when it was removed from Roosevelt (Memorial) Stadium for metal recycling. She took it to her garden in her new home in Henderson, NC and later assisted with its return to Johnson City. What a history the Lady has experienced.) 

Richard “Dick” Church, who previously shared some memories of the Red Shield Boys' Club, an organization dear to his heart, provided additional memories of the organization. Dick recalled another activity at the Red Shield Boys' Club – stamp collecting.

“There was a gentleman and his young son,” he said, “whose names escape me, who formed a club for boys interested in this hobby. We got together once a week to talk stamps and to show off the stamps we had acquired and traded among ourselves. I still put away a few stamps and have done so over the years. This interest started from my experience at the Boys' Club.”

Dick related another story that had to do with boxing. Ever so often, the boxing coach would get the boys together and offer anyone who could stay in the ring for three rounds a free trip to the concession stand where he usually treated himself to chocolate milk.

“The guys would get together beforehand,” he said, “and agree not to hit each other hard and to pull all our punches. That being the case, even though I was not into the sport as such, it was a way to get a free treat. Fortunately, I don’t remember ever getting hurt.”

Duncan “Diamond Studded” Yo-Yo Won By Dick Church 

Church recalled a craze that hit Johnson City and possibly all over the country involving the Duncan yo-yo company. “All of a sudden, said Church, “Duncan yo-yos were everywhere, “Kress’s, Woolworth's, McLellan's and other five and dime stores. On a Saturday afternoon, when all us kids congregated downtown to hang out or take in a matinee movie at the Majestic Theatre, they would have a young man out front of the stores demonstrating yo-yos.

“There were usually several different demonstrators and all were from the Philippines. They were probably in their 20s. All of them were experts with the yo-yo and would teach the kids how to do tricks with them.

“One evening at the Boys Club, they held a contest to see which boy in the club was the best using a yo-yo. I was pretty good and practiced before the contest so I could make the yo-yo “sleep,” “walk the dog,” “cats cradle,” “shoot the moon” and other tricks. We all lined up with our Duncan yo-yo’s. I don’t think there was any other brand. In turn, each boy demonstrated his prowess with his special yo-yo to one of the guys who judged the contest.”

Dick explained that there were prizes awarded for the first three places. The first prize was a gold, probably plated, yo-yo. The second one was an all-black model with three “diamonds” embedded on each side which would sparkle when the yo-yo was spinning. The latter was the prize that Dick wanted. He didn't remember what the third prize was.

“Well,” he said, “I came in second place and proudly won the special “diamond” studded yo-yo. I still have it and wouldn’t trade it for the gold one even if the price of gold was through the roof and the diamonds were real.

“I must also mention that these young Philippines guys had another special talent. They could whip out a pocketknife and, while you watched, quickly carve a scene, flowers, your name or something else into the wooden yo-yo. They would then take a thick white paint material and rub it into the carved area, polish it off and handed you a work of art.

“I had my black diamond studded one so carved (as shown in the attached photos). Notice on one side is a boat, an airplane, a palm tree and some birds flying; on the other is a garland of some kind of flowers looking something like a thistle.”

Dick further stated that all through the years, he has been thankful for the adult volunteers and the men who ran the club for their dedicated efforts. He singled out one individual, a man named “George,” for kick-starting him in radio, his lifetime vocation and avocation. I am still looking for some who knows George's last name?

Today's feature is the first of two that will address the origin of Johnson City's beautiful Lady of the Fountain. Although it answers several questions about the development of the downtown water fountain, it also presents some facts that are hard to interpret, “history mysteries” as I call them. The information comes from The Comet and is quoted just as it appeared in the newspaper. Any comments I offer are shown in parenthesis. Feel free to send me any comments or questions you might have. The second Lady of the Fountain feature will appear in late February. 

The Lady of the Fountain as She Stands Watch Over Johnson City's Public Square

1894-10-11

“That Fountain, Gift from Judge Hart: We are to have a fountain on Public Square in Johnson City. It is to be a gift from Judge Henry C. Hart. He is going to have it erected and will pay for it from his private purse.

“This is a meritorious step and one dictated by a desire on the Judge's part to not only beautify and adorn Public Square but to afford a convenience to the people of the countryside as well as those of the town and to strangers visiting the city.

“The town and the citizens of the entire country cannot sufficiently thank the donor for his public-spiritedness and solicitude for their welfare, as it will indeed be a boon to them and we await with impatience the erection of this fountain where from the pure waters will flow”

(Note that no mention is made of a Brownlow Fountain or the Lady of the Fountain. It appears to deal with the need of a water fountain on the Public Square.)

1903-12-12

“Tank on Square May Be Used As Brownlow Fountain: Having heard possibly that the tank on the square was unsightly in the eyes of some, the Southern (Railway) has had it repainted and repaired. Perhaps permission would be given by the company now to allow it to be used as the Brownlow Fountain until contributors become more numerous.”

(This is the only mention I can find of the railroad tank being used as the Brownlow Fountain.)

1903-12-17

“The Brownlow Fountain, A Fund to Erect Fountain: At a recent meeting of the Board of Trade, appropriate resolutions were passed in reference to a fountain to be erected on Public Square in honor of our worthy Congressman, Honorable Walter P. Brownlow. It was the sense of the Board of trade to erect this fountain at a cost of $1,000 and to raise this fund by a popular subscription from the people of Johnson City and surrounding community. (Soldiers' home was approved in 1901. Apparently, the honoring of Brownlow with a fountain occurred two years later in 1903.)

“The Board of Trade therefore appointed a committee of ways and means to which  committee the matter of raising the funds has been instructed, as follows: S.H. Pouder, Chairman; James A. Summers, secretary; P.M. Ward, treasurer; G.T. Wofford; and W.G, Mathes.

“For the convenience of the public, the committee designated J.C. Campbell as a solicitor at the post office and S.A. Byrd at the Soldiers' Home.

“The idea of building a fountain on the square is one that has been strongly endorsed for years but never has it struck so popular a vein of sentiment as when the question of erecting it in honor of Congressman Brownlow was mentioned. That it is an appropriate token of the high esteem in which Col. Brownlow is held by our people goes without saying.

“The people feel that they should do something to show their appreciation and gratitude for the many good things which Col. Brownlow has done for this Congressional district and chief among which is having erected in this city the National Home for disabled Volunteer Soldiers.

“Now that the people have an opportunity to show their gratefulness for so worthy a congressman, they can do so in the matter of this popular subscription fund to build the Brownlow fountain.

“The maximum subscription from any one individual is set at $10, so that any amount up to $10 will be received. This plan is adopted to make the subscription popular and one that can be reached by any individual. All subscriptions will be duly acknowledged through the public press.”

1903-12-24

“May Elect Fountain to Honor Congressman Brownlow: Johnson City may erect a fountain in honor of Congressman Brownlow, who has done so much for the town. In the event it is erected, the editor of the Hardeman Free Press should be engaged to deliver the dedicatory speech. He is a fountain that spouts pure water all the time.”

1904-04-28

“Southern Tank Could be Used as Brownlow Fountain: Having heard possibly that the tank on the square was unsightly in the eyes of some, the Southern Railway has had it repainted and repaired. Perhaps permission would be given by the company now to allow it to be used as the Brownlow Fountain until contributors become more numerous.”

1904-05-26

“Where Is the Brownlow Fountain?: Where is the Brownlow fountain? Has it dried up? We notice a little green spot on the north side of Market street beside the railroad. Great trees from little acorns grow. Wanted more of it.”

1908-09-17

“Tag Day Next Saturday: Saturday, September 19, is tag day and you are expected to give your mite to help build a fountain on Public Square. The good women of Johnson City are back of the enterprise and it is going to be a success. The more you contribute, the handsomer the fountain will be. (Tag day referred to the soliciting of contributions to a fund, with each contributor receiving a tag.)

“A water color sketch of how the square will look when beautified can now be seen in the William Silver & Co.' show window. It is a very handsome piece of work and was drawn by The Comet's artist, W.E. Burkholtz, perhaps the cleverest artist in the South. It is a beauty and if you will look at it, you will readily give a $5 or $10 to speed the good work.

“The Comet will have an engraving made for publication so that any persons away from Johnson City may contribute for old acquaintance sake.”

1908-09-24

“Tag Day A Success: Last Saturday was tag day in Johnson City and the weather was ideal. A large number of industrious ladies, young and younger, worked hard all day and as a result $530 was added to the fund being raised to beautify Public Square. It was a great day's work and the satisfaction that comes from labor well performed will be the only reward until a beautiful square shall smile upon them in the near future and hence forth.

“Miss Lila Taylor won first prize, $5 in gold given by Summers-Parrott Hardware Co., and presented it to the fountain fund. The second prize, a pair of $3.50 shoes offered by Hannah & Faw, west to Miss Bess Slaughter. Miss Mary Hardy won third place, a silver belt pin offered by William Silver & Co., valued at $1.50 and gave the fountain fund the equivalent in cash.”

Today's column  is the first of three articles dealing with the Lady of the Fountain's origin in downtown Johnson City. The other two pieces are larger feature stories presenting my research that spans 1894 (when the fountain was first conceived) to 1909 (when it became fully operational).

Lady of the Fountain on Fountain Square (Archives of Appalachia, Wofford “Pat” Watson Collection)

Former Johnson City Press-Chronicle staff writer, Marianne Odom, wrote an article for the paper in August, 1983. Her work coincided with Lady's returned to Johnson City from Henderson, NC to resume her role as a part of the city's past and future. She had been absent 46 years.

The Lady measures seven and a half feet tall, which includes the vase on her shoulder. The dedication ceremony was held on Sept. 20 that year. The figure that once graced Fountain Square found a new home inside the Johnson City Public Library that acquired the land on the north side of Mayne Williams Library after the old Science Hill High School was razed and the hill leveled. About 30 people attended the ceremony that day.

Mayor Raymond Huff described himself as one of the few residents of Johnson City who could actually remember the figure in her original resting place and then proclaimed Sept. 20 as “Lady of the Fountain Day.” The statue was placed in the main lobby of the library, surrounded by live plants.

In the early 1900s, Mayor James A. Summers and other city officials voted to erect a fountain on the square to honor U.S. Rep. Walter Preston Brownlow. The congressman had been instrumental in making Johnson City the location of the Mountain Branch of the National Homes for Disabled Veterans, today known as the Mountain Home VA Medical Center.

I consulted Carol Grissom, Senior Objects Conservator, of the Smithsonian Institute and was told that our statue was definitely the “Greek Water Carrier,” sculptured by Alan George Newman (1875–1940) and copyrighted in 1905 by the J.L. Mott Iron Works (118-120 Fifth Avenue, NY). The water fountain below the statue was fabricated at a Lenoir City foundry, which also did railroad repair work.

In 1937, the fountain had to be moved to correct traffic problems at Fountain Square. The Lady was relocated from downtown to Roosevelt (later renamed Memorial) Stadium where she stood near the Doughboy statue. Later the city hauled the fountain to the city dump.

Fortunately, the statue was saved from metal recycling by Alice Summers, who acquired her and kept her in a barn for several years before shipping her to Henderson, North Carolina to grace the garden of Mr. and Mrs. John Zollicoffer. Mrs. Zollicoffer was the former Helen Summers of Johnson City. Her son has been very helpful in piecing together the history of the Lady.

Members of the Chamber of Commerce became interested in the statue several years later. At Johnson City's Centennial, Dan Wexler, Jr. managed to locate the figure in the private Henderson, NC garden.

When contacted by members of the chamber, the owners were unwilling to part with the piece, which had by that time fallen into severe disrepair. Her legs were cracked and concrete had been used to repair the damage.

Later, however, she was dedicated to the city and shipped back in 1983. Several local residents were instrumental in obtaining the Lady's return.

Mike Rose, a Carter County high school teacher and sculptor, was asked to restore the piece to her original beauty. With the help of several students, the team began stripping paint and removing concrete from the base of the statue.

Rose and his students used special materials to repair the cracks and returned the statue to her original slate blue color. The cost of the project was in excess of $5,000.

My two upcoming features, providing added details from old newspapers about the early days of the beautiful Lady of the Fountain, will occur in a few weeks.

My wife recently directed my attention to a beautiful Monarch butterfly hovering near our backyard flowerbed arbor. Immediately, I thought about the late Tom Hodge,  long time writer for the Johnson City Press, and his love for the fluttery critters. He inspired my love for area history.

Each fall, the former sports writer, news reporter, telegraph editor, executive editor and editorial director provided readers with a continuous monarch butterfly report of the migration of the winged creatures to Mexico. He also examined woolly worms to determine how mild or severe the weather would be. According to legend, thickness of the coat and number of rings on the caterpillar is a prediction of the forthcoming weather.

Tom also mentioned “morning fogs in August,” which some folks believe correlates with forthcoming snow accumulation in the mountains.  Supposedly, heavy fogs forecast deep snows while light ones predict a miniscule amount of the white stuff.

Tom Hodge, Third From Left Takes A Coke Break With Press Employees

The journalist became acquainted with many railroad workers over the years and was continually featuring their stories in his column. They included Erwin's legendary J. Fred Leonard, known affectionately as “Fogless Bill” and who had a distinctive train whistle; Ed Lewis of old Clinchfield 99; and even Casey Jones. Tom's train articles involved the CC&O, Southern, ET&WNC and others.

Hodge developed an appreciation for the many landmarks in the East Tennessee area and the importance of preserving them. Sadly, Johnson City razed many of them over the years, which included the Southern Railroad train depot, City Hall, Tennessee Theatre (built as a venue for vaudeville stage shows) and the Windsor Hotel, to name a few. And the beat goes on.

Over the years, Tom regularly received local history material, either written or verbal, which he used in his columns. This included vintage newspapers, books, high school annuals, photographs, shared memories and area artifacts. 

Tom penned numerous articles about the First Families of Franklin. This organization, that originated from the Tipton-Haynes Historical Farm, traced its history to a battle over the newly formed State of Franklin at the farm and surrounding area giving rise to the organization. He qualified as a member because of a distant relative and received the honor from Faith Stahl, wife of Johnson City’s late historian, Ray Stahl.

Tom routinely focused on area customs and folklore with a wide variety of subjects: sulfur and molasses being good for acne, the wearing of copper bracelets, the mysterious Brown Mountain lights near Linville, NC, ramp (mountain onion) festivals and many others.

One of Tom’s favorite subjects involved stories that originated from Clarence’s Restaurant in Unicoi. Old timers from the area routinely met there to eat and exchange stories, or “tall tales” as they referred to them.

One of the most famous and unusual stories to come out of East Tennessee is the 1916 hanging of a circus elephant, known as Mary, for killing her trainer. The execution took place in Erwin using a railroad crane. Tom kept the story alive over the years by occasionally revisiting the subject and adding new information or slants on it as it became available.

Through the years, Tom reviewed a number of local history books from local authors, thereby doing a favor to the author and to area history buffs.

And finally, Hodge occasionally gave his readers a “test” that covered a wide variety of local history subjects, some of which had been covered in his articles. One creative individual submitted one that was in the format of a crossword puzzle.

Tom featured several items that I sent him over the years. His many contributions to local history have not been forgotten, at least not by this writer.