August Newsletter - Week 3
Recap
This week we had a local history lesson from Jerry Shattuck! He has a plethora of information on any topic involving Anderson County history dating as far back as 1803, when the county was first organized. Fun fact - Andrew Jackson practiced law in Clinton around this time and even bought land near what is now Bethel Church! During the 1800’s, we had 33 sugar manufacturers and 44 distilleries. This was during the same time frame as the Second Great Awakening, a religious revival of Baptists and Methodists which made for an interesting dynamic. During the Civil War, our county was devested by armies and pillagers that traveled through and lived off the land. However, after the war, Anderson County boded well during reconstruction due to an abundance of coal and natural resources. This is when the Coal Creek wars began and the freeminers were established. The Coal Creek War led to abolishment of the conflict lease system and was nationally covered news in Harper’s Bazaar. In 1905, Magnet Mills was built as well as Oliver Springs Hotel, a luxury spa hotel in Oliver Springs that attracted out-of-state travelers from all over. Magnet Mills manufactured men’s socks and became a big player during WWI as one of the largest textile employers of women. By 1930, it employed 1,100 people in a town with a total population of 19,000. This had a huge economic impact on our area that rescued us from the devastation of the Depression. Soon after, 2,500 people were employed by TVA to build Norris Dam. With the new availability of hydroelectric power to produce electricity, the population in Norris grew to 26,000. This paved the way to begin the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, which employed 85,000 people by 1943. From 1943 to 1945, this was the biggest economic project in the history of the United States. During this time, the town of Oak Ridge used 1/7 of all electricity consumed in America. During the 1940’s, Jerry said our county also housed the 9th largest bus system in the United States, Fox Bus Lines. They had 103 buses hauling people every day as far as Jellico to Briceville, and all surrounding areas to the plants in Oak Ridge to work. Oak Ridge still remained the secret city until 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped to end WWII. Jerry also talked about the events of the first public school desegregation here in Clinton during the fall of 1956. Our county made national news again as 3,000 outsiders traveled here to protest and fight, in a town with a population of only 4,000. The highway patrol came in with 60 cars and put the town under martial law until the conflict was resolved. Years later, with the ongoing downsizing of Oak Ridge, decline in the coal industry and the closing of Magnet Mills, hard efforts were made to bring in additional tax revenue. Four new industrial parks were built that rebounded our county and saved us from economic disaster. Jerry had so much more he could’ve talked about but we were out of time. We appreciate him visiting us and passing along so much rich history of our area!
MembershipWe had a great crowd again this week! We also had a few visitors this week including Jerry Griffey from the Knoxville Rotary Club. ET brought a new visitor, Megan, with Southern Gossip Boutique in Clinton. Angie brought along Connie O’Dare with Express Services. In addition, Jonathan brought guest, Matt Ford, with Invo Payroll Services. |
Items of InterestAngie Shumaker reminded everyone about the Express Services Second Chance Program launch this Friday from 12:00pm to 1:00pm at the Clinton Community Center. They would like to invite businesses, clients, and friends to attend. This will help as many qualified people as possible find good jobs.The Rotary Foreign exchange student is now here and attending ACHS where he is playing basketball. We lack $100 for him to be able to play basketball. If you would like to contribute, please see Tom. In addition, in a few months they will be looking for more host families to provide room and board. Tom asked to please consider volunteering for that as well. If you are interested in watching the eclipse on Monday, August 21st at Beth’s house in Loudon, she passed out directions. She invited everyone but asked to kindly RSVP by this Friday so that she can arrange to have enough food for everyone. She recommended arriving between 11:00 am and noon because of traffic. According to the Jubier map, her home should have 2 minutes and 20 seconds of totality. Thank you, Beth, for your hospitality! We still have a few people that have not paid for their Polio at the Park tickets. If that is you, please see Bill. |
Upcoming SpeakersAugust 22Dewey Warren (Swamp Rat) - Former UT Quarterback August 29Carmen Tegano – University of Tennessee Assistant Athletic Director September 5No Meeting in observance of Labor Day September 12Charlotte Bowers – Habitat for Humanity |
Rotary Club OfficersBill Gallaher Vickie Violette
Ronnie Fox
Jerry Schlandt
Mike Shrader
Gary Coleman
Tom Connolly
ET Stamey
Bear Stephenson
Leighann Green
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Clinton Rotary Club
Meeting Address: 101 S. Hicks Street Clinton, Tennessee 37716
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 524 Clinton, Tennessee 37717