Signs of the times
Clinton’s past comes alive, plaque by plaque
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This sign detailing some of the history of North Clinton was erected last week in the corner of the parking lot at the Clinton Church of Christ on North Main Street as part of the Historic Downtown Clinton group’s Walking Tour. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Giving the history of the now lost Lewallen or “Green” Bridge over the Clinch River in Clinton is this new historic marker installed last week for the Clinton Walking Tour. It’s under the new bridge, which was opened in 2021. - G. Chambers Williams III
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This marker gives the history of the Baker-McAdoo Cemetery along the Clinton Walking Tour. it was one of seven new markers installed last week. - G. Chambers Williams III
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This newly installed historic marker on the Clinton Walking Tour tells about the Clinch River. It’s under the new Lewallen Bridge. - G. Chambers Williams III
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Clinton’s Memorial Recreation Center was marked with this sign last week for the Walking Tour. - G. Chambers Williams III
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This is one of seven new historic markers installed last week for the Walking Tour. It recognizes the Old Clinton Baptist Cemetery. - G. Chambers Williams III
Historic Downtown Clinton’s “Walking Tour” now includes 62 plaques that give glimpses into the area’s rich history, thanks to seven more that were installed just last week – including one that details the development of North Clinton.
Clinton real estate agent Joey Smith, who also serves as chair of the Historic Downtown Clinton organization, said he took the lead in writing and procuring the latest group of these permanent historic markers.
The ones installed last week included plaques for North Clinton, Sunset Cemetery, Old Clinton Baptist Cemetery, Clinch River, Lewallen Bridge, Baker-McAdoo Cemetery, and Memorial Rec Center.
Perhaps the most interesting of the new signs is the one about North Clinton, which discusses the history of the area in as much detail as could be included on such a small sign.
Smith, who moved to Clinton with his family at age 3, said he enjoyed researching North Clinton and writing the story about it that is chronicled on the sign – which is on a post at the south corner of the Clinton Church of Christ parking lot. It’s on North Main Street just across from its intersection with West Weaver Street.
The Courier News spent much of last Saturday morning finding all seven new markers, along with a few previously installed ones, while touring in a motor vehicle, rather than on foot.
While the markers may all be seen from a motor vehicle, they’re best studied while searching for them on foot – mainly because the signs are small, and the writing is hard to read from inside a car.
Some of the markers are posted on public right-of-way, but many are displayed on private property, including the sides of historic homes and buildings, such as the one on the Lewallen House on West Washington Avenue.
The ones about the Clinch River and the Lewallen Bridge are underneath the new bridge on Riverside Drive.
The only one of the new signs not clearly visible from a public street is the one for Sunset Cemetery on Sunset Road.
“We had to go into the cemetery a bit to put that one up,” Smith said.
The signs, which are made by High Resolutions Inc. in Knoxville, cost $700 each, and are paid for by donations – some from owners of the historic properties on which they are posted.
Jim and Melissa Charles of Clinton paid for all seven of the newest signs, Smith said.
Jim Charles is a retired financial planner, and Melissa Charles is retired from Sellers Realty.
“I told them I had seven more signs I wanted to do that I didn’t have a sponsor for, and they offered to pay for them,” Smith said.
He said the signs are made of an aluminum-composite material with a bronze finish, and are smaller than the historical markers the state of Tennessee places across the Volunteer State.
“Ours are a lot smaller than we thought they would be,” he said. “But the state historical markers are about $3,000.”
Smith has spearheaded the sign project from the start.
“I love to find out about Clinton’s history,” he said. “I write them up, then the sign company approves the proof. I also let the property owners see them if they’re paying for the signs. I try to put as much historical information on them as I can; they tell people things that are easy to forget.”
Last weekend, Smith saw people out walking in groups trying to find the newest signs, which had been posted on Historic Downtown Clinton’s Facebook page.
“We’ve seen quite a few walking groups come down and spend a day trying to find them all,” he said. “It tickles me that people are out trying to find them.”
Anyone who owns a historic property and wants a Walking Tour sign placed on it can apply to get one through the Historic Downtown Clinton group’s website, at historicdowntownclinton.org/walking-tour-application/.
According to the website:
• Historic Downtown Clinton has final say on sign content and HDC will order each sign.
• House signs are $950 and building markers are $250, and are the responsibility of the property owner.
• Sign content will be historical facts and information only (it will not list current owners or businesses).
The group is working on an updated map to show the locations of all of the markers and the tour route.
