Schematic Of Downtown Pleasant Shade, Tn - Abt. 1950
This is a schematic of downtown Pleasant Shade as it was more than fifty years ago. Pleasant Shade
suffered a significant fire in about 1947 and some of the old buildings were lost. Some new buildings
(at that time) were erected in the places of those that were destroyed. The Sloan Brothers Store burned
in the late 1970s or early 1980s. Most of the buildings presently standing are not being used.
Below is a cancelled check of 75 years ago drawn on the "Bank of Pleasant Shade". Dewey Dickerson,
my father, had just made his first payment on some land he had bought at the estate sale of his
grandparents, Jim and Matilda Dickerson. O.W. Stevens was the bank president at that time.
I have (in some respects) an amusing story about an incident that took place at the Church of Christ building
in Pleasant Shade in the early 1930s. A church doctrinal debate was being held there between the Church of
Christ and probably the Baptists. Debates of this nature were not uncommon at this time. Calvin Gregory may
have been representing the Baptists, as he was well known for his participation in these activities. Some of
these debates would become quite heated and it was somewhat like a ball game with each side pulling for
their team to win. As the debate proceeded with each side stating their interpretation of the bible, the other
side would counter and perhaps belittle, snicker or make light of the stand put forth by the opposing side.
Two ladies in attendance on opposing sides became so overwhelmed and caught-up in the fervor of the
debate that they resorted to a more physical means of determining which side was really spreading the
gospel. They engaged in fisticuffs. Needless to say this was not becoming to either of the parties involved
nor was it a good example for the un-churched of the community. I am sure both the Baptists and Church
of Christ representatives were very sorry this happened.
Joyce Whitley Stasel (daughter of Virgil Whitley, who owned the blacksmith shop)
and others assisted me in identifying the old buildings and their locations.
