Darden, Tennessee located in the eastern part of Henderson County near the Decatur County line came into being when the Perryville Branch (Pevine) was constructed through the community and the depot was built and it was necessary to give the place a name. In the discussion as to what name to give the place, a man spoke up and said, “Mills Darden is undoubtedly the largest man on Earth so lets name this place Darden.” With that the place was so named. There has been a conception down through the years that Darden lived in that community. However, he never lived anywhere near Darden, Tennessee.
Photos showing the Darden Depot building with “Frost Grocery” on sign being removed from its site to make way for Johnny Frost to build a new store and post office. The building being moved was originally Darden Depot on the “Peavine.” When the train stopped coming through, Berry Moore moved from his old store which had the post office into the old depot and continued to operate the store and post office. When he sold out, the Duke brothers (Audie and Carless) bought the business and Carless operated the store and post office (within a short time Audie got out of it). Bradley Reeves bought Berry Moore’s home and sold it to Carless Duke who moved into it. Johnny Frost bought the store/post office (old depot). Later, as shown above, he moved the old depot building behind the new store site and the depot was torn down after the new store/post office was erected. John and Norsie Frost operated the store and post office from 1959-1983 when a new post office was built across the highway, and they sold the store to Margo, who with husband Jim Hayes, operated Margo’s County Store until November 2008 when they were displaced by the widening of Highway 412.
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