My Grandmother, Jenny Byrd Stringfield subscribed to the Morgan County News for many years after they left Tennessee and moved to South Carolina around 1941. I found this clipping in my parents house last year after my Mom passed away. The handwritting is my Grandmother’s and her notes say: “I use to have this picture when we move to SC. Lee did pitch some when someone was out. They had B dimond in the old pasture”
This is what article says in case you can’t read it.
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Tilson remembers team
This week’s “Sharing the Past” picture was submitted by Arvil Tilson who lives in Mossy Grove. The picture was made in 1938 and shows the Gobey baseball team. Tilson said they were called the Emory River Valley League and said he doesn’t remember their records but said they did win more than lost. They were definitely a winning team. They played other teams from Lancing, Harriman, Dyllis, Petros, Coalfied, and even played Stearns, Ky. a few times. “We had a nice diamond furnished by the Emory River Lumber Company. It was the lower end of the pasture field where the work horses pastured over the weekend. They would clean it up and it was a very nice place to play. No cows were allowed in that part of the pasture!” Tilson said. He remembers that Bill Reynolds was manager for awhile and then Jack Portwood took over the manager’s position. The logging part of the lumber company’s operation was closed out in 1940 according to Tilson and the men were separated as they scattered out looking for work. Those in the picture front row from left are: Raymond L. Hines, Seth Terrell, Jack Portwood, Harold Davidson, and Wayne Portwood. Back row from left are: Arvil Tilson, Earl Chambers, Amos Hampton, Ray Perkins, Clyde Posey, and Claude McCabe. Thanks to Tilson for ‘sharing’ the picture and information with our readers. Story by Jean Pollard, Correspondent December 24, 1992. {Morgan County News}
Courtesy of Janice
FROM THE BOOK: The Heritage of Morgan County, Tennessee 1817-1999 — Page 17
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Gobey is one of Morgan County’s best known “ghost towns”, but for approximately thirty-five years it played an important role in the cultural and economic life of Morgan County. Gobey was a ‘company town’, having been established by the Emory River Lumber Company to serve as the center for their lumbering operations in the mountains of Morgan County. After the timber was gone, the property was purchased by the Mahan-Ellison-Eheely coal interests and served the same purpose for their mining ventures on Emory River. Gobey grew into a fair size town and supported a school, a Church, and even a ‘movie theater’. The company store was one of the largest stores in the county. Much of the employment in Morgan County for many years was provided by the lumber and mining interests operated out of Gobey. The town ceased to exist shortly after the mines on Emory River closed in the early 1950’s. The following excerpts from an article which appeared the March 15, 1918 is shown below. According to information in this article, Gobey must have been started about the beginning of 1918.
“NEW TOWN OF GOBEY”
From the Morgan County Press dated, 3/15/1918, Vol. 3, No. 23, p 1
On the line of the Emory River Lumber Company’s line of Railroad, extending from their Junction with the C. N. O. & T. P. Ry., north of Lancing, down Rock Creek and up Emory. This new town is located at the W.J. Scott farm or opposite thereto, just west of the River. It has sprung up recently, in the last few months, with the developing of the property of the aforesaid Company. It is laid off in streets and is located at the foot-hills which slopes down from Pilot Mountain. We understand the company is seeking the development of their Timber and Mineral lands, as it is well known that there are several stratas or veins of coal, ranging from a few inches in thickness, to more than four feet as shown by out-croppings, or shallow openings. They have recently contracted for additional purchases of land in addition to the Boundaries know as and formerly owned by Dennis Bros., which included several thousand acres. There is not much doubt but that this town is permanent and will a triving mining town, and it will be of interest to watch the development of this property and about which we hope to tell more as progress is made.
From the Morgan County News, January 31, 1935, Vol. 17, No. 38
GOBEY SCHOOL BURNS; LOSS FIXED AT $2,500
Fire destroyed the Gobey Elementary school, four miles north of here, Friday night. The building was a two room structure and was the property of the Emory River Lumber Company. The origin of the fire has not been determined. Supt. L. R. Schubert announced that arrangements had been made with the company officials to hold school for the rest of the term in the company theater building. There was no insurance on the building and the loss is estimated at $2,500.
Article from the Morgan County News, August 1, 1935, Vol. 18, No. 12
GOBEY SCHOOL PROJECT DELAYED:
Due to the transferring of the Gobey School project from the TERA to the new WPA, a delay of a few days is contemplated by local relief authorities. The project approved by the TERA a few days ago was ordered and transferred on new blank and sumitted under the new works program. School will begin in the old community building at Gobey until completion of the new structure.
GOBEY ‘DINKY’ ca 1957-1958
Last trip on way to Chattanooga to be junked
Courtesy of David Weaver
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An advertisement for the GOBEY THEATER
From The Morgan County Press December 14, 1923, Vol. 6, No. 22
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