60th ANNIVERSARY of the currant Courthouse
May 3, 2009
For those who couldn’t attend – yesterday, Sunday May 3, 2009, was the Historical Celebration and reception at the Weakley County Courthouse in Dresden. Despite the rain, the court room was standing room only, filled with the good people of Weakley County. Besides all of us “just regular folks” were several Mayors of Weakley towns, State Representatives and even Gov. Ned McWherter.
Judge Tommy Moore did an outstanding job of hosting the Celebration of the 185th anniversary of Weakley County and the 60th anniversary of the present Courthouse (the last one burned down in 1948 – rebuilt and dedicated in 1949).
The Celebration was started off with the singing of the National Anthem and “Iris Time in Tennessee” by High School students, Kayla Clanton and Madison Hilliard.
Special Recognitions for their work in preserving Weakley County History:
*Virginia C. Vaughn (deceased) – for her work as County Historian
*Col James Corbitt ( deceased) – for his contributions and endowment to the Special Collections Dept. of UTM Library.
*MaryCarol Schrupp – for my Weakley Web Site, MaryCarol’s Weakley County. (now Weakley County TnGenWeb)
*Joe Stout – for his endless gathering of Weakley History (deceased 2012)
*Pansy Baker – for her work with the Weakley County Genealogical Society and currant Weakley Historian
*Dr. Lonnie Maness – for his published Weakley Historical works.
*Dr. Marvin Downing – for his collections of Weakley History
*Richard Saunders – Archivist of the Special Collections Dept. at UTM Library.
*Carmen Pritchett – for her work
*Lois Freeman – for her work
After a brief History of the County there was an unveiling of 3 lovely portraits that will be hung in the Courthouse along with brass plaques.
1. Colonel Robert Weakley – Weakley County was established October 21,1823 by the Tennessee Legislature. It was named after Colonel Robert Weakley who was speaker of the Tennessee State Senate at the time. You can see him and his wife, Jane, thanks to Weakley descendants on my website.
2. Colonel John Almus GARDNER – most famous for his speech of what it was like in early Weakley given July 4th 1876. See it online on my website.
3. Emerson ETHERIDGE – he was a candidate in the Tennessee Gubernatorial Election of 1867 and represented the Ninth Congressional District. He was one of four Tennessee Whigs who opposed seceding from the Union and was elected to the thirty-third, thirty-fourth, and thirty-sixth Congresses, serving until 1861. You can see and read about him on page 17 of “Journey into Yesterday” book online on my website.
The most exciting news was saved until last – Judge Tommy announced that a commission was being formed to collect private funds for a statue of Gov Ned McWherter. Gov. Ned was emphatic that not one cent was to come from public money – he didn’t feel he needed the statue, that serving the people of Weakley had been his reward. However, it is something the people want!
A reception followed with beautiful cakes, punch and lots of good Southern visiting between friends and colleagues.
by MaryCarol
