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Sometimes when old buildings and infrastructure are demolished, not all hints of the former are immediately eradicated. Depending on the ownership responsibility or future plans, the remnants can sometimes hang around for a few years, or even decades. This week, we look at what remains of two businesses and a link to World War II.

As noted in previous articles, Tennessee Glove Company once stood on SW Atlantic Street, about midway between Lauderdale and Lincoln Streets. That space is now a parking lot and the Book Shelf used book store faces that parking lot. The parking lot was paved right over the foundation of the glove company and one can still see sections of that old foundation, along with a ramp that led to the double-door employee entrance and a step that fronted another entryway.

On the east side of N. Washington St. about where Brown St. intersects it, once stood Brown’s Grocery. The building was torn down many years ago, but signs of the concrete foundation still exist and are easily visible from the street.

Our other remnant is one from 80 years ago. For the longest time, I assumed that the hump in N. Atlantic St. behind Northgate Mall was covering a drainage tile or some such item. Then one day I realized that there is nothing visible under there! Sam Crimm II informed me that during World War II and the Camp Forrest days, there had been a railroad siding going from the main Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis railroad line to William Northern Field. Looking at a 1942 map of William Northern Field, in 2024 terms it ran through the back of Harbor Freight, then the Publix deli and bakery departments, and through Casa Mexico and parallel to William Northern Blvd. Once into the main base area, it then split into three different sidings. One was adjacent to the coal yard and the others accessed nearby warehousing.

I am searching for pictures of Davidson Academy in addition the following businesses: Lannom Manufacturing, Wilson Sporting Goods, M.R. Campbell Mfg., Tennessee Overall, Tennessee Glove, Tullahoma Brick, and any Tullahoma vehicle dealers from the 1930s through 1980s. If you have photos of those or any other businesses that I can borrow, I’ll scan and return immediately. You can contact me at alanmayes@lighttube.net.