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Last week, we talked about street fairs. Following a similar vein, here are two photos of what appears to be a mid-1950s parade headed east on West Lincoln Street. Judging from the cars visible in the photos, the date is probably 1956 or maybe 1957. The newest vehicles are two 1956 Ford Tennessee State Patrol cars. The other two emergency vehicles are 1955 Fords, and there are a 1955 Chevrolet and a 1955 Buick parked at the curbs. Everything else is older. It is assumed that the marching band and majorettes are from Tullahoma High School.

The business buildings in the background are of interest. This was way before the spread of businesses away from the downtown area, so there are locally owned stores and shops that no longer exist… and one that does. The photographer here is standing in the street, approximately where London’s and One22West are located today, so he’s looking southwest toward the intersection of Lincoln and Jackson Streets. The building on that southwest corner has a sign for the Masonic Temple, and the first floor housed the Tullahoma Flower Shop. Today, it houses the Tullahoma Flower Shop. In a 1949 telephone book that Dot Watson recently loaned me, it lists 100 S. Jackson as the address for the Tullahoma Flower Shop! In a less specific address in her 1940 phone book, you guessed it, S. Jackson St.! Likewise, the Masonic Temple, and the building was called the Masonic Building.

Recall a few weeks ago, I showed a picture of a recently revealed sign for Bill’s Cash Grocery at 127 W. Lincoln. In these photos, that same location houses Warren’s Cash Grocery, and those names show, respectively, in the 1940 and 1949 telephone books.

On the southeast corner was the long-standing Western Auto Associate Store, now the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce. East of that, we find First Federal Savings. What is interesting is their sign, showing 3% interest, and the fact that the interest rate was so steady that they could put it on a relatively permanent steel and neon sign!

Next is the Booterie, obviously a shoe store. Then comes the grocery, the Dixie Restaurant, and Tullahoma Furniture Co. It’s curious that the awning (and phone books) say “Tullahoma Furniture Co.,” but the sign attached to the building and the Admiral TV sign say “Ramsey Home Furnishings.” There’s a story there that I don’t know. If you do, fill me in. In smaller letters on the Ramsey sign are listed many of the items that the store carried, including linoleum, window shades, automatic oil heaters, and steel kitchens.

One last item of interest lies down the hill to the west. Note how many trees are visible on West Lincoln. There’s a canopy of trees where only concrete exists today.

Do you have some old Tullahoma photos and accompanying stories to share? You can contact me at alanmayes@lighttube.net.

Photos courtesy of The Mosely Collection