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If one takes the time to do some exploring around various parts of town, some remnants of the past will often show themselves. One recent bit of nosing around revealed such remnants pictured here.

Most of us are familiar with Paul Pyle’s 1952 panoramic photos of Tullahoma’s downtown, and they make great reference photos. They provide detailed snapshots in time of busiest parts of Tullahoma’s vibrant downtown.

Here is a segment of Mr. Pyle’s photo looking west down Lincoln St. from Atlantic St. On the left is the Traders National Bank building, which still exists today though it has been remodeled a few times. Recently, workers have been replacing some of the narrow glass panels between the larger ones. For a couple of weeks, parts of the old brick and later repairs and bracing could be seen underneath. Here’s a photo that shows the remnants of the original stepped brickwork at the top of the first floor, visible on the 1952 photo.

In the distance of the same vintage photo is a Double Cola sign painted on the side of the Rollins & Levan Furniture Store. Beneath flaking stucco added pears later, parts of that sign and/or subsequent and previous ones can now be seen on the side of that same building, home to Memories Antiques.

Lastly is a discovery about a mysterious sign on the front of 127 W. Lincoln which reads “Bill’s Cash Grocery.” We showed this sign a few months ago but none of my usual sources had a clue about who Bill was. One day on a visit to The Book Shelf bookstore, Dot Watson asked if I’d read Bud Willis’ book, Bluestocking. Bud grew up in Tullahoma in the 1940s and 1950s and the book is his memoir about that time. I bought the book and read every word, and I highly recommend it. It is available on eBay and Amazon. Turns out that in the early 1940s, Bud’s father worked as a butcher at “Bill Jones’ Cash Grocery” downtown on Lincoln Street!

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.