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Last week, we referred to the Sanborn Map Company’s Fire Insurance Maps within the Library of Congress Geography and Map Division’s collection. The Sanborn maps were commissioned by the insurance industry and show, by color code and description, the construction types of businesses and homes, as well as types of heating systems, whether they had electric or gas lights, and locations of fire hydrants, water mains, and businesses’ own fire equipment. This week, we take a look at a pair of pages from that 1913 volume of Tullahoma maps, the most recent ones available online.

The first page of each map set shows an overall view of the town as surveyed by the Sanborn Maps team, and identifies which areas of the town are shown on specific more-detailed maps within the set. It also has a key to the abbreviations and symbols used on the maps. These were standard across all Sanborn map sets. Additionally, at the bottom of that first page is an index of addresses, institutions and commercial buildings. Also on page one are detailed descriptions of Tullahoma’s water system and fire department capabilities.

Looking at page 12 in the southeastern part of town, we zero in on Hardwood Manufacturing Company, “Manufacturers of Furniture, Rough & Dressed Lumber.” This is next to the curve on the Spartan line of the railroad, bounded by Washington St. to the west, Polk St. to the east, and Volney St. to the south. Logo Wear’s green metal building sits at that location now. Notable is the detailed description of the company’s power and heating systems, but also useful information about their ductwork for containing sawdust, which can be very flammable.

Another interesting detail is the fact that the company had “Night & Sunday watchman. Newman’s Clock. 6 stations. Hourly rounds.” Newman’s Clock was a system which ensured that watchmen were making their proper rounds on time, as they had to insert a key into the clock at each of those stations. Such a system guaranteed that someone was constantly touring the facility, and hopefully watching for problems that might trigger a fire.

Across Washington St. from this facility, the Tullahoma Fire Dept. had staged a hand hose reel with 500 Feet of 2-1/2” hose. Tullahoma’s fire department was all volunteer at the time. Hardwood Manufacturing Company did not have its own fire brigade, though some other companies in town did. Placement of that hose reel could save valuable minutes in case of a fire.

All images courtesy of the Library of Congress, Geography and Map Division, Sanborn Maps Collection.

Do you have sharp pictures of buildings from Tullahoma’s past? If so, reach out to me at alanmayes@lighttube.net.