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Historic Downtown Elizabethton Tennessee
All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2007 - present
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"Once the settlement was established, frontiersmen including James Robertson, John Sevier and John Carter along with the growing number of settlers worked hard to keep it thriving, even resisting an attack by Cherokee Chief 'Old Abram' and his band of warriors at Fort Watauga in 1776." |
Unfortunately, the only view that many visitors have of Elizabethton is the fast food, super retailer line up on Highway 321 that many use to pass on to Johnson City Tennessee and beyond. However, the town is much more than that. It is rich in history and was pivotal in the establishment of democracy in this country. 
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After the divisive Civil War, new businesses like the Doe River Woolen Mill and the Doe River Overall Factory developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s and fueled the growth of the town offering opportunities for many types of businesses.
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Railway lines were extended into North Carolina allowing all communities along the way to ship their products and natural resources to larger commercial markets.
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In 1912, the new Wilbur Dam project provided the town with electricity which further fueled its growth. Businesses such as Tennessee Line & Twine and North American Rayon (American Bemberg Corporation) provided decades of employment for local citizens.
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Elk Avenue was a well-planned commercial street where many successful businesses were established. Taylor Drugs, Burgie Drugs, Taylor Snack Bar, Federal Clothiers, the Ritz Theater and the Bonnie Kate Theater were among those businesses.
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Elizabethton has carefully preserved its historical sites and buildings and all are easily accessible to visitors. Hopefully, more visitors will learn that if you make a 1 block detour from the commercial Highway 321 you will find an important part of the development of democracy in America.
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Links of interest for this article: |