
	~ a~T~we11
	     outnumbered .
	      In the Battle of
	     Philadelphia Bribrell used his
	     saber to cut down two
	     federals in the battle charge.
	     Thus, the episode of the
	     Battle of Philadelphia was a
	     passed event and would only
	     remain alive on the colorful
	     pages of this East Tennessee
	l	     town's history.
	J	      Although the Civil War
	     would probably bring the
	     town of Philadelphia its most
	     wide spread publicity it was
	     by no means the beginning or
	     ending. Through the many
	     passing years since tis
	     founding in 1822 the town
	     has had many note worthy
	     and interesting things to be a
	     part of the town and the
	     people.

	        EARLY SETTLERS
	      The town of Philadelphia
	     has not shown any great
	     population growth through
	     the passing years and has
	     somehow been able to
	     maintain its quiet and
	     peaceful way of everyday
	     living. It is one of the very
	     few remaining towns where
	     everybody knows everyone
	     else .

	      The early settlers of
	     Philadelphia were Jocob
	     Grimmet, Stephen Bond,
	     William Reynolds, George
	     Yokem, Daniel Prigmore
	     Hardy Jones, and Jan~es
	     Bacome. The first store was
	     opened by Robert Browder in
	     1824 when the Morgan and
	     Jacobs Company of Knoxville
	     opened a store in
	     Philadelphia. The first.hotels
	     in Philadelphia were operated
	     by Robert Carden and
	     Captain James Maddy.
	     Captain James Dodd ran the
	     local still house. A tan yard
	     was operated by Louis
	     Patterson. In 1821 a grist mill
	     was put into operation by
	     J oob Pear~on. Around 1860









  r ~

        3~
        ~_
        ~.
            ~ _ I

r



                   EDITION, JUNE 13.- 20, 1970 - SECTION G, PAGE 5

                                !!~ ~
  ~	._
V~ ~ . ,~,	~ ~_. ~	.	 ~	__~ ..~ ,.... ,~
~Jll,l,U	.=	~	=-~
                                            ;''^^'.

		____~_		.~
		~ .		___.	-.	..~..- ~..~_

		__~ ~ ~ ~ _	_
tory	__ ~ ~ l	. ~

                  ...	.~_	~ .
	..	._	~ ~ .	~ ~

                 _.__.	_	~ ~ ~.	.._ .........
the town was at its peak and __	  _	h ~ ~ 1	__.,~~....~..~ :.._._
some early business men were ~		,,
R . R. Cleveland, James ~	     ~	_~
Chesnut, E.E. Edwards, Hugh = __ _	  ~ ~IIl
 Smith and John Stansfield. ,. . . _ .~ 3 ~
    CHURCHES	;	~	~. ~	 ~.	__.~: :...:::: ::1~11~11
 p~       snPrle8 yY3 The

 Anderson of Maryville. The
M e t h o d i s t c h urch of		__	~
Philadelphia, still a very	~ _	~	~	~ ~_
active part of the religious life	~		~	~~
	there, is rich in the early ~	.		. ,, '.	~	~l ~_
	history of the town. The _~ ~		~			_~_
 churCh tjhasfOr almost 150
 years. It was founded in the ;~;.



	year 1858, and its purpose
	was to set in motion the
	progress that would bring a	Philadelphia.
 methodist church building to
	Philadelphia. Just how long
	this took is not known, but it
	is thought that the present '~
	structure was erected in the

     5ade5by the Slave labor ~ ~ ~,~

 Frank Lenoir. Another thing ~j
 outstandingitweaspossibly the
 mother church of the area    111 ~i ~
	for the old time circuit riding ~ ~ i _	~ f 3~ ~ ~ ~	
 that a barn stood on the It~ ~ ~    s ~         ~ =

 house(~ hldrSceaSrry the cirCUit ~	~ , ; ~: I ~

 riding minhStteO church in thi~ ~ ~i5;~


	 This fWras local methodist ~	~4 ~i~

 ~ ~,,~


methodist ch~ Philadelphia Just how lon~ this took lS not known, but it is thought that the present strUcture was erected in the late 1850's. The bricks were hand made by the slave labor of Thomas Osborne and Fhrank Lenoir. Another thina 
outstanding was the fact th~ it was quite possibly the mother church of the are~ methodist and headquarten for the old time circuit ridir~ 
that a barni55tqUitde POssible church property which housed horses and buggy~ that would carry the circuit riding minister as he went from church to church in thi~ area.    This was to remain the center for local methodist activity until the year 1919.    The first pastor of the Philadelphia Church upon its completion was the Rev. J.G. Swisher. The first Sunday School on the circuit Wll8 organized and put int~ operation in March of 1873.    For many years the basic building served the church's needs. Some years later, the exact date is ndt known, Sunday School rooms were added onto the building. On Nov. 3, 1951 fire destroyed the back part of the building which housed the Sunday School rooms. The damaged rooms were rebuilt and dedicated in 1953.    A new parsonage was dedicated in 1966. The sanctuary of the church was completely redone and dedicated in 1961.    It is indeed a proud congregation. Many of the parents and grandparents of the present membership worshiped in this same building many years ago.    The present pastor of the Philadelphia United Methodist Church is Rev. Dwight Cagle.    The First Baptist Church of Philadelphia was organized in 1885. In the beginning the membership consisted of only seven members but they were filled with determination to have a baptist chruch in their town. Most of the church was built by Jackson Carter great grandfather of Emmett Carter who now serves the church as choir director. Early officers were H.C. Call, church clerk and J.E. Johnson, pastor. Other charter members were: A.A. Shelton, T.W. Swanner, and the late W.E. Edwards Sr. was also an early member.    The original church building underwent many changes through the passing years. An extensive amount of work was comDleted in 
                                                                       I






























_~	 The origina; church
                                                    buil~ing underwent many

	_ ~	~	years. An extensive amount

                                                       1941. The church had
	  ~ ~ ~  ~ ~	__ _	installed new pews and the
0 ~	  ~ ,~ ~ ~	~	~ ~	~	interior was completely

	~ ~ ~ ~ : I_	~	_	~ ~	was deditChated church was

..	  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~	1~	,	completely destroyed by fire.
		              l ~	~t ~	~ ~	 Although the membership
		~ ~ ~_ ~ ~	~	~ ~ _	was saddened by the great
		_ . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~	~	~ l~	loss, the determination of a
	~ ~ ~ __ ~__	2~	strong hearted people again

	_ ~ ~ ~	_ _	         .
	l~ ~ d 	_ _	plans were bemg made to
	~Y _~=~, _	__~	finance the new building, a
	G~ ~		small boy came forward and

 THE PHILADELPHIA METHODIST Church played an important rob in the carly	gave six cents toward the
 Chri ti n life of Phil-dalphis and wrroundin~ ara~L	PrlDe of a ntheW pegriod of time

                                                     the membership was without
                                                     a church building they met in
                                                     the Methodist church 	l ~				.		building, an example of
	l 						community spirit.
								 Within 30 days, a corner
                                                     stone was laid for a new
                                                     church. This was on Friday,

				~;			MaY 30~d1t9i4mle the beautifui

                                                                                              church was ready for services.
		l~					 On April 6, 1941, the first
                                                                                                d~ptistd AtCthh~t time, Rev.


                                                                                                 1958 when the E.G. Cathcart
       a~			_.~			.	property adjacent to the
                                                                                                 church was bought at a cost
	_	of $15,000 and the old
                              ~_ ~ _~___j_ parsonage was sold. In 1964

~_~	~	rooms were added along with
	 t ~	f~r	thc~	rhllrrh

~ ~: ~ ~

  i ~

 ~ ~:


















  PICTURED IS A LADIES
  the First Baptist Church o~

Church of Philadelphia is a modern and very beautiful church, both inside and out, with a modern parsonage. The property in 1939 was valued at $4,000 today it is valued at over $100,000.   The present pastor is the Rev. Fred A. Davis.   The Harmon's Chapel Second Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1894. A complete story on the church i.. carried elsewhere in this edition. 
  RAILROAD CENTER
  Like many early East Tennessee Towns, Philadelphia was going to become deeply involved in the coming medium of railroads. Philadelphia had a ftrong hand in area railroad development.   On Feb. 17, 1836 the 1'ennessee General Assembly responded to a request of rnany Philadelphia citizens by incorporating the Hiwassee Railroad Company and thereby giving the company th~ ~llthnritv to construct a 
 valued at $4,000 today it is
 valued at over $100,000.     The present pastor is the
 Rev. Fred A. Davis.     The Harmon's Chapel
 Second Cumberland
 Presbyterian Church was
 organized in 1894. A
 complete story on the church
 is carried elsewhere in this
 edition. 
   RAI LROAD CENTE R
    Like many early East
 Tennessee Towns,
 Philadelphia was going to
 become deeply involved in
 the coming medium of
 railroads. Philadelphia had a
 strong hand in area railroad
 development.     On Feb. 17, 1836 the
 Tennessee General Assembly
 responded to a request of
 many Philadelphia citizens by
 incorporating the Hiwassee
 Railroad Company and
 thereby giving the company
 the authority to construct a
 road from Blairs Ferry (now
 Loudon), to the southern
 boundary of the State and
 u n i t e w i t h t h e
 Augusta-Memphis line.
 Prominent citizens who
 worked on securing the
 agreement were: Matthew
 Nelson, Jacob Pearson
 Robert Cleveland, Hugh
 Smith and William
 Montgomery .     When the incorporation
 was announced, land
 speculators began to visulize
 the rise of Philadelphia as a
 commercial center because of
 the fact that at the time
 Philadelphia was one of the
 most thriving towns between
 Knoxville and Chattanooga.
 The early years saw the town
 as the main eastern point of
 the railroad because of the
 fact that the railroad would
 be halted at Blairs Ferry for
 lack of a bridge across the
 river. Blairs Ferry was later to
 replace Philadelphia as a key
 shipping point along the
 r~ilroad route. 
    Many early publications
 carried advertisements
 pointing up Philadelphia as a
 possible industrial center and
 encouraging people to come
 and settle in the town. For
 many years Thomas
 Calloway, served as president
 of the growing railroad. In
 1848 the name of the railroad
 ' was changed to the East
 Tennessee and Georgia
 Railroad Company.     For many years the
 railroad served a vital link in
 the progress of Philadelphia
 and large_quantities of g~rain
 ~andrlvestock w. ere sh~lppe by
 rail out of town. Another 
 - ~
   ~ ~ s ~

 :~=
 ~r~

 , ~ ~F ~7 _
 ~ ~ ~- I

 1~ u

 r ~	~ .



   ~'~ ~
    ~ ,. .. ~ ~

           F~ ~





          SP~



SUNDAY SCHOOL class at
Philadelphia around the late

around the depot, were to come to an end. By 1962 the use of the stockyard and grain storage warehouse ceased. The era of the railroads influence on the town of Philadelphia wa~ almost at an end. The clima~ came with the closing of the Philadelphia Depot on May 6, 1960, at 4:35 p.m. The key turned in the lock and the depot closed for the last time in August of 1960. The old depot building, which had been witness to many arrivals and many departues for town was sold. The price was $25. It was torn down and hauled away. This hallowed spot to many old timers is now the site of a pretty little park. Although the building is gone it will long live in the memories of people at Philadelphia. 
           INDUSTRY
  Possibly next to the largest industry Philadelphia has had through the years was the Stave Factory which moved from Philadelphia to Madisonville because of the lack of logs of which to make staves.    The- largest industry had been the Philadelphia Hosiery 
             - - ~

railroads influence on the town of Philadelphia was almost at an end. The climax came with the closing of the Philadelphia Depot on May 6, 1960, at 4:35 p.m. The key turned in the lock and the depot closed for the last time in August of 1960. The old depot building, which had been witness to many arrival and many departues for town was sold. The price was $25 It was torn down and hauled away. This hallowed spot to many old timers is now the site of a pretty little park. Although the building is gone it will long live in the memories of people at Philadelphia. 
           INDUSTRY
   Possibly next to the largest industry Philadelphia has had through the years was the Stave Factory which moved from Philadelphia to Madisonville because of the lack of logs of which to make staves.    The- largest industry had been the Philadelphia Hosiery Mill, In July, 1921, Edward W. Waller came to Philadelphia to investigate the possibility of starting a hosiery mill. He found the people of the community receptive to the idea and within a short period of time the needed financial support was available. Mr. Waller's dream was to become a reality.    On August 22, 1921, tbe application for a charter was filed with the State of Tennessee. The charter was approved and on Aug. 29, 1921, the first stock holders meeting was held. The first board of directors and officers were then elected. On the board of directors were: J . H . T h ompson, W.E. E~rds Sr., H.F. McArtor, J.W. ~eed, G.W. Osborne, W.P.Sizer and E.W. Waller Sr.    The officers were: J.H. Thompson, president; W.P Sizer, vice preside~nt, E.W. Waller, secretary and treasurer; E.W. Waller, manager. Again the railroad was a major factor in selecting Philadelphia as the site for the plant as well as the availability of suitable land. Greatly influenced by local businessmen.    At first the operation was small in size but made steady progress for a number of years. Improvements were made through the years which included a new power plant in 1928, which supplied electricity to the rest of the 
      - ~ 










~ ~:~

 ~ ;'6~ ~ ~


  PHILADELPHIA POST OF
  Mail was hauled by oxen.

were sales representatives in New York, Georgia and on the West Coast.   The long awaited dream of E.W. Waller Sr. had become a reality. In 1955 Mr. Waller died leaving his interest to his wife, Mrs. Marion Peoples Waller and his three children, Mrs. Carrie Lee Anderson, Mrs. Evelyn Everett and E.W. Waller Jr.   The mill then operated under the following board of directors: A.F. McCrary, F.S. Robinson, J.H. Thompson, E.W. Waller Jr., W.E. Edwards Sr., Mrs. E.W. Waller Sr. and John H. Everett.   The officers were: A.F. McCrary, president: W.E. Edwards Sr., vice president; E.W. Waller, Jr., general manager; John H. Everett executive vice president and treasurer; and W.E. Edwards Jr., secretary.   The year 1963 brought a temporary halt to the operation of Philadelphia Hosiery Mill, and for awhile it looked as though it too might be a part of history.   But in the fall of '1966 a charter for the Bar-Knit Hosiery Company was granted. This mill was headed by J.Earl Barger and again the mill was put into operation, and today it is operating at full force.   The operation of the mill was to have its economic. impact on the lives and the business interest of those people in Philadelphia. The closing in 1963 was a sad day for those affected, but the re-opening was a welcomed event.   Two of the oldest and best known business places in Philadelphia was McCrary's and Thompson's. McCrary's are now closed. The _Isiness is under operation by Robert McNabb. Thompson's are, of course, still in business 
                                     A
~ ~ - ~




~ i,~>~ ~ .: ~ - ~
~ i~ ~ ~








:FICE during the era when

large portion of the business places by a fire on Feb. 6 1908. Destroyed were a dry goods store, a drug store, Sparks Boarding House Carter Produce Company, James Ch;aney 's Blacksmith Shop, as well as other smaller buildings.   Possibley the greatest threat to the town through the years has been the flooding waters of Sweetwater Creek, which at times has brought large property damage to homes and businesses. In recent years steps have been taken to prevent the flooding and today the town enjoys less fear of flooding than at any other time in the town's history . 
   COMMUNITY CLUB
  The years in no way have dampened the spirits of those who love and beleive in the town. Possibly one of the most beneficial things to happen in the town in recent years has been the formation of the Philadelphia Community Club. This organization has the community's needs at heart and are willing to exert the necessary effort in order to make dreams become a reality. The community club pushed for the incorporation of the town, and in 1968 it became an incorporated city. The elected officers of the city government were: Roy Bledsoe, Mayor- Raymond McJunkins, Jack Haun, Boyd D u c kworth and Eddie Brewster, councilmen, and Ronnie Swiney, city recorder.   The town has a modern fire department owned by the Philadelphia Community Club. It cooperates fully with the city government in Applying fire.,pr~Q~n in ~_~tA l;~;tr ~f thA^ 