Our odd little towns
A Day Away By Mike Steely
I’ve lived in a lot of places around the nation, but I always end up returning to East Tennessee because it’s my home. I’ve been in most East Tennessee counties, all the large cities, many of the county seats, and much of the rural areas. What continues to interest me are the odd little towns, or almost towns, that seem curious or unusual to me.
Take Limestone, for instance, on Highway 371 between Greeneville and Jonesboro and near Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park. This unincorporated community is similar to our own Powell in that it has a downtown section on a railroad. But unlike Powell, Limestone’s downtown is almost totally empty of active businesses. Limestone was the home of Washington College, the first university to bear the name of America’s first president. Limestone was the home of the fictional Daisy May Moses from “The Beverly Hillbillies,” better known as Granny as played by Irene Ryan.
Pall Mall is north of Jamestown near the Kentucky state line. No, it was not named for the cigarette brand but for Pall Mall, England. The roadside community of about 1,300 residents is not much more than a historic mill, a few stores, and the home and grave of Sgt. Alvin York.
The World War I hero, was drafted and reluctantly used his sharpshooter skills to capture dozens of German soldiers. His home and graveyard are part of the Sgt. Alvin York State Park and draws many visitors each year. You can tour the reluctant war hero’s home and grave, plus visit the York family mill just across the highway.
Pall Mall is where Samuel Clemens’ father, John, served as postmaster. Samuel would become known as Mark Twain.
The community of Kodak, just east of Knoxville and north of Sevierville and the Smoky Mountains, is now a hub of commercial activity just off Interstate 40, including the former Smokies Stadium, Seven Islands Birding Park, hotels, sports stores, and a huge flea market. Kodak doesn’t have a “downtown,” but many people feel like it’s the main entrance to Sevierville, Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg and the Smokies.
Kodak was an important treaty site between the Cherokee and the short-lived State of Franklin. The Sevier County community’s unusual name was inspired by the camera brand. In 1892, Postmaster Harvey Underwood requested and was granted permission to use the name Kodak.
Like Kodak, Greenback in Loudon County is a small incorporated town with an unusual name and history. Settled by former residents of Morgantown, which is now under lake waters, Greenback was formerly known as Thompson Station. When the founder learned the name of the community was already assigned in Tennessee, he was inspired by the local Greenback Party and chose that name.
The greenback party was a nationwide group supporting the increase in the use of paper money in the 1870s.
In the 1880s, the railroad came through Greenback. The town was officially incorporated in 1978 and now has a library, city hall, a school, buildings and a historic railroad depot. It is located on State Route 95 and Morgantown Road between Lenoir City and Maryville, and near the waters of Tellico Lake.
Knox County has its own small towns. Powell, Concord and Mascot are three unincorporated areas that have “downtown” areas. The survival of small towns is notable, and many people take pride in being from little places like the ones we have in our area.
