The African American lodges of Tullahoma (Coffee County)

Tullahoma, located in Coffee County in Middle Tennessee, was established as a railroad town in the 1850s, and the railroad was key to the town’s growth and economic success. Both the Union and Confederate forces occupied the town during the Civil War, and as a result, many of the structures that existed at that time were destroyed. Following the Civil War, Tullahoma’s location on the railroad ensured that it was a busy, bustling town. By 1903, the town had 3,000 residents. According to the Handbook of Tennessee (1903), “Its schools are excellent; its church facilities are good; and it has numerous manufacturing industries, first-class hotels, a weekly newspaper, and a good electric light plant. It is a great summer resort.”

Close up of Coffee County from Colton's Map of Tennessee (1876). Image from Library of Congress.

Although the African Americans only made up 10.4% of Coffee County’s population in 1910, there was an active and thriving African American community in Tullahoma.  There were a number of churches, such as the Shorter Chapel AME, Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist, and Howard Chapel M.E. Church. There was an African American baseball team for boys, which played teams from nearby towns, such as Shelbyville and Murfreesboro. There was a school, known as the Tullahoma Negro School (and later Davidson Academy), established at least by 1898. An early teacher at the school was John Work, Jr., who is regarded by some as the first African American collector of spirituals and folk music. The school continued in existence until 1964, when Tullahoma integrated their schools. The building later became a community center until it was demolished in 1998. This was replaced with a new community center in 2001. 

Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, Tullahoma. Photograph by author. 2021.

Describing the African American community of Tullahoma in 1910, W.L. Miller stated in the Nashville Globe that, “Lodges are Immaculates, Odd Fellows, Masons, and several other organizations. The first three have healthy women auxiliaries and own their buildings, which are very creditable.” The town also supported an African American businesses such as grocery store, owned by Green Edens, an ice cream parlor, owned by Rev. William Jenkins, and a park, Cherokee Park, described as  being, “just outside the city limits, a thing of joy and beauty.” The African American community also home to a billiard parlor and four choirs. In short, it was an active and thriving African American community.

Nashville Globe, March 11, 1910, pg. 3

As described, Tullahoma was home to a number of African American lodges, and there were at least two lodge halls in the town. The 1897 Sanborn Map identifies one building, at the corner of Lincoln and Wall, as a “Negro Lodge Hall.” It is unclear which lodge met here, but the building still stands in Tullahoma today. 

1897 Sanborn Insurance Map of Tullahoma. The African American lodge hall is circled in red.

Site of the African American lodge hall as it appears today. Photograph by author. 2021.

The Masons and the Eastern Star, the ladies auxiliary of the Masons, were an active presence in Tullahoma. In December 1907, the Zenith Lodge No. 98 celebrated St. John’s Day with “a grand Masonic banquet. Haley Lodge, No. 143, and Shelbyville Lodge, No. 82, sent representatives. Music was furnished by a string band from Winchester. Rev. N. P. Greggs (Knight Templar), Morning Star, No. 11, of Columbia, was the speaker of the evening. The speaker showed clearly that the Lodge is of Negro origin and that the Negro is the only race with prime authority of the 33rd degree. All kinds of refreshments of the season were served. The banquet was well attended.” In August 1910, the Masonic Lodge oversaw the laying of the cornerstone of the A.M.E. Church in town. In 1914, the Masons celebrated Palm Sunday at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church with a sermon preached by Rev. J.S. Swift.

The Independent Order of Immaculates were extremely active in Tullahoma and owned Immaculate Hall. They allowed their hall to be used by other groups, such as the Colored Fair Association, which held their business meeting at Immaculate Hall in 1907. In 1913, when the Knights of Pythias was trying to organize a lodge in Tullahoma, the Immaculates offered the Pythians free use of Immaculate Hall for 30 days. The Immaculates sponsored events, such as a picnic to nearby Estill Springs in 1910 and Easter celebration at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. In 1918, the Immaculates were described as “one of the best lodges in the city and a lodge that stands for something has not failed to carry out a rule in five years. Tom Duncan, George Davidson, Will Miller, J.W.M. Jenkins, stand at the head of this lodge and they are men who believe in bringing things to pass.”

From "Tullahoma Notes," Nashville Globe, March 14, 1913.

The Grand United Order of Odd Fellows owned a lodge hall in Tullahoma, which they also allowed other groups to use. In 1910, a band used the Odd Fellows Hall to give an entertainment to benefit the local A.M.E. Church. A storm damaged their hall in 1913, but they must have rebuilt, because it was noted in 1917 that Mr. Coleman Scott had opened a lunch stand at the Odd Fellows Hall in Tullahoma. They must have struggled with regular meetings during World War I, as it was noted in February 1918 that the group, “have put on new clothes for the year 1918 and are meeting regular. They will always have a success if they follow the instructions and leadership of Amos Ryle, Henry Jenkins, and John Clendenen, who are chartered members.”

The Mutual Aid Association, a benevolent group, had a lodge in Tullahoma. In June 1917, the group celebrated their anniversary in Tullahoma with a sermon by Rev. D.S. Ransaw of Chattanooga. The “Tullahoma Notes” of the Nashville Globe for that June 22, 1917 article describes the Mutual Aid Society as “This society is one the leading ones of the town. Miss Paralee McGee, Mrs. Bettie Green and Mr. George Tally, are sparing no pains in pulling this society to the front, they are assisted by Mrs. M. E. Parker, the Chief Secretary.” In Tullahoma, the Mutual Aid Association was largely run by women. In September 1918, Tullahoma was home to the state grand lodge meeting of the Mutual Aid Association.

"Tullahoma Notes," Nashville Globe, June 22, 1917

The Knights of Pythias were a late addition to Tullahoma’s African American lodge scene. In 1913, it was noted that Mr. Luther Cummings of South Pittsburg was in Tullahoma “working up a K. of P. lodge.” As noted earlier, the Immaculates allowed the Pythians to use Immaculate Hall as their meeting place rent-free for 30 days to help the lodge get on its feet. In August 1913, twelve members were initiated into the new lodge.

"Tullahoma Notes," Nashville Globe, August 1, 1913.

While Tullahoma did not have a separate lodge cemetery, there was a separate African American cemetery just outside of town, known as Citizens Cemetery. This cemetery has a long and interesting history. It is believed that it began as a cemetery in the 1870s. In 1940, the U.S. Government acquired the site and made it part of Camp Forrest. From that time, burials were not allowed at the cemetery, and the cemetery fell into a state of disrepair. In 1996, a group of students of East Middle School cleaned the cemetery and repaired some of the broken stones. Visiting the cemetery recently, I noticed very few stone remaining. The site is full of old, large oak trees. The cemetery is in good maintenance now, and it is certain that many African American lodge members of Tullahoma are buried here.

Images from Citizens Cemetery. Photographs by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

Photograph by author. 2021.

For More Information/Sources:

Citizens Cemetery, Coffee Co. TN, TNGen Web Cemetery Database, https://www.tngenweb.org/cemeteries/#!cm=2096060.

G.W. & C.B. Colton & Co., “Colton’s Map of the State of Tennessee,” New York, 1876. Library of Congress, https://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3960.ct010511. 

“History,” Davidson Academy Alumni Tigers. http://davidsonacademyalumni.org/History.html.

W.L. Miller, “Tullahoma and Coffee County,” Nashville Globe, August 26, 1910, pg 3.

Nashville Globe

Thomas H. Paine, Handbook of Tennessee. Nashville: McQuiddy Printing Company, 1903.

Sanborn Map Company, “Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Tullahoma, Coffee County, Tennessee,” September 1897, Sheet 4. http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.gmd/g3964tm.g3964tm_g083871897.

Ian Skotte, “Old Cemetery holds key to city’s past,” Tullahoma News, June 29, 2013 (updated June 15, 2018), https://www.tullahomanews.com/news/local/old-cemetery-holds-key-to-city-s-past/article_7ed595b7-f332-51b2-9eb4-8c0c8c7add3e.html.

 Carroll Van West, “Coffee County,” Tennessee Encyclopedia, https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/coffee-county/.

John Wesley Work, Jr., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Work_Jr.

South Pittsburg's African American lodges

 This is the second in a series of posts about African American lodges in some of Tennessee's smaller towns.

South Pittsburg is a small town located on the Tennessee River in the Sequatchie Valley. It is part of Marion County, which was established in 1817. The county became a haven for industry and mining during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The creation of a spur railroad line of the N. & C. Railroad from Bridgeport, Alabama to Jasper, Tennessee, completed in c. 1868, was a catalyst for the economic development of the area. Coal and iron mines began to open in the late 1870s, and a company town, Richard City, was created in the early 1900s for the Dixie Portland Cement Company.

Close up of Marion County. South Pittsburg is circled in red. From Rand, McNally & Co.'s map of Kentucky, 1892. Image from Library of Congress.

South Pittsburg, named for Pittsburg, Pennsylvania in the hopes it would become the same industrial mecca as its namesake, did become the home of a number of industrial and manufacturing companies, including the Lodge Cast Iron Company. The Lodge Cast Iron Company is still in operation today, and attracts a number of visitors to the area. The population of South Pittsburg grew from 1,479 in 1880 to 2,106 in 1910.

Map of South Pittsburg from the South Pittsburg City Company. This company was active in promoting the development of the town in the 1880s. Map dates from 1887. Image from Library of Congress.

In 1910, Marion County was home to 2,289 African Americans, which accounted for 12.16% of the Marion County population. South Pittsburg itself was home to a thriving African American community, made of up a number of churches, lodges, and a school. Churches included the Mt. Bethlehem Baptist Church, Randolph Chapel M.E. Church, a First Baptist Church, an A.M.E. church, and an A.M.E. Zion church. McReynolds High School was built in 1921, but there had been at least one African American school in town prior to this. There was at least one predominantly African American community in the town, located in the area bounded by Cedar Avenue, 2^nd Avenue, and Laurel Street.

1944 Sanborn Insurance Map of South Pittsburg, showing one of the African American communities. You can see McReynolds High School, Mt. Bethlehem Baptist, and Reynolds Chapel. Map from the Tennessee Virtual Archive (https://teva.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p15138coll23/id/9990/rec/1)

South Pittsburg has a rich history of fraternal and benevolent African American lodges. In addition to the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, and the Grand United Order of Odd Fellows, there was also a lodge of the United Brothers and Sisters of Honor, the United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten, as well as the intriguingly named Ancient Order United Knights and Daughters of Africa.

The Masons and the Eastern Star (the ladies auxiliary associated with the Masons) were an active presence in South Pittsburg’s African American community in the early 20^th century; however, I have not been able to determine if they owned a lodge hall. In 1909, it was noted in the Nashville Globe that the Eastern Star Chamber held a bazaar at the Odd Fellows Hall which was a decided success. The bazaar included a quilt contest, which was won by Miss Janie Lightfoot. In 1912, the Eastern Star Ruth Chapter No. 10 held their anniversary sermon at the A.M.E. Zion church, at which they collected $10.75. In November 1913, the Ruth Chapter of the Eastern Star hosted a series of festivals at the Odd Fellows Hall, and they were “greatly enjoyed by a host of friends, as well as the order itself.”

"South Pittsburg Notes," Nashville Globe, December 5, 1913.

The Odd Fellows were very active in South Pittsburg, and it was noted in 1910 that the group “own a valuable hall at the corner of Cedar avenue and second street.” Also, in 1910, the group held their annual Thanksgiving service in May at Randolph Chapel, collecting $20 at the service. In 1911, seventy persons from South Pittsburg attended the Grand Lodge Session of the G.U.O.O.F. in Chattanooga, suggesting that there must have been quite a number of Odd Fellows in South Pittsburg.

Clip from the Nashville Globe, May 11, 1917, describing the Pythian rally. Mr. Luther Cummings is pictured.

The Knights of Pythias, along with the Courts of Calanthe (the female auxiliary) were also prominent fixtures of the African American community of South Pittsburg. In 1910, W.L. Miller, in his article, “South Pittsburg, The Metropolis of Sequachee Valley” in the Nashville Globe, noted that the Pythians, “own a fine two-storied building of pressed brick and steel right in the heart of town.” In 1911, the group celebrated their anniversary at the Opera House, located in South Pittsburg on Cedar Street, between Second and Third Streets. Mr. Luther Cummings of South Pittsburg was particularly active in the Pythians, even travelling to other towns for lodge business. In 1913, he set up a Pythian lodge in Tullahoma, and also travelled to Dunlap for “secret order work.” In 1917, the Pythians held a large rally in South Pittsburg at Mt. Bethlehem Church. The Knights marched from their hall to the church, where the joined the Courts of Calanthe ladies as well as the Juvenile lodges. There were several readings and speeches, and a charter member of the lodge spoke about “the trials and tribulations encountered during the early days of Pythianism in South Pittsburg.”

1907 Sanborn Insurance Map of South Pittsburg, Sheet 3. The Opera House is outlined in red.

The United Brothers of Friendship and Sisters of the Mysterious Ten were an active presence on the social life of South Pittsburg. The lodge was established in c. 1907, as an article in the Nashville Globe in 1908 indicates the group was to celebrate their first anniversary in July 1908. Miss Janie Lightfoot, a local teacher, was active in the U.B.F. and S.M.T., spending a week in 1910 in Pikeville, Whitwell, and Jasper for the order. She also led a choir of the U.B.F. and S.M.T., which performed at the 3^rd anniversary event in 1910, held that year at the A.M.E. Zion Church in South Pittsburg.

 

Logo of the United Brothers of Friendship. From the Nashville Globe, August 10, 1917.

The United Brothers and Sisters of Honor established a lodge in South Pittsburg in 1909. By 1910, when they were celebrating their first anniversary at the First Baptist Church, they had about 70 members. In August 1912, South Pittsburg hosted the state Grand Lodge of the organization. The Nashville Globe, in the “South Pittsburg Notes,” noted the event on August 16, 1912, stating, “The Grand Lodge of U. Brothers and Sisters of Honor is in session here this week. A large and representative delegation is present. S. Miller, G.M.; Jas. R. Ballard, G. Sec.; Ed. Johnson, G. Treas. This is the first Grand Lodge that this state can boast of the above mentioned order.” I have not studied this group in depth, but it appears they did offer death benefits, as the Nashville Globe noted in December 1912 that Mrs. Andrew Alley of South Pittsburg received $100 from the group following the death of her husband a few months prior.

 

"South Pittsburg Notes," Nashville Globe, July 15, 1910.

The most intriguingly named benevolent group active in South Pittsburg was the Ancient Order United Knights and Daughters of Africa. I have begun to study this group, and a separate blog will soon follow on this group. It was organized in Nashville in the spring of 1888 by Dr. Daniel L. Martin and Dr. Robert F. Boyd. According to the Daily American in 1889, the group was based “upon the principles of race pride and the general elevation of the negro race.” It was a benevolent organization and grew rapidly. By 1900, there were lodges in Tennessee, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, as well as a few lodges in Pennsylvania and New York.

The Knights and Daughters of Africa lodge in South Pittsburg must have been an early lodge of the order, as the group in South Pittsburg celebrated their 22^nd anniversary in 1910 at the Second Baptist Church. In 1907, the group held a “baby show” at the Pythian Hall, offering prizes for the winners. The Nashville Globe noted in 1917 that, “The Daughters of Africa Lodge in connection with the Juveniles, held their annual sermon at the A.M.E. church Sunday at 2:30 o’clock. It was an occasion of much interest. The daughters were clad in white with purple bands. The most excellent queen. Mrs. J.J. McElroy, with the assistance of the members have made this order one among the best.”

 

Clip from "South Pittsburg Notes," Nashville Globe, February 22, 1907

South Pittsburg’s African American community was home to an active fraternal and benevolent lodge scene, with several lodge halls, and multiple events hosted in the town. It is not clear how many of the groups continue to exist in South Pittsburg. Some of the churches, such as Randolph Chapel and Mt. Bethlehem, are still active. McReynolds High School burned in the 1960s.

 

Sources/For More Information: 

Patsy B. Beene, “Marion County,” Tennessee Encyclopedia, (https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/marion-county/)

Dennis Lambert, “The Birth of South Pittsburg,” South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society, Inc., (https://www.historicsouthpittsburgtn.org/SPHistory1.html)    

W.L. Miller, “South Pittsburg, The Metropolis of Sequachee Valley,” Nashville Globe, Sept. 2, 1910, pg 3 (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86064259/1910-09-02/ed-1/seq-3/).

Nashville Globe

Statistics for Tennessee - 1910 census (https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-tn.pdf).