This marker is located along US-70N east of Cookeville at the intersection with Neal St and points…read morethe way to a historic church that predates the Civil War. Not on my itinerary today, I viewed the marker here and headed onwards. There is a bank at this spot and plenty of room to stop. The marker reads, "Isaac Buck organized this church, one of the oldest in the County in 1820. Before the Civil War the site was a famous camp meeting ground. When Putnam County was permanently established in 1854, courts met in the old log church, and militia mustered outside. The present structure was built in 1925." It indicates that the church is one mile south. [Review 20097 overall - 453 in Tennessee - 1073 of 2023.]

This marker is in downtown Cookeville and is some distance from the current studios of the radio…read morestation which broadcasts a "news talk" format on 1400 AM and 107.7 FM. Here's where it started, reading "On July 20, 1940, broadcast pioneer Luke Medley (1907-1998) opened WHUB, the first radio station between Nashville and Knoxville, making Cookeville one of the smallest towns in the nation to have local daily news, music, and sports broadcasts. WHUB programs promoted economic growth in the area. Medley served as president of the Cookeville Chamber of Commerce while operating the station. Twice elected mayor of Cookeville, he also served sixteen years as county judge. In 2013 Medley was inducted into the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame." This is marker number 2D-56 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. There is plenty of street parking nearby. [Review 20092 overall - 448 in Tennessee - 1068 of 2023.]

Baxter Tennessee is a small town in western Putnam County with a population of approximately 1365…read more This small city is part of Cookeville. Many enjoyable water activities with all the beautiful lakes and waterfalls or just relaxing and enjoying the scenic views.

Cookeville is the county seat and largest city in Putnam County. This marker stands in downtown in…read morefront of the courthouses buildings. The first courthouse was completed in 1855 and burned to the ground in 1857. The second courthouse was a rebuild with the same plans but was destroyed during the Civil War but Union troops. A third courthouse - two stories and complete with two staircases was erected in 1866 and destroyed by fire in 1899. This building, the fourth, was completed in 1900 and thankfully still stands. The building was initially 92x86 feet and had seven rooms on the first floor and four rooms above. It is a classical architecture made from Nashville red pressed brick and trimmed with native buff and stone. The original tower was removed during the 1962 remodel. The marker in front provides some additional history. It reads, "After Putnam County was established in 1854, this site was chosen for its courthouse. Fires destroyed the first building soon after it was erected in 1855, a second during the Civil War, and a third in 1899. Construction of this courthouse, James Yeaman, architect, by Scott-Smoot, contractors, was completed in 1900. It was remodeled in 1962-63." At 6:30 am, the building was completely secured and not open for an interior tour. There is street parking nearby. [Review 20091 overall - 447 in Tennessee - 1067 of 2023.]

This marker stands in front of the Putnam County Courthouse and points out the person for whom the…read morecounty was named, Israel Purnam (1718-1790). The marker reads, "Putnam County, created in 1842 and re-established in 1854, was named for Major General Israel Putnam, who was commissioned on June 19, 1775 by the Continental Congress. A popular hero of the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. Gen. Putnam became famous for saying, "Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes," at the Battle of Bunker Hill." This is marker 2D-46 and it was erected by the Tennessee Historical Commission. Online, there is more information. Putnam fought with distinction at the Battle of Bunker Hill and also served as an officer with Rogers' Rangers during the French and Indian War. In 1762, he survived a shipwreck during the Siege of Havana British expedition against Cuba that led to the capture of Havana. Major Putnam is believed to have brought back Cuban tobacco seeds to New England, which he planted in the Hartford, Connecticut Hartford area. This reportedly resulted in the development of the renowned Connecticut shade tobacco Connecticut Wrapper. Putnam served as Washington's second in command during the Revolutionary War. Both Washington and Putnam were aggressive by nature and did not hesitate to put themselves in harm's way if that was what was called for in battle. Both were fearless or at least able to function calmly while bullets whizzed around them. Yet, each was nevertheless able to calculate risk and make decisions accordingly. Putnam County, Tennessee is one such place named for him. Others include counties in Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia plus the towns of Putnam in Connecticut and New York and the USS General Putnam, a Civil War tugboat as well as the USS General Putnam, a ferry boat chartered by the US Navy during World War I. [Review 20093 overall - 449 in Tennessee - 1069 of 2023.]

Since I had already found the Israel Putnam marker (this county, Putnam County, was named in his…read morehonor) it was helpful to also find the Richard Fielding Cooke marker so that I could learn why it's named Cookeville. The marker is to the east of downtoan near the History Museum. The marker reads, "Major Cooke (1789-1870), b. Culpepper County, Virginia, veteran of the War of 1812, with his wife Margaret Cox settled on a farm about nine miles southwest of here in 1816. As a State Senator, 1851-55, he secured passage of a bill refounding Putnam County, first established in 1842 but dissolved by court suit. He is buried in the Cooke family cemetery. Cookeville is named in his honor." In 1842, Putnam County was formed from portions of Jackson, Fentress, Overton and White counties, with Monticello as the county seat. After a lawsuit by some of the counties involved, Putnam County was disbanded. Cooke, who served on the Tennessee Senate from 1851 to 1854, was instrumental in the reformation of Putnam County in 1854. The marker was erected in 1976 by Putnam County. There is room at the side of the road to stop and read the marker. [Review 20096 overall - 452 in Tennessee - 1072 of 2023.]

You are passing through old mining towns. Back when railroad was king, people in these parts were…read morebustling and working hard in the coal mines. Nowadays, most people overlook this small museum when passing through. It's rather unpretentious. But if you are a history nerd like me you'll see that there is so much to this small section house and slam on your breaks so you can take a look. I was so lucky to pass through on a day when the museum was open. Inside you'll find this is an archivist's dream. There are annals and books and records by the dozen. If you have any curiosity at all about coal, railroading, local geography or county history or looking up an old family member than you have come to the right place. Community leaders, family members, retired workers, people who have settled here for years donated historical things to this museum. And what the museum has done is replicated what an old home in the area might look like. And it has replicated the feeling you get in a small town when all fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and uncles are working in mines for a living. The illnesses and hospital records. The old maps trekking railroad connections. The pride in you work. Gosh, stepping in you realize this 'replica' of a mountain home and the 'replica' of a miner's life is not really a faraway idea. After all, you are walking all around it. In fact, it's so close that the son or granddaughter of all the people showcased on the walls are actually standing in front of you giving you a tour. And you realize you have stepped inside living history and the heart of the local community. And that railroading was not that long ago actually. Progress and innovation aside, coal mining is damn hard work, for sure. Visit to the museum = free. Getting to know the community sharing oral history =free. The cost for thanking a coal miner = free. The whole experience = priceless.

For two years I've been attending story time and the summer reading programs with my little girl…read more Her love for reading and storytelling have just grown. Marcia Donovan has a passion for storytelling, music, and education, so the program has flourished for 20+ years. I cannot speak highly enough about this free weekly program. There's nothing else like it around.