South Pittsburg History in Pictures
Business
&
Downtown Buildings I I
To view photographic history click links below:
The above picture was taken in the 1940s showing the block of downtown businesses in South Pittsburg, Tennessee looking north along Cedar Avenue from its intersection with Fourth Street. A large portion of these buildings in the center were destroyed by fire on Friday, August 13, 1971. The corner building survived and still stands today as well as the old Cameron-Patton Hotel on the opposite corner and a few small structures nearby. Today, the Chester Powell Senior Apartments occupies the area where the buildings were destroyed including the old Raulston building and residence where actress Jobyna Lancaster Ralston was born and raised.                             
                                                                                                                   Photograph courtesy, Bob Hookey

This is a 100-share stock certificate from the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company from 1891. This company was vital to the early history of South Pittsburg, Tennessee and its development. The company moved all of its operations from South Pittsburg shortly after 1900 to Birmingham, Alabama where it all ready had an established iron trade.  
SPHPSINC.
SPHPSINC.
SPHPSINC.

Pictured above is the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway feight depot at South Pittsburg, Tennessee in 1911.
                                     Courtesy, Miriam Crisp Link
Pictured above is the Nashville, Chattanooga & St. Louis Railway passenger depot at South Pittsburg, Tennessee in 1911. Note the "Shortdog" train coming down the tracks.
                                     Courtesy, Miriam Crisp Link
SPHPSINC.
Pictured above is the old Central Hotel at the corner of Cedar Avenue at 3rd Street in downtown South Pittsburg, Tennessee around 1900. 
                                            Courtesy, Dennis Lambert                      
SPHPSINC.
Pictured above is a view of Cedar Avenue in downtown South Pittsburg looking north from its intersection with 3rd Street. This view was made around 1930.
                                                                                                      Photograph courtesy, Bob Hookey                        
SPHPSINC.
Pictured above in 1914 is the old South Pittsburg Ice Company at South Pittsburg, Tennessee. This company was started in 1895 by Joseph Lodge who had the stone building constructed in 1900. He sold the company to N. S. & C. Baumgartner in 1906. It had a capacity at that time of eight tons daily. The structure was located in block 3.

                                                                             Photograph courtesy, Dennis Lambert                        
SPHPSINC.
SPHPSINC.
The Clepper Courtesy Court motel and gas station in South Pittsburg is pictured above in the early 1950s. This motel was located at the corner of Cedar Avenue and Sixth Street. This building and its adjoining structures were razed in 2004. Note the gasoline price of 27.9-cents per gallon. Don't you wish it were that cheap now? Now it is not uncommon to see an addition two dollars added to that price. 
                                                                                                    
SPHPSINC.
This image, made about 1920, shows the old Denham and Arendale store and other structures that once graced Cedar Avenue on the south end of the downtown at Seventh Street. These buildings are where the high school football field dressing room is now located and the cornfield is where the current Beene Stadium/football field now stands.

                                                                                                                                                  Photo courtesy, Bob Hookey 
                                                                                                    

This image, made about 1970, shows Paul's Food Market located at 439 Cedar Avenue in downtown South Pittsburg, Tennessee. Paul's was owned by Paul Turner and operated between 1964 to 1982.

                           Courtesy, Paul A. Hiener collection/Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library