Bristol History

Very nice image of the Union Station with the Hotel General Shelby in the background, June 1963.

One of the great local restaurants of the 1960’s and 1970’s was the Country House Restaurant. It was owned by Jim Denton and was located at the current location of Hardee’s on Lee Highway. This picture is during its construction in October 1964.

Big Ben was a western jean store once located on Euclid Avenue where Hardee’s is now located.

Today was the last day of operation at the Old Lighthouse Diner on West State Street. Angelo and Donna Gonzalez took over the diner in 2012, having moved here from Maine. I enjoyed being a part of the day and visiting with staff and their faithful customers. We are wishing the Gonzalez family the best as they take some needed time off. Best wishes, always!

Bristol has lost songwriter Dave Loggins who was born in Shady Valley but grew up in Bristol and considered Bristol home. Early in his life he lived at Rice Terrace, and graduated at Virginia High School. This is a September 1974 Kingsport Times interview after he hit it big in Nashville with "Please Come to Boston" and his second album. His first album was "Personal Belongings" that came out in 1972. RIP, Dave Loggins.

Real Appalachia visits Bristol's State Street. . . .

State Street in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia - Birthplace of Country Music and Death of Country Icon The Famous State Street in Bristol, Tennessee/Virginia - Known as the Birthplace of Country Music and the last place country music legend Hank Williams was s...

In the 1940's the Bristol Virginia Garden Club was one of Bristol's most active garden clubs. They were responsible for the Dogwood Memorial Trail in the median of Euclid between Chester Street and the Commonwealth Avenue. Their influences could be found throughout Bristol Virginia and a number of clubs were formed from this club in other parts of Bristol. At one time there were over 14 other garden clubs in the city. This little intersection/median along Chester Street and Euclid was kept by the club and at the time was considered the smallest park in Southwest Virginia. It has a tree, formal bushes, a concrete park bench and a memorial marker for members and friends of the garden club. It is still there after nearly 80 years!

Civil War veterans and their spouses eat a meal during the 75th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg in 1938. Bristol residents, General Julius F. Howell and his wife, are pictured alongside other anniversary attendees. His title as general stems from his two terms as National Commander-in-Chief of the United Confederate Veterans in 1939 and 1940. General Howell, former President of Virginia Intermont College was known as the last survivor of Longstreet's Corps of the Army of Northern Virginia. Howell died June 19, 1948, 102 years old, and was buried at Glenwood Cemetery in Bristol, Tennessee.

Tonight is the Nite: The Paramount Bristol Story

Paramount Documentary | Bristol, TN - Official Website Tonight is the Nite: The Paramount Bristol Story is dedicated to the memory of those whose contributions of time, talent, funding, and service ensured the survival of a historic Bristol landmark and a home for the arts in this community.

History of Bristol's Dogwood Memorial Trail
by Tim Buchanan

The original dogwoods in the median of Euclid Avenue began as a Bristol Virginia beautification project in 1940. The Bristol Virginia Garden Club was the first garden club in the city and was formed in 1938 at the home of Mrs. C. P. Daniels on Euclid Avenue. Mrs. Daniels served as the first president. According to club history, the original idea of a memorial trail was presented by Mrs. Ernest Akers to local civic organizations in 1939. She envisioned a living memorial similar to the Road of Remembrance placed along the roads in Seattle, Washington.

The idea took root and gained support in the city. Under the presidency of Mrs. T.L. Hayworth the plan was developed to make a Dogwood Memorial Trail in remembrance of veterans that served during World War 2. This trail would extend from Teeter's corner on Lee Highway, now the exit 5 interchange of I-81, into the city via Euclid Avenue. The first 50 plantings were made in April 1948. With the blessing of the City of Bristol Virginia and the Department of Transportation the club took over to develop the memorial trail. Mrs. T.L. Hayworth was in large part responsible for the work and served as chairman of the trail until the early 1960's and annually added and replaced trees with donations from the community. Mrs. Russell Stokes continued the work following Mrs. Hayworth. From the earliest days of the 50-member club there was full support of this project. Many well known citizens did instrumental work on the trail without which it would not have succeeded, including Mrs. Frank Goodpasture, Mrs. J.L. Cantwell Jr, Mrs. H.H. Adair, Mrs. S.C. McChesney, and Mrs. S.S. Smith, club treasurer.

The club envisioned a trail going through the city, which was picked up by a number of other garden clubs. A few years later the Holston Garden Club started plantings along Edgemont Avenue, the Council of Garden Clubs began plantings at East Hill Cemetery, and the Bristol Beautification Foundation, likely from the Chamber of Commerce, continued the trail west of Commonwealth when Euclid Avenue opened up through the furnace bottom. They received a national grant, named the Hands Project, from Sears Department Store to place dogwood trees in the medians toward Blountville Highway.

The Bristol Virginia Garden Club continued the maintenance of the original Dogwood Memorial Trail along Euclid Avenue until local resident Nancy Marney stepped in to manage the trail in 1981 and added new plantings along Randall Street Expressway into downtown Bristol. She continued managing, adding and replacing trees until she retired in 1994. At that point the city of Bristol Virginia took over the Dogwood Memorial Trail. Today, the trail needs extensive work to replace diseased trees and numerous gaps with new plantings to keep the envisioned "living memorial" an inspiration to upcoming generations. The lifespan of native flowering dogwoods are generally 25-30 years but some of the remaining trees are between 40-50 years old

The Flowering Dogwood was made the state flower and tree of Virginia in 1918. At one time Bristol was known as the Dogwood City with the hundreds of pink and white trees throughout the main thoroughfares of both cities. The concept of the dogwood trail also was later developed in Kingsport and by the Abingdon Garden Club, along Lee Highway toward Bristol. Today, the original Dogwood Memorial Trail on Euclid is the only section that has been maintained.

Pictured is the former home of Mr. & Mrs. C.P. "Peck" Daniels located on Euclid Avenue where the Bristol Virginia Garden Club was founded in 1938. During the ownership of the Daniels the house was known as Leinad Hall. It was very interesting that "Leinad" was the Daniel named spelled backwards. It was most recently the home of Mr. & Mrs. Joe Watson.

The last half of April every year we anticipate the blooming of the Dogwoods in the region. After World War 2 the city of Bristol Virginia designated several major thoroughfares as the Dogwood Memorial Trail to remember our fallen veterans. On Euclid Avenue from Commonwealth Avenue to Chester Street the median memorializes our veterans with the state tree of Virginia, The Flowering Dogwood. Each generation needs to continue this tradition so that our veterans are not forgotten and we continue to beautify our city with our state tree!

Stonewall Jackson Elementary School Open House is on Tuesday, April, 23, 2024.

Stonewall Jackson Elementary- Walk Down Memory Lane Walk down memory lane as we reminisce the years spent at Stonewall Jackson Elementary from 1948-2024

There is a special page dedicated to memories of Highland View Elementary School as it closes this Spring. All three elementary schools are having a get-together in April. They looking for photos and videos from former staff/students as well. Here’s the page where they’re collecting information: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557564603106&mibextid=LQQJ4d

Highland View through the Era's School

NOMINATE A PROPERTY! THE APPLICATION IS FREE!
Nominations that recognize outstanding efforts to restore and preserve some of Bristol’s oldest buildings are now being accepted by officials in both Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia as the two cities prepare for their first-ever joint Historic Preservation Awards Program.
The Bristol Virginia Historic Preservation Committee accepts nominations each year that recognize property owners and developers who engage in preservation projects within the city’s five designated historic districts: Euclid Avenue, Solar Hill, Virginia Hill, Bristol Warehouse, and Bristol Downtown Commercial Historic Districts. A Citywide Historic Preservation Award is also available for a preservation project located within the city of Bristol, Virginia but outside one of the five historic districts. The Stewardship Award recognizes individuals for their long-term care of a contributing historic structure or those who have worked in historic preservation or been long-term advocates for historic preservation in Bristol, Virginia.
The Bristol Tennessee Historic Preservation Committee Properties accepts nominations for properties located in the Fairmount Neighborhood, Holston Avenue Neighborhood, and Bristol Downtown Commercial historic districts. Additionally, a Stewardship Award is available for individuals who have restored multiple historic properties. Nominations also are accepted for a Citywide Award, which recognizes a preservation project within the city but outside one of the three designated historic districts.
There is no fee to nominate a property, and nominations may be submitted by the property owner or by someone else. A brief description of the property and at least four photos of the exterior must be included. Only the exterior of the property will be considered. The deadline to submit a nomination for a 2024 award is March 31, 2024. Nomination forms may be submitted online or printed and hand delivered/mailed.
To nominate a property for a Bristol Virginia Historic Preservation Award, please go to
www.bristolva.org/570/Historic-District-Preservation-Award where the nomination form can be found along with additional information, including a map of the five historic districts. For assistance or additional information, please call Daniel Shew at (276) 274-5271 or [email protected].
To nominate a property for a Bristol Tennessee Historic Preservation Award, please go to
www.bristoltn.org/1521/Historic-Preservation-Awards. Nomination forms, a map of the city’s three historic districts, and a brief description of each award are available there. For more information, please contact Heather Moore at (423) 989-5549 or [email protected].

Historic Preservation Award | Bristol, VA - Official Website The Historic Preservation Award Committee for the city of Bristol, Virginia, invites nominations for the Historic Preservation Award. The purpose of this award program is to recognize and honor property owners and developers who engage in preservation projects within the city’s five historic distr...

Today is the 105th birthday of Bristol's Native Son, Tennessee Ernie Ford. Ford was an American recording artist and television host who was one of the first musicians to cross the Country & Western, pop and gospel musical genres.

Ford started his radio career at WOPI in Bristol, Tennessee and studied music at Virginia Intermont College. He left in 1939 to study classical music and voice at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. After serving in World War II, he worked as a radio announcer in Pasadena, CA. He was soon offered a recording contact; his signature song became "Sixteen Tons." From 1956 to 1961, he hosted his own show, The Ford Show, on NBC. In the mid to late 1950's and 1960's he was one of the most recognized entertainers in America.

The home in which he was born on Anderson Street is now owned by the Bristol Historical Association. On his last visit to Bristol in 1991, shortly before his death, he visited his humble home on Anderson Street and reminisced about his upbringing. The old claw foot tub was still there after all those years. He passed on October 17, 1991 soon after having dinner at the White House with President George H.W. Bush. Bristol celebrated his 100th Birthday in 2019 with a public event at The Paramount Center.

The old Robert E. Lee School went up in flames early this morning. Built as the first school for the first ward in 1906 and once housed the Bristol Virginia School Board.

Ron Palin and Buntings Drug Store . . .

A picture of the Buntings Drug store block, circa July 1984, before the contractor demolished the building on the morning of Sunday, August 12, 1984. After Buntings moved from the property the Bristol Historical Association removed the metal sign off the front of the building and I detached the small antique signs around the front windows. Ron Palin was the owner and operator who was generous to give them to the association.

Our friend, Ron Palin, died on Thursday, January 11 after a number of years of ill health. He operated Buntings on State Street, then when it moved to the old Bristol Memorial Hospital, finally to Euclid Avenue. Rest in Peace, and thank you for the memories! Oakley-Cook is in charge of arrangements!

Tim Buchanan - Photograph by John Henneger.

YWCA Nurse Training Class, December 12, 1954. This image has a number of notable families represented.

Cale Yarborough will be etched in Bristol history. . . . . .

Nine time Bristol winner, Hall of Famer Cale Yarborough dies at 84 | WCYB Cale Yarborough, considered one of NASCAR's all-time greatest drivers and the first to win three consecutive Cup titles, died Sunday. He was 84.NASCAR announced

A Looney Tunes advertisement from WCYB-TV in 1965. How many remember this program and was a guest on the show. It was BIG TIME!!

Question for the lovers of Bristol history. . . Who are some of the famous or well known people that have called Bristol VA & TN home, either native or were residents here? I'll start it out with "Bristol Tennessee - Tennessee Ernie Ford" and "Bristol Virginia - Dr. Charles Pepper, namesake for the soft drink Dr. Pepper" Now, go . . . .

Another Twin-City memory. Merry Christmas from Bristol History!

The history of Bristol's Dogwood Memorial Trail that is along Euclid Avenue, from Chester to Commonwealth Avenue. Thanks to Penny Hudson for this 1954 newspaper clipping.

B.H.A. Christmas Luncheon - December 10th, 2023 - 12:30pm

House enthusiast Michelle Bowers will be with the Bristol Historical Association at the Bristol Train Station for our special Christmas Luncheon. Michelle is the creator of "Old House Life" on Facebook, and this is a hub for people who want to learn about, buy and preserve old houses. Michelle has been on the Today Show, Fox News, and been written up in Southern Living magazine. More exciting than that, Michelle just purchased the historic Stuart House in Saltville. Michelle tells how she became interested in older homes with her sister Jennifer, and when Jennifer died, her mission was to find homes to restore for others and finally for herself in Saltville, Virginia not far from Bristol, Tn/Va.

Due to her popular following, we are giving you and your guests an opportunity to attend this special luncheon Sunday, December 10th at 12:30. You must send in your reservation with your check. Members may send their membership in the same envelope. The Invitation will give the correct address to mail before December 1st. Make sure you send in a timely manner to ensure being able to hear this remarkable lady.