Warren County Celebrates 200-Monday was county’s official birthday

BY LISA HOBBS

During Warren County’s 200th birthday celebration, several Warren County characters returned from the past. Pictured is banker, industrialist and politician Jesse Walling, also known as local history enthusiast Jimmy Haley.

Warren County celebrated its official 200th birthday on Monday after being created Nov. 26, 1807.

Named for Major Gen. Joseph Warren, patriot of the American Revolution and one of the original Minute Men, the county was established after Joseph McMinn wrote and signed a document that led to the area being created by an act of the Tennessee General Assembly. McMinnville, the county seat, was named after McMinn.

Although some may have not realized the significance of Monday, others marked the day with a traditional birthday party filled with friends, family, guests, cake and more.

Magness Library held a birthday party that not only celebrated the day but the history of Warren County. In attendance were County Executive John Pelham, McMinnville Mayor Royce Davenport, city administrator David Rutherford, Warren County historian James Dillon, the original document written by McMinn 200 years ago, and more than 75 other guests.

According to Dillon, Warren County has endured its share of setbacks. During the Civil War, it was destroyed and later rebuilt after the war ended in 1865. By the 1920s, McMinnville was noted as ‘the richest little town.’ That image ended with the Great Depression, Dillon said.

Throughout it all, the area’s success depended on willingness to work while being guided by faith in the Heavenly Father, neighbors and fellow man, said Dillon, who added, ‘God bless Warren County, Tennessee and the United States of America’ before he unveiled the original documents that began Warren County 200 years ago.

After the unveiling, refreshments and birthday cake were served by the United Daughters of the Confederacy. Guests were then treated with a ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past Walk’ guided by Warren County YouthAct members.

The walk included some ‘lively’ characters of Warren County history including Clay and Mary Faulkner, Cowan Oldham, J. Fletcher Woodward, M.D., ambassador Carl Rowan, Dinah Shore, Jessie Walling, Lucy Virginia French, Col. John Savage and Mary Cunningham.

The party was sponsored by the Bicentennial Events Committee, Heritage Alliance and Magness Library as part of Warren County’s Bicentennial Celebration and the ‘Twelve Days of Christmas.’

WCPI public radio, 91.3 FM, will be broadcasting the ‘Warren County’s 200th Birthday’ celebration today at 2:03 p.m. and Thursday at 2:03 a.m. and the ‘Ghosts of Christmas Past, Walk’ Thursday at 11:03 a.m. and 11:03 p.m.