Jellico celebrates 140 years
A Day Away
By Mike Steely
Downtown Jellico is a throwback to the 1880s when the small Campbell County town boomed thanks to its local coal mining, shipping and rail service industries, and a thriving population. From then until roughly the late 1950s, the little town, split by the Tennessee and Kentucky border, had a movie theater, busy retail stores, two or more grocery stores and a historic post office that doubled as a mine rescue headquarters — all benefiting from the Highway 25W traffic that came right through the city.
Even after the 1950s Jellico prospered thanks to the sale of beer at several outlets and four or five taverns just outside town. That ended when neighboring Whitley County and Williamsburg, Kentucky, shed the history of being “dry” and legalized the sale of beer and liquor. Until then Jellico claimed to be the “Beer Drinking Capital of Kentucky” although most of the town is and was in the Volunteer State.
Founded in 1883, the town once known as “Smithboro” is preparing to celebrate 140 years of boom and bust at the “Birthday Bash” on August 4th and 5th downtown along with a History Forum on August 6th at the historic First Baptist Church.
Beginning at the Veterans Memorial in the downtown park and parking area, visitors can not only visit the preserved 1880s downtown area but also get a guided tour, find gift and food vendors, and hear live music. There’s also an opening ceremony, a historic walk, tributes, a classic movie in the park, old-fashioned kids’ games, a tree planting, and an Old Fashion Doll Buggy and Wagon Parade.
Saturday, August 5 kicks off with Mayor Sandy Terry, special guest speaker Trey Brock of Crouches Creek Baptist Church, City Council Chair of Tourism Suzette Davenport, and Vice Mayor Sara Barton Proffitt slated to speak at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Park. Winners of the Time Capsule Contests will also be presented.
On Sunday, August 6, the celebration continues at 2 p.m. with a special event at the First Baptist Church that will include the Jellico Honor Guard, the national anthem, and local histories as told by several citizens. The History Forum will feature talks from local historians, games for kids, a period costume contest, music and refreshments.
Jellico is located just off I-75 at exit 160. The events are free and you can get more information on the Facebook page “Jellico’s 140th Birthday Celebration.”
Steely on History Panel during Jellico’s 140th Birthday Bash
By Focus Staff
The Knoxville Focus senior writer, Mike Steely, will be a panelist on a History Forum at Jellico’s 140th Birthday Celebration. Steely, a Jellico native and former editor of the Jellico Advance Sentinel and Monthly Mail, joins local historians Roy Price and Mark Tidwell to speak and answer questions about local history.
The Jellico Bash begins Friday, August 4 and the history forum is planned for Sunday, August 6 at the First Baptist Church at 2 p.m.
Jellico sits on the Tennessee-Kentucky line just off Interstate 75. The 1880s downtown exists much as it did originally and many writers and journalists were born in the community. It boomed from its inception as a coal mining town and railroad shipping point.
A descendant of a family that settled in the Jellico area prior to the Treaty of Tellico, Steely has written about the community, the region and state history. His award-winning “A Day Away” column appears in The Focus along with his coverage of county and city meetings. His efforts while editing the Jellico newspaper took first place in Tennessee Press Association recognitions.
