Patrick Henry's Namesake

Who knew that the Henry County was named after Revolutionary War hero Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty or give me death!” - Downtown Paris Association

More Than Just Wine

Who knew that the Paris Winery offers women's spa retreats, mystery dinner theatres, special seasonal events and more, plus a neat gift shop and, of course, Paris-made wines. - Source: Paris Winery.

Genealogy Help Online

Who knew you can get help with your genealogy research on the Henry County, Tenn. Genealogy Forum? - Source: Henry County Genealogy Forum

Famous Folks from Paris, Tennessee

Who knew that Wikipedia lists 18 notable people hailing from Paris, Tennessee, including two university-level football players, six musicians, two actors, a governor, a professional athlete, a U.S. Supreme Court justice, a newspaper editor, a newspaper columnist, a world president of the Community of Christ, an thoroughbred agent and trainer, and the producer of Grove's Chill Tonic.

• Edwin Wiley Grove (1850-1927) built the Grove Park Inn & E.W. Grove High School, invented Grove's Chill Tonic (malaria symptom treatment)
• Dennis Freeland (1956-2002), editor of the Memphis Flyer newspaper
• Howell Edmunds Jackson, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
• Vernon Jarrett, newspaper columnist and social commentator
• Bobby Jones, gospel singer
• Cherry Jones, Tony Award-winning actress (grew up in Paris)
• Charles Gilbert "Chick" King, first two-sport professional athlete
• Ula Love, performer in the Ziegfeld Follies
• Harry Neal, member of piano duo Nelson and Neal (grew up in Paris)
• Tom Lonardo, musician, born and raised in Paris.
• James D. Porter, Jr., Tennessee governor, 1875-1879
• Stephen M. Veazey, world President of Community of Christ (2005 to present) (grew up in Paris)
• Britt McGehee, prominent Thoroughbred Agent for rider James Graham and formerly a trainer of great note. (born in Paris)
• Hank Williams, Jr., country music Singer/songwriter (lives near Paris)
• J. David Williams, concert organist & conductor (grew up in Paris)
• Sammy Goldstein, singer & piano entertainer (born and raised in Paris) www.sammygoldstein.com
• Marsalis Teague, football player for the University of Tennessee
• Dominique Allen, football player for Louisiana State University

Paris Landing State Park's Name

Who knew that when Paris Landing State Park was created in 1945, it was named for a steamboat and freight landing on the Tennessee River.  Source: Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation

Paris Businesses Highlighted

Who knew that the Paris/Henry County Chamber of Commerce Web site is now featuring historical articles of its members. - Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce

Henry County Medical Center Scholarships

Who knew that Henry County Medical Center offers four different scholarships to students entering health care fields. See the HCMC web site for more information.

Cool Queen

Who knew that in 1958, Ol' Henry would be queen of the Henry County Fair. Well, queen wouldn't be quite the right word, let's just say reserve champion. He was probably the "coolest" cow in Henry County because my dad put up a ceiling fan from Salant & Salant in our barn to keep him from getting too hot! Submitted by Rick Owens.

Poke Berries and Poke Salad

Who knew how intriguing that the poke plant was to kids who roamed the fields in summer? We had heard that the purple/red berries were poison, but we carefully made “dye” with them. We knew people ate poke salad (or sallet) but there were scary rules about using only the young leaves and multiple rinses to remove the poison. I was an adult in Alabama before I ate some (at a church covered dish dinner). Topped with sliced boiled eggs, it was very tasty. Submitted by Ray Harding.

Mass Communication was More Fun in the Old Days

Who knew how local and national election results were reported in Henry County before TV and night time local radio? On election day, a giant tote board would cover the front of the Parisian Building (now BPU). No vehicles would be allowed on that section of Washington Street. Men on scaffolds would write the results for all to see as they came in. A large, sometimes boisterous crowd would mill around for hours. Ray Harding.

A maypop by any name is still a...

Click photo for image source and more beautiful flowers.

Who knew that in the fifties and sixties, when I was growing up in Henry County, that we called the Tennessee Wild Flower by its common name, the "maypop"? In other places, it is called wild apricot or the ocoee and is actually a species of Passion Flower known by the scientific name - Passiflora incarnata. Submitted by Jean Owens.

Members of the Band

Who knew that in the early 1950's, there was no Jr. High band, so sixth grade students at Lee and Atkins Porter would enter the Paris School Band which included the high school students. These youngsters wore the uniform, went on trips and had all the rights and privileges of band membership except one – the back of the band bus was reserved for upper classmen. My time for that eventually came. Source – Ray Harding.

What's special about Henry County?

Who knew that 25 years ago the Paris Post Intelligencer had a 124 page edition, with the theme: "What's special about Henry County?" The record press run of 15,775 copies, had 10 sections, and used 16,000 pounds of paper. Courtesy of the P.I.'s 25 years ago today section. Submitted by Rick Owens.

Bowdoc - Bois d’Arc - Osage Orange - Hedge Apple...

Who knew the correct spelling for the common name of the thorny tree which produces very hard yellow/orange wood and decorative green fruit? Always pronounced Bowdoc around here, the correct spelling is Bois d’Arc (French for bow wood). It is also called Osage Orange because Osage Indians used the wood for bows and arrows, and Hedge Apple because before metal fencing, it was planted as a living fence. Source - University of Arkansas Extension News - February 11, 2000, Submitted by Ray Harding.

Snake Doctors

Who knew that while growing up in Henry County, we were told to call dragonflies “snake doctors”? It turns out that this tradition was limited to the mid southeastern states. The traditional name for them in Louisiana is “mosquito hawks” and in parts of the northeast, they are traditionally called “darning needles” Source- informal poll by Ray Harding.

Engine-popped Treat

Who knew that the engineers on the old steam engines used the firebox for more than making steam? In the early ‘50’s, the last days of steam, I was staring in awe at a huge NC&STL engine which was idling just north of the depot at the Ruff St. crossing. The engine crew was popping popcorn and they tossed a bag down to me. Delicious! Submitted by Ray Harding.

Home Entertainment

Who knew that around 1947-1951 (after the War and before TV), in-home salesmen offered both quality merchandise and a night’s entertainment? It was fun for the kids to see the well-honed sales pitch and in five minutes they would campaign to buy whatever was being sold. My family bought Compton’s encyclopedias and an Electrolux vacuum this way; both were useful and lasted for decades. Submitted by Ray Harding.

Butter Yellow

Who knew that in the late 1940s, dairy interests prohibited manufacturers from coloring margarine (we called it oleo.) For a short time, white margarine was sold in clear sealed plastic bags with an enclosed capsule of dye. The consumer would burst the capsule, and squeeze the bag to distribute the dye. After a lot of squeezing, the color would resemble butter. Submitted by Ray Harding.

Henry Countian Tops Boxing World

Who knew that Henry County had the 2009 world championship ringside boxing winner: Clinton Phifer. Submitted by Rick Owens.

Basil Rathbone Visited Speech Class

Who knew that in about 1956, star of film, Broadway, and TV, Basil Rathbone met with Miss Ruby Krider’s speech class at Grove High? The afternoon before his performance at the City Auditorium, he made an appearance in the small speech studio on “The Hill”. We were totally intimidated by him and I only remember his aloof demeanor, his aristocratic accent, and his dislike of former President Harry Truman. Submitted by Ray Harding.

Coal Direct

Who knew that Mrs. Bernice Rainey’s store at Jones Mill is heated with coal delivered directly from a mine? When Mrs. Rainey, sole proprietor of the store since 1945, was told that small lot coal was no longer available, she knew someone who convinced a Kentucky mine operator to sell coal for her tiny stove. Source – Conversation with Mrs. Rainey while loafing at her store – Ray Harding.

Last Grove Class

Who knew that the E.W. Grove Class of 1969 was the last class to graduate from Grove. They are having their 40th reunion Friday, September 4th, at Paris Winery. All Grove graduates and those who wish they had graduated with the class of 1969 are invited to attend. (Submitted by Gaines Hedges, proud Grove grad).

Telephone Trivia 4

Who knew that a letter after the telephone number (1086-W) meant a party line. One ring was for the Homer Bucy family, and a nosy ol' maid down the street. Two rings was just for the nosy ol' maid. Submitted by Jean Bucy Owens.

Telephone Trivia 3

Who knew that Owens Electric Service had the telephone number of 292 in the early sixties. When I was six years old, in 1961, I would pick up the telephone and an operator would say, "Number please." I would reply "292", then I would be connected to Dad at work. If I was at the shop and wanted to talk to Ma, I would ask the operator for 3031. Submitted by Rick Owens.

Telephone Trivia 2

Who knew that Paris Insurance Agency's number in the 60's was 17. I have a coke bottle opener that has it on there... Rick Conger, Paris.

Telephone Trivia

Who knew that simpler times were not all that long ago? In 1962, the phone number for Charles Neese, Attorney, 105 E. Wood St. was "1". Source - April, 1962 Telephone Directory. Submitted by Ray Harding.