Bela Varga Rhea High Teacher

Posted on June 8, 20262 Comments

Former Students Celebrate a Beloved Teacher at 90

Bela Varga is a longtime educator and former training manager who spent nearly six decades in Dayton, Tennessee. Born in Hungary, he escaped the turmoil of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution at age 20, making a perilous journey to Austria before immigrating to Venezuela and later living in Barbados. After embracing the Christian faith, he attended Oak Hills Bible Institute in Minnesota, where he met his wife, Georgia. He later graduated from Bryan College and earned a master’s degree from Tennessee Technological University.

Bela taught Spanish, German, and Drafting at Rhea Central High School during the late 1960s and early 1970s and, following a career as a Training Manager with TVA, returned to the classroom at Rhea County High School in the 1990s. He and his wife, fellow educator Georgia Varga, shared more than six decades of marriage until her passing in 2025. Together they raised two daughters, Susie and Beth, and were blessed with a granddaughter, Emma.

“A Teacher Remembered: Former Students and Friends Celebrate Mr. Varga”

Few educators leave behind the kind of legacy that spans generations, shapes careers, inspires lifelong friendships, and becomes part of family history. Judging by the many birthday tributes shared by former students, colleagues, friends, and neighbors, Mr. Varga was one of those rare people.

Stories poured in from decades of former students who remembered him not only as a Spanish and German teacher, but as a compassionate mentor, storyteller, comedian, and friend.

A Teacher Who Made Learning Fun

Many remembered the joy of his classes and his famous Friday tradition of watching Sanford and Son.

Roxanne Aikman Nelson recalled, “I had Mr. Varga for Spanish 2. He was a great teacher and loved his class! My memory as well was getting to watch Sanford and Son on Fridays.”

Amy Louallen Stinnett shared, “Watching that show is my favorite memory of being in his Spanish class.”

Amanda Cook Hixson remembered, “He was the biggest Sanford and Son fan! I still quote one of his funniest sayings, ‘I’m busier than a three-legged cat on an ice skating pond,’ always spoken in Mr. Varga’s accent.”

Eric Calhaugh admitted he was initially concerned when he heard they would be watching a Spanish program.

“The first time he told us we were gonna watch a Spanish show in Spanish 2, I was worried,” he wrote. “Then Sanford and Son came on.”

Tiffany Mitchell also remembered those Friday afternoons fondly. “One of my favorite memories was watching Sanford and Son in Spanish. He made learning Spanish fun.”

Kindness and Patience

Barbara Gentry described Mr. Varga as “very patient and kind and a great teacher.”

Sally Chapman Phelps remembered, “He was such a kind man! I took Spanish in summer school so I could have him as a teacher!”

LyNawn Mikula simply stated, “He didn’t teach me, but was a wonderful neighbor. Love him.”

Edie Shaver called him “a very kind man and a friend to all.”

James Fields summed him up as a “great man, artist, teacher, and friend.”

Miranda Lancaster remembered his passion and friendship with her father. “He was so passionate, kind, and a wonderful teacher.”

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

Jamie Ridley said Mr. Varga taught a lesson she has never forgotten.

“He explained the difference between friends and acquaintances,” she wrote. “He said one can count true friends on one hand. Everyone else is just acquaintances. That’s a hard lesson for a kid to realize, but in adulthood it really hits home.”

Christie E. Wilhoit Walters recalled his ability to stand firm while helping students grow.

“I appreciate his standing firm as a teacher when I acted up,” she wrote. “Thanks for helping me see my less than stellar character at times and not taking flack from me. I am a teacher today who does the same thing.”

Inspiring Future Teachers

Several former students credited Mr. Varga with influencing their own careers in education.

Christina McPherson said, “Years later, I ended up teaching eighth-grade ELA.”

Debra Shaver wrote, “I loved how he taught so much that I wanted to become a teacher. I taught for forty years.”

Christie E. Wilhoit Walters added that she also became a teacher and often follows the example he set.

A Teacher Who Went the Extra Mile

Donna Carter shared one of the most touching stories.

She remembered struggling to learn Spanish and feeling discouraged. Mr. Varga volunteered to stay after school two days a week for nearly two months to tutor her personally.

“Because of his time and energy he sacrificed for me, I could speak to my elementary parents and their children at school,” she wrote. “Thank you, Mr. Varga!”

Clint Olson remembered receiving grace when his grades were suffering.

“My grade was so low on a test that he curved it 30 points so I would pass,” Olson recalled. “He had worked with my father at Watts Bar, so when he held me after class to discuss my low grade, he said, ‘I can’t continue giving these curves—there are students in the class that made 130 on the test!’”

Humor That Students Never Forgot

Rachel Barrows remembered his correction of pronunciation mistakes.

“The thing I remember him saying whenever someone pronounced something wrong was, ‘You put the stress on the wrong syllable!’”

Tom Warner recalled hearing him say, “That’s the way the cookie bounces,” and “You have the ac-cent on the wrong syl-lobble.”

Amanda Harris remembered his playful remarks about Southern expressions.

“He would say, ‘What did you do that for?’ and then mock it in his accent. My best friend Nikki Clark and I still say that to each other almost thirty years later.”

Several students recalled his storytelling.

Angela McCoy remembered emotional stories he told about fleeing war-torn Hungary.

“It was terribly sad and Mr. Varga became very emotional and it made a tragic time seem very real,” she wrote.

Rebecca Lynne similarly remembered “his recollection of overcoming incredible adversity, escaping a war zone as a young child.”

Laughter and Unforgettable Moments

Bev Duckett shared a hilarious memory from 1993-94 when she became ill in class.

After a first incident, Mr. Varga warned her not to leave without permission. When she suddenly became sick again, he jumped in front of the door trying unsuccessfully to stop her.

“Mr. Varga got baptized with it,” she joked. “His shirt, tie, pants, shoes, floor—everything.”

Later he told her, “You sick, you go.”

Clint Olson remembered another humorous moment involving classroom seating.

“One day Mr. Varga kept me after class and said, ‘I’m going to have to change your seating arrangement. You can’t keep meeting with Tom Cat Tommy Williams in class. Where would you like for me to put you?’”

Olson answered, “I told him I wanted to sit behind the best-looking girl in class. He shook his head and laughed. The next time I came to class, guess what? He put me right behind the best-looking girl in class.”

Stories Shared Across Generations

Joshua Hood noted, “I had the privilege of having Mrs. Varga at Frazier and Mr. Varga in high school.”

Angie Taylor Pendergrass said, “He taught me, my brother, and my mother.”

Tiffany Mitchell remembered that Mr. Varga had taught her father German before later teaching her Spanish.

Beverly Louallen recalled meeting him years later in a grocery store.

“I started speaking Spanish I remembered and he turned around and said my name,” she wrote. “You were in the first graduating class at the new high school. I can’t believe you remember that much Spanish!”

An Extraordinary Mind

Several people marveled at his intellect.

Carol Purser Floyd called him “a fascinating and intelligent individual.”

Angela McCoy described him as “an intelligent, HUMAN person whose knowledge is unsurpassed.”

BK Marler recounted calling Mr. Varga for help translating a poem. Although he could not answer the question, he immediately handed the phone to Georgia Varga, who solved the problem.

“Wow! Was I ever embarrassed!” Marler laughed.

Memories Outside the Classroom

Christie E. Wilhoit Walters remembered a night when she and friends attempted to “roll” the Varga home with toilet paper.

“Mr. Varga walked outside and caught us before we could make his yard white,” she wrote. “We hid behind the bushes so scared and ran away when he went inside.”

Kailee Paige wrote, “I was honored to care for Mr. Varga’s wife. They are the sweetest people.”

Miranda Lancaster remembered that Mr. Varga and her father worked together at Watts Bar and that he had drawn plans for her parents’ home.

A Lasting Legacy

Again and again, former students spoke of admiration, affection, and gratitude.

Andrea Blaylock simply wrote, “Happy Birthday Mr. Varga!”

Marcy Kay called herself “blessed” to have been in his class.

Martha Garland Lawson remembered him as “always very encouraging and often entertaining with a funny story.”

Sally Dean said Mr. Varga gave her “an appreciation for Sanford and Son, and respectively, all people.”

Perhaps James Fields captured the sentiment best:

“Great man, artist, teacher, and friend. Hope he has many more birthdays. He taught school like he cared for their futures.”

Judging by the hundreds of memories still being shared decades later, Mr. Varga did far more than teach Spanish and German. He taught kindness, humor, perseverance, friendship, and humanity—and those lessons have endured long after students left his classroom.

Now living near family in the Nashville area, Bela treasures his family, his years in education, and his Hungarian heritage. A man of many interests, he has enjoyed oil painting, travel, tennis, and soccer, and today continues to delight in reading, trivia, and preparing his famous Hungarian paprikas.

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Vance Elsea- Chattanooga News Free Press

Posted on May 25, 20261 Comment

On Sunday, November 21, 1976, the Chattanooga News-Free Press honored longtime Rhea County district supervisor Vance Elsea for his many years of service delivering and supervising newspaper circulation throughout the county. By that time, Vance had already devoted thirty-two years to the News-Free Press and had become a familiar figure to generations of Rhea Countians.

Vance was more than a newspaper distributor; he was a mentor to many young boys who started as paper carriers under his supervision. Several of those young men later became respected and prominent citizens in Rhea County. Among them were Spring City Postmaster Byerly Morgan, along with Jack and Patsy Brown, Jimmy Porter, Freddie Mooty, Jim Galloway, George Hommel, and others. Former Dayton resident Billy Carter, who later became a successful Florida land developer, was also among those who once worked under Vance.

At the time of the recognition, Vance had driven more than two and one-half million miles in service to the newspaper. His dedication, dependability, and influence on young people made him one of the most recognized and respected individuals connected with the News-Free Press in this area.

A lifelong Rhea County resident, Vance and his wife, Lillie Mae, lived in Graysville and attended Graysville Methodist Church. The article noted their children as Velma Barger, Charles Elsea, Gene Elsea, and Donna Kay Wilson, along with several grandchildren.

Curtis D. Adams, Circulation Director for the Chattanooga News-Free Press, praised Vance, stating that the newspaper was proud to have “a man of Mr. Elsea’s caliber” representing them and called him “one of the finest.”

This recognition served as a fitting tribute to a man whose work touched countless lives across Rhea County.

Vance passed away on December 9, 2007, and is buried in the Pleasantview Cemetery in Graysville, Tennessee.

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George Thacker Plays The Opry

Posted on May 23, 20261 Comment

Remembering George Thacker’s Grand Ole Opry Surprise — February 1994

Looking back to February of 1994, many will remember the excitement surrounding local musician George Thacker after he returned home from what became the experience of a lifetime.

What began as a trip to Nashville with a dear friend quickly turned into a moment George would never forget.

George had traveled to the Grand Ole Opry with his friend Glenn Davis, who had spent many years as a drummer with Jacky Jones and had performed at the Opry. For George, the visit itself was already special. Like so many musicians, he had grown up listening to Grand Ole Opry records, sitting on the floor as a young boy and pretending to play along to favorites such as Orange Blossom Special and Wabash Cannonball. The Opry had long been a dream in his life.

During their visit, Glenn took George backstage where he was introduced to several musicians and entertainers, including Hee Haw personality and musician Mike Snider. Meeting the musicians he had admired for years was already a memorable experience.

As the story was later told, George played his harmonica backstage for Snider. Impressed by what he heard, Snider reportedly told him, “Come on George, you’re gonna play on stage.”

Moments later, the Spring City musician found himself walking onto the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and standing on the famous wooden circle — the treasured section of oak flooring preserved from the original Ryman Auditorium stage and carried forward as one of country music’s most revered symbols.

As George stepped onto the stage, Glenn Davis looked on in surprise and amazement. Having just taken the stage himself moments earlier, Davis was stunned to suddenly see his friend walking out before the Opry audience.

With harmonica in hand, George joined Mike Snider on banjo, Charlie Cush on mandolin, Blake Williams on upright bass, and Glenn Davis on drums as they performed the bluegrass favorites Orange Blossom Special and Wabash Cannonball before the Opry audience.

When the music ended, George received a standing ovation.

For a man who had spent a lifetime loving bluegrass music, it was the fulfillment of a dream that had begun years earlier when he received his first harmonica as a Christmas gift at age thirteen.

Music had always been part of George’s life. He formed bluegrass bands as a young man, performed throughout the region, won recognition at the Tennessee Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, and later recorded an album titled Bluegrass Harmonica. Yet through all his accomplishments, George remained humble and simply loved sharing music with others.

Looking back now to February of 1994, that memorable trip to Nashville remains one of the most cherished stories of George Thacker’s life — a visit with a dear friend that unexpectedly placed him on country music’s most famous stage and fulfilled a lifelong dream.

It truly was the surprise of a lifetime.

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M&J GRAND OPENING IN RICHLAND PARK MARCH 15, 1973

Posted on May 4, 2026

M&J SUPERMARKET LEAVES DOWNTOWN FOR NEW SHOPPING CENTER HOME

When Richland Park Shopping Center officially opened on Dayton’s north side, M&J Supermarket opened right alongside it—marking a new era in how the community shopped. Relocating from its earlier site at Market and 2nd Avenue, the store introduced expanded space, a modern layout, and increased parking, reflecting the shift toward automobile-centered shopping centers.

The grand opening was a true community event. Local leaders, including the mayor, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and county officials, were present. Miss Dayton, Debbie Vincent, cut the ribbon, while M&J president Charles B. Ragland, Jr. emphasized the store’s role in serving a growing Dayton.

The occasion also highlighted the civic spirit of the time. Ragland presented 50,000 S&H Green Stamps to the Dayton Jaycettes to help fund hearing aids for deaf children, connecting the new business to a meaningful community cause.

Developed by Bill Vaughn, Charles Vaughn Jr., and John Nevins, Richland Park represented a major step forward in local retail.

Over time, M&J became ShopRite, a grocery store that served Dayton families for many years and became a familiar part of everyday life before eventually closing.

Today, the former store building has been converted into indoor climate-controlled storage—far removed from the busy aisles it once held.

The story of M&J and ShopRite reflects the growth and change of Dayton itself, preserved now in the memories of those who shopped there.

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From Coulter to Garrison: The Era of Kyle Greene in Dayton Funeral Service

Posted on February 23, 2026

Kyle Greene (1927–1984) was a prominent mid-twentieth-century funeral director whose career became closely intertwined with the history of funeral service in Dayton and Rhea County, Tennessee.

He came to Rhea County in 1950 and soon purchased the long-established Coulter Funeral Home, originally founded in 1897 by R. J. Coulter, thereby assuming stewardship of one of Dayton’s oldest business institutions.

For many years Greene operated the First Avenue funeral home, at one time in partnership arrangements that led to the firm being known as Coulter-Garrison-Green Funeral Home, reflecting a period of merger and transition within the profession.

Eventually his interest in the business was acquired by Felix Garrison, and the establishment continued as Coulter-Garrison Funeral Home, a name that remains associated with funeral service in the area.

A 1959 yearbook advertisement confirms Greene’s ownership during that era and notes the provision of ambulance service, a common responsibility of funeral homes before the development of modern emergency medical systems.

Beyond his professional life, Greene was deeply involved in civic, religious, and fraternal affairs. He served as a past president of both the Dayton Chamber of Commerce and the Dayton Lions Club, was an active member of First Baptist Church of Dayton, and was affiliated with several Masonic bodies, including Dayton Lodge No. 512 F&AM, the Rhea County Shrine Club, the Alhambra Shrine Temple, and the York Rite.

At the time of his death on August 27, 1984, at his Dayton residence at the age of fifty-seven, he was employed with Vaughn Funeral Home in Spring City, continuing his work in funeral service.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Vaughn Green (1926–1978). He is survived by a daughter, Karen G. Sharpe of Maryville, Tennessee; brothers Oscar Greene of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Joe Green of Knoxville, and Tyler Greene of Washburn, Tennessee; sisters Leona Haynes of Maryville, Hannah Bolden of Thornhill, Tennessee, and Lizzie Dyar of Knoxville; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services were held at Rhea County Memory Gardens, where he and his wife are interred in the Garden of Acacia section, marking the resting place of a man whose professional life and civic leadership left a lasting imprint on the community he served.

Gone in the Midnight Hours: Golden Eagle Market

Posted on February 23, 2026

(Shown in the white fire helmet is the late Chuck Kinney, Rhea County Fire Investigator at the time of the fire. Photo by Dean Wilson)

Every town has places that become part of its identity. In Evensville, Golden Eagle Market was one of those places.

Located along the old Highway 27, it was more than just a country store. For years, it was a popular stopping place both morning and evening for students traveling to and from Rhea County High School. You could count on seeing familiar faces — teenagers grabbing biscuits before class, friends piling in after school for a cold drink, neighbors catching up at the counter. It was woven into the daily rhythm of the community.

It was in July of 2008, one evening around midnight, when a passing motorist noticed flames shooting through the roof at the back of the building. By the time the call went out and firefighters began arriving, the fire had already vented through the roof.

Carl and Doris Harris, who owned the store, had closed around 9 p.m. that Wednesday night. Doris had gone home to Dayton, and Carl stayed behind a little longer before heading out himself. Just a few hours later, everything they had built was engulfed in flames.

Evensville District Fire Chief Dale King was first on the scene. With only a few firefighters initially and the fire already well underway, he made the tough decision to protect the nearby mobile homes before fully attacking the store. As more help arrived — eventually around 30 firefighters — they forced open the locked doors and fought hard to contain what they could.

By morning, Golden Eagle Market was gutted, with only a shell of the building left.

Thankfully, no one was hurt. But the store and everything inside it were considered a total loss. After the fire was out, Carl was allowed to go inside the remains to retrieve cash from a safe — one small piece salvaged from a much bigger loss.

In the days that followed, investigators determined the fire began in the back of the store near the ice machine, likely at ceiling level where several electrical wires came together in a junction box. The official cause was ruled undetermined, and there was no sign of foul play.

The building was insured. But as most of us know, insurance replaces structure — not memories.

Golden Eagle Market wasn’t just somewhere you stopped for milk or a soda. It was a meeting place. A routine. A familiar light on in the evening. Its loss changed the landscape of Evensville in a quiet but lasting way.

Today, the store’s gutted remains still stands a silent reminder along what used to be the old Highway 27. A new four-lane bypass now runs nearby, and the old Hwy 27 only carries a steady flow of local traffic.

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Dayton’s Mark Anton Airport Namesake

Posted on February 16, 2026

(Photo Courtesy Dean Wilson-Anton Family Collection)

from Dedication Day to Today: The Story of Mark Anton Airport

Mark Anton, prominent business executive and industrial advocate, was born December 3, 1893, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Peter Byron Anton and Jennie (Orwell) Porette Anton. He was a grandson of John and Barbara (Hooglestein) Anton, immigrants from Bavaria who came to the United States in 1845 and settled in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. From this heritage of European industry and American enterprise, Anton emerged as a leader in the expanding mid-twentieth-century energy and manufacturing sectors.

Anton became board chairman of the Suburban Propane Gas Company of Whippany, New Jersey, the parent company of Dayton, Tennessee’s Suburban Manufacturing Company. His business interests brought him to Dayton several times each year. During these visits, he developed a strong appreciation for the community and became convinced that improved infrastructure would be essential to its continued growth. Anton believed a municipal airport would serve not only his company’s interests but would also attract additional industry and investment to Rhea County.

After sustained effort by local civic and business leaders, Dayton’s municipal airport was formally dedicated on October 27, 1963. In recognition of Anton’s encouragement and support, the facility was named Mark Anton Airport. At its opening, the airport consisted of a 3,500-foot lighted runway and a single hangar—modest but forward-looking infrastructure for a small Tennessee community.

Though initially adequate for local flight operations, the airport’s broader economic importance soon became evident. In 1968, Bob Norris of Dayton’s Industrial Development Board persuaded state officials touring the region by air with representatives of the La-Z-Boy Company to make an unscheduled stop in Dayton rather than proceeding directly to Athens, Tennessee. The visit proved decisive. Former councilman Jim Cunnyngham later reflected, “Without the airport, Dayton would never have gotten La-Z-Boy to locate here.” The airport thus became a tangible instrument in securing one of the area’s most significant industrial employers.

The airport’s early administration included its first manager, Jim Whitson, followed by Guy Jones, known locally as the “Last Barnstormer,” Kenny Keith, Jerry Teague, Sam Marlow, Shelby Isham, and Walter Squire. After Squire’s death in 1993, the airport access road was named Walter Squire Road in his memory.

Over subsequent decades, Mark Anton Airport underwent steady improvements, including runway extensions, installation of an instrument approach system, and the addition of an Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS). It has served as home to an active flight school and a Civil Air Patrol squadron, continuing its dual role in economic development and community service.

Mark Anton died December 1, 1972, at the age of seventy-eight. He was buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum in East Hanover, Morris County, New Jersey.

Today, Mark Anton Municipal Airport (FAA identifier 2A0) remains an active public general aviation facility owned and operated by the City of Dayton. Located approximately four miles east of downtown, the airport now features a 5,000-foot asphalt runway (03/21) capable of accommodating a broad range of private and corporate aircraft. Modern improvements include runway lighting, GPS instrument approaches, fuel services offering both 100LL aviation gasoline and Jet A fuel, hangar space, tie-down facilities, and pilot amenities. The airport continues to support private aviation, business travel, flight training, emergency services, and community aviation programs.

More than six decades after its dedication, the airport that bears Mark Anton’s name remains a vital component of Dayton’s infrastructure. What began as a forward-looking civic investment in 1963 continues to serve the economic and transportation needs of Rhea County, a lasting testament to Anton’s belief that aviation access would strengthen the region’s industrial future.

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History of the Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce

Posted on January 26, 2026

History of the Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, 1925–2025

While the modern Dayton Tennessee Chamber of Commerce officially recognizes 1954 as its founding year, the idea of a chamber-like organization in Dayton reaches back much further, into the era of the 1925 Scopes “Monkey” Trial, when a civic booster group in Dayton became visible through the publicity surrounding the trial. Contemporary accounts describe George Rappleyea as the leader of the Dayton Chamber of Commerce during that nationally known courtroom event, suggesting that an early promotional body was active at least in the mid-1920s. This earlier Chamber appears not to have been a long-term incorporated institution, but rather a local promoter association working to draw attention and activity to Dayton at a moment when the town suddenly found itself in the international spotlight.

Nearly thirty years after the Scopes Trial, Dayton’s modern Chamber of Commerce took shape when a group of Dayton businessmen organized a new Chamber in 1954. The founders stated that the Chamber existed to promote each other and the town itself, and in keeping with the customs of that time, membership was limited to men and focused primarily on Dayton rather than the entire county. Soon after it was organized, the new Chamber launched one of its first promotional projects, preparing a community booklet describing Dayton for business prospects and visitors. A surviving article from the period notes that the Chamber, identified as “newly formed,” was led by President Wayne French, with Bill Nash serving as Executive Secretary, and with Dr. J. J. Rodgers, the Mayor of Dayton, closely involved in these earliest Chamber efforts. The very existence of a formal booklet project shows that even in the mid-1950s, the Chamber was already thinking of Dayton as a city that should present itself proudly to the outside world.

Throughout the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s the Chamber continued in this role as a cooperative organization of business owners, staying largely focused on supporting the commercial life of the city itself. Over time, the Chamber gradually expanded beyond its original character. Membership eventually opened to both men and women, and the organization widened its embrace of businesses not only inside Dayton but also from outside of Dayton and even outside Rhea County. Although the exact year of this transition is not preserved in online sources, the Chamber itself acknowledges that times have changed since the days when membership was made up exclusively of local businessmen. With economic changes, population growth, and new infrastructure, the Chamber gradually evolved from a small promotional circle into a regional business organization.

The Chamber spent many decades working from a downtown building that would later become the site of the Rhea County Welcome Center. In July 1999 a major relocation took place when the Dayton Chamber of Commerce along with the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council moved out of the old Chamber building so that a new Welcome Center structure could be built on the same location. During construction the Chamber and RETC were temporarily housed inside the Clyde W. Roddy Library, continuing their activities while the new facility was underway. Once completed, the new Welcome Center building served as the modern home of the Chamber and gradually also became home to Main Street Dayton and other civic partners involved in tourism, downtown development, and community programming.

From the early 2000s forward, the Chamber carried its mission into the digital era. Websites, social media, and online business listings transformed how the Chamber could promote local enterprises, replacing the original printed booklets with continuously updated online platforms. A contemporary address, 107 Main Street, Dayton, Tennessee 37321, phone 423-775-0361, identifies the present Chamber office inside the Welcome Center, positioning it at the center of Dayton’s historic downtown business corridor. The Chamber’s modern materials emphasize business networking, tourism support, promotion of local enterprises, public communications, and a message of “Together, Making a Difference,” reflecting its expanded community role.

In recent decades the Chamber also became deeply integrated into community-wide events, most prominently the Tennessee Strawberry Festival, for which sponsorships and official communication pass through the Chamber. In addition, regular drives for food and hygiene items, holiday programs, and small-business support initiatives have become visible parts of the Chamber’s calendar. The Chamber partners frequently with Main Street Dayton, the Rhea Economic and Tourism Council, and heritage groups such as the Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation, helping promote Dayton’s cultural legacy, especially its Scopes Trial history and the growing museum sector surrounding it. As a result, the Chamber has become not only a business facilitator but also a guardian of Dayton’s identity, linking economic promotion with historical awareness and community life.

As Dayton moves through the 2020s the Chamber’s activities continue to expand technologically and geographically. Its online presence, business directories, social networks, and frequent community announcements reach far beyond city limits, bringing outside visitors and attention into Rhea County. Today in 2025, the organization that began as an all-male promotional club in 1954 stands as a far-reaching business and community network whose roots nevertheless stretch back to the national spotlight of 1925 and the Scopes Trial. Over the course of a full century, from the trial’s unexpected publicity to today’s digital world, the Chamber has adapted, reorganized, relocated, and modernized, but has always returned to its central purpose: helping Dayton and its businesses succeed, celebrating local heritage, and together making a difference in the life of the community.

Finally, it is worth offering a heartfelt word of appreciation to the many men and women who have served the Dayton Chamber of Commerce in every capacity over the years, from board members and presidents to volunteers, staff members, committee chairs, and business leaders who devoted their time and energy to advancing Dayton’s future. Their leadership, cooperation, patience, and civic spirit have guided the Chamber through decades of change, expansion, and modernization. Every project, every event, every improvement in the Chamber’s long story reflects not only the vision of the organization, but also the dedication of those individuals who believed in Dayton’s progress and worked together to make it happen.

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Graysville Sanitarium

Posted on January 20, 2026

A Silence on Lone Mountain: Remembering Graysville’s Sanitarium

The Graysville Sanitarium, also known as the Southern Sanitarium, was established in the early twentieth century on the wooded slopes of Lone Mountain overlooking Graysville, Tennessee, as part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s early effort to expand medical missionary work into the American South. The project was closely connected to the nearby Southern Training School, reflecting the denomination’s belief in uniting health care, education, and spiritual life, an approach strongly encouraged by Ellen G. White, who advocated for the establishment of sanitariums in rural, healthful settings. Construction of the Graysville Sanitarium progressed slowly under a strict no-debt policy, with buildings completed only as funds became available, resulting in a large frame structure distinguished by expansive wraparound porches designed for fresh-air therapy and rest, along with treatment rooms equipped with hydropathic facilities, electrotherapy devices, and X-ray equipment considered modern for the era. The institution served both patients and nursing students and, at its height, accommodated several dozen individuals, operating as a regional center for natural treatments, preventive care, and medical training. Despite its promising mission and scenic location, the sanitarium struggled with persistent financial difficulties and limited patronage, appearing in church records through 1914 before closing temporarily in 1915 and being sold in 1916; subsequent attempts by private owners to revive the facility failed, and the property changed hands multiple times before the church permanently disposed of it in 1917. The sanitarium never reopened successfully, and in 1931 the main building was destroyed by fire, leaving no physical trace of the once-prominent structure that had overlooked the town. Though short-lived, the Graysville Sanitarium remains an important and often overlooked chapter in the town’s history and in the broader development of Adventist institutions in the region, a movement that ultimately continued elsewhere with the establishment of Southern Adventist University, while the sanitarium itself faded quietly into memory.

**Dean Wilson author of this site standing on the foundation of the old Sanitarium ruins in Graysville, Tennessee in 2004.**

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Lord Dayton Underware- Robinson Mfg Company

Posted on January 12, 2026

During the middle decades of the twentieth century, Lord Dayton stood as a dependable name in men’s woven underwear, produced by Robinson Manufacturing Company of Dayton, Tennessee. Established in the late 1920s, Robinson Manufacturing became one of the area’s most important textile employers, supplying garments that combined durability, comfort, and practical value for everyday wear.

The Lord Dayton label, first registered in the late 1930s, was used for men’s woven athletic underwear—most notably cotton boxer shorts. These garments were typically made from quality broadcloth and advertised as sanforized, ensuring a consistent fit after washing. At a time when men expected clothing to withstand long workdays and repeated laundering, Lord Dayton shorts were positioned as reliable essentials rather than luxury items.

Advertisements from the 1940s and 1950s emphasized “washfast” fabrics, permanent sizing, and affordability, reflecting Robinson Manufacturing’s focus on mass-market quality. Lord Dayton underwear was sold through department stores and local retailers across the region, making it a familiar brand in households throughout the South and beyond.

Robinson Manufacturing’s Dayton operations played a central role in the town’s industrial growth. The company provided steady employment and helped establish Dayton as a recognized center for garment production. The Lord Dayton name, bearing the town’s identity, reinforced that local pride while appealing to consumers seeking American-made clothing.

Though no longer in active production, Lord Dayton underwear survives today through vintage packaging and unused stock, offering a tangible reminder of mid-century American textile manufacturing. The brand reflects an era when everyday garments were built to last and regional manufacturers like Robinson Manufacturing shaped both local economies and national wardrobes.

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