“The Manager’s House That Made History: Inside the Defense Mansion of 1925” Originally constructed in 1884 by the Dayton Coal & Iron Company, the large 18-room Victorian mansion perched on a wooded hill in Dayton, Tennessee served as the residence for the company’s British owners and senior managers. Known locally as the manager’s house, it…
Scopes Trial Related
The Aqua Hotel: Dayton’s Forgotten Witness to History
“Where the Heat of the Trial Met the Cool Waters of Hospitality: The Aqua Hotel During the Scopes Trial and Beyond” In the quiet town of Dayton, Tennessee, history often whispers through the bricks and timbers of buildings long gone. One such place, now only a memory, once stood proudly in the heart of town—the…
Scopes Trial Instigator George Rappleyea
George Rappleyea helped to put Dayton on the map In March 1925, the state of Tennessee passed a law forbidding schools “to teach any theory that denies the story of the Devine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” A…
Thomas Jefferson Brewer- Five-Year-Old Scopes Trial Participant
In the summer of 1925, a trial unfolded in Dayton, Tennessee, that would go down in history as the Scopes “Monkey” Trial. This landmark legal battle pitted the teaching of evolution against state laws banning its inclusion in public school curricula. While many are familiar with the trial’s key figures—such as the famous defense attorney…
Jerry R. Tompkins Editor of “D-Days at Dayton”
Jerry Tompkins Editor of “D-Days at Dayton” Video Presentation at the famous Rhea Courthouse where John Thomas Scopes was convicted of violating the Butler Act in July 1925 Each year, on the anniversary of the famous 1925 Scopes trial, the people of Dayton celebrate with the Scopes Festival. One regular attendee of the festival is…
James Presley and John Scopes co-Authored Center of the Storm Memoirs of John T. Scopes
James Presley Video Presentation at the famous Rhea Courthouse where John Thomas Scopes was convicted of violating the Butler Act in July 1925 Each year, on the anniversary of the famous 1925 Scopes trial, the people of Dayton celebrate with the Scopes Festival. One regular attendee of the festival is Randy Moore, Professor of Biology…
History of Walter White-Rhea County Tennessee
This is a video presentation by Jacob Smith to the Rhea County Historical Society on the life of Walter White of Rhea County Tennessee. Walter White, Rhea County Superintendent of Schools during the Scopes Trial. This presentation highlighted his work in Rhea County schools, the state house and senate, and the founding of Bryan College.…
Walter White of Rhea County Dies
Professor Walter White long time public servant dies February 15, 1951 Well known Educator and Legislator – Walter White for many years was a powerful figure in the Republican party councils of Tennessee. White served numerous terms in the Tennessee General Assembly. He was also the Republican nominee for Governor of Tennessee in 1922, being…
F.E. Robinson’s “Why Dayton of All Places” Booklet
F.E. Robinson Published A Booklet Promoting Dayton Tennessee Dayton’s citizens viewed the Scopes trial as an opportunity to put their town on the map. In preparation for the trial and the arriving hordes of people, Dayton businessmen F.E. Robinson printed a booklet “Why Dayton – Of All Places?,” illustrated with pictures of the town’s places…
John Washington Butler 1875-1952
Evolution Bill Author, Died in 1952 At The Age of 76 John Washington Butler was an American farmer and a Tennessee State Legislator from 1923-1927 . He was the author of Tennessee’s “Anti-Evolution Bill” in 1925. During the 1925 session of the State House of Representatives, while representing three counties northeast of Nashville, Tennessee along…