Eurekaton, Tennessee facts for kids
Eurekaton, Tennessee is a small but historically important small town located in Haywood County. It sits about halfway between the big cities of Memphis and Jackson. Famous writers like Vladimir Nabokov and William Faulkner even mentioned Eurekaton in their letters! Nabokov and his wife stayed there in the early 1950s while looking for butterflies.
Contents
Welcome to Eurekaton, Tennessee!
How Eurekaton Got Its Name
The community was first called Eureka. But there was already another town in Tennessee with that name. So, people added "-ton" to the end, just to make it different. That's how Eureka became Eurekaton!
Early Settlers and Growth
The first people settled in Eurekaton in the 1820s. The town grew a lot in the 1830s and 1840s. Many families moved there from places like Virginia, North Carolina, and Alabama.
Important Buildings and Community Life
Stores and Post Office
The very first store in the area was built by Dr. Fletcher T. Seymour. This building also had the community's post office inside. It is still standing today, but it's not used as a store anymore.
Later, in 1916, another general store opened. Bob Moore helped build this store. It has been open on and off ever since.
Schools and Churches
The first school in Eurekaton was right next to Dr. Seymour's store. This school building used to be a church. It was moved from a nearby town called Dancyville.
The main church in the community is Harmony Baptist Church. It started in October 1837. Many of the town's first important residents are buried in its cemetery.
People who were enslaved in the area were allowed to attend Harmony Baptist Church. However, they later decided to form their own church. This new church was called Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church. Both Harmony Baptist Church and Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church are still active today.
