Meigs County Historical Museum facts for kids

The Meigs County Historical Museum is a special place in Decatur, Tennessee. It's run by the Meigs County Historical Society. This museum opened its doors after a groundbreaking ceremony in July 2002. Inside, you can find many old records from the county court and local families. One cool thing to see is a big painting, called a mural. It shows what Main Street in Decatur looked like in the 1930s. A local artist named Bill McDonald painted this mural. It was made possible with help from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the VEC Customershares program.

Exploring Meigs County History

The Meigs County Historical Museum helps people learn about the past. It keeps important documents and items safe. These items tell the story of the county and its people. The museum is a great spot to discover how life used to be.

A Look at the Past: The Decatur Mural

One of the museum's main attractions is a large mural. This painting shows a busy scene from Main Street in Decatur. It takes you back to the 1930s, showing what the town looked like then. The mural was painted by a local artist, Bill McDonald. It helps visitors imagine life in Meigs County many years ago.

The Meigs County History Quilt

In 1985, a group called the Meigs County Family and Community Education (FCE) Club started a big project. They decided to make a special quilt. This quilt was created to celebrate the early history of Meigs County. It was part of a state project called "Tennessee Homecoming 1986."

What the Quilt Shows

The quilt is like a fabric map of history. It has pictures of fourteen important places. These places show different parts of Meigs County's early days. The main design of the quilt includes a map. This map helps you find where each historical site is located. Flossie Bennett, a long-time leader of the FCE, designed this central part.

Choosing the Historical Sites

A group of people from different areas helped choose the sites. These areas included Ten Mile, Peakland, Concord, Goodfield, and Decatur. They picked places that were important to the county's history.

• The Elisha Sharp House (built around 1825)
• The Stewart House (built in 1830)
• The R.H. Johnson Stable
• The Mount Zion Church and Cemetery (from 1830)
• Zeigler's Mill (from 1850, once called 'Gettys Mill')
• The Washington Ferry (started in 1808)
• The Pisah Church (built in 1818)
• The old gymnasium (around 1822)
• The old Meigs County Courthouse (built in 1904)
• The old Volunteer Electric Cooperative Building (from 1935)
• The Ashley House (built in 1885)
• The Sam Eaves Store (around 1861)

Special Details on the Quilt

Nell Jeannette Fields Worth had a special request for the quilt. She wanted pictures of Hereford cattle included. Meigs County is well-known for its beef cattle. So, you can see these cows throughout the quilt's design.

Quilt Recognition and Display

The Meigs County history quilt won an award. It received "Best Original Design" at a quilt show. This show was held at the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum. The quilt was first shown at the Meigs-Decatur Public Library. Since 2010, it has been proudly displayed at the Meigs County Historical Museum. It's a beautiful way to see the county's past.