Noah, Tennessee facts for kids
Noah is a small place in Coffee County, Tennessee, that isn't officially a town or city. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government. In 1887, people said Noah was about 8.5 miles (13.7 km) north of Manchester, which is the main town (or "county seat") of Coffee County. Back then, only about 50 to 100 people lived there.
Many believe Noah was the very first settlement in Coffee County. It was settled around the year 1800 by three brothers, John, Daniel, and Neely Patton. They chose a spot near a part of the Duck River called Noah Fork.
Early Life and Businesses
Life in Noah long ago involved a lot of farming and small businesses. Between 1830 and 1840, a man named Jonathan Webster built a mill on Noah Fork. This mill was used to grind corn into flour.
Later, in the 1880s, other small businesses opened up. Samuel Brantley had a saw mill, which cut wood, and a grist mill, which also ground grain. The Beckman Brothers had their own mill that made flour and ground other grains.
Post Offices in Noah
Having a post office was very important for communities in the past, as it was how people sent and received letters. Noah had its first post office open on May 2, 1836. However, it closed a few years later on June 26, 1845.
A second post office was opened in Noah on June 23, 1880. This one stayed open for a longer time but eventually closed on May 15, 1905.
Churches and Community Life
Churches have always been a big part of community life in places like Noah. One of the oldest churches there is the Noah’s Fork Baptist Church. It was built between 1830 and 1840. Sadly, the church was destroyed by a fire in 1924, but the community quickly rebuilt it.
During the 1800s, other churches in Noah included Noah Fork Separate Baptist and Noah Methodist Episcopal South. These churches served as important gathering places for the people living in the community.
