Could Downtown Clarksville's rich past be forgotten? Historians have a preservation plan.

Clarksville's historic downtown offers a resurgent collection of trendy shops and restaurants, but the structures those businesses are housed in also have a rich past that, many say, should be well-documented and remembered.

That's the goal of a new project local preservationists are calling, "Clarksville Then and Now."

As part of the effort, they are collecting old photographs of the downtown structures as they once appeared with their earlier, or original occupants.

Those pictures are to be displayed on plaques that will be permanently affixed to their corresponding buildings as a way of remembering the past, while also celebrating the present and future.

Ellen Kanervo, executive director, Clarksville Arts & Heritage Development Council, said it's a project led by AHDC board member and local photographer David Smith, that will be a perfect marriage of history and modern revitalization culture.

"In the hundred-plus years these brick buildings have lined Clarksville’s downtown, they have housed dozens of businesses, selling everything from groceries to furniture, to clothing to drugs, and fountain drinks," Kanervo said.

"'Clarksville Then and Now' will offer visitors views of what downtown looked like fifty to one hundred years ago, and will tell some of the stories of the businesses that have occupied these buildings over the years," she said.

Kanervo said that, when Smith brought the idea of presenting scenes from Clarksville’s past to the AHDC, other AHDC board members were enthusiastic in their support of the project.

"David has spearheaded the development of 'Clarksville Then and Now', securing sponsors, photographs, and owner permissions," she said.

Montgomery County Archives then came in as a project partner, and county archivist Jill Hastings-Johnson, along with AHDC board members Brenda Harper and Carolyn Ferrell, have been researching building histories to give downtown visitors more information.

Kanervo said AHDC board member Jordan Burns is designing the "Clarksville Then and Now" webpage and brochure for the project, and Len Stolz has added information on current building owners.

Smith said he got the idea for "Clarksville Then and Now" when visiting downtown Silva, N.C., once. Over time, he discovered that other communities are also doing similar projects.

"I came back to Clarksville and talked with Ellen Kanervo, Mayor (Joe) Pitts and Mark Holleman about it, and they all thought it was a good idea," Smith said.

"Through this project, there will be a plaque on every building on Franklin Street, initially, with a vinyl picture of the building from its earlier heyday on the front of the plaque, the project logos and a QR code to look up the building history electronically.

"We set out to do around 20 to 25 plaques at first. Downtown is changing so much and there are many exciting things happening to include F&M Bank Arena that's being built, and the new stores and restaurants that are here or on the way," Smith said.

"But as all of that happens, I just felt that we can't lose sight of what was once here. This will hopefully be a nice project, and the plaques will be in place probably by the end of this summer. We hope it will add even more interest and historical context to downtown," he said.

After the initial wave of plaques on Franklin Street, Kanervo said AHDC hopes to expand the project to other downtown streets "as we discover more building images and stories.

"If anyone has information or photographs to add to the project, we would be pleased to have the help," she said.

Harper encouraged broader community involvement. "Jill Hastings-Johnson, Len Stolz, Jordan Burns and I are assisting in the project along with contributions from many others. We continue to seek photographs of downtown buildings during earlier times," she said.

Some of the initial key sponsors for the Clarksville Then and Now project are Clarksville.com Realty; Clarksville Foundry; Coldwell Banker Conroy, Marable & Holleman Real Estate; Byers & Harvey Real Estate; and F&M Bank.

For more information, email contacts include Kanervo at kanervoe@apsu.edu and Harper at brharper931@gmailcom.

Reach Jimmy Settle at jimmysettle@theleafchronicle.com or 931-245-0247. To support his work, sign up for a digital subscription to TheLeafChronicle.com.

This article originally appeared on Clarksville Leaf-Chronicle: Downtown Clarksville past preserved by then, now plan, building photos