Walk in downtown Clinton; discover its history
Officials with Historic Downtown Clinton announced this week the completion of their newly devised historical walking tour. This walking tour includes historical information about 11 public sites in Clinton including: Academy Hill, city of Clinton Field, Town Springs, Anderson County Courthouse, Clinton City Hall, Clinton Middle School, Train Depot, Green McAdoo School, Terrapin Hill, Eagle Bend, and Market Street.
Among those 11 public sites are Terrapin Hill. Walkers will see the sign that reads: "The area that is now South Main Street was home to several significant buildings in the early 1800s including the Cullom House, Union Academy, Clinton Grove Academy, and Clinton Seminary. Main Street stopped at Three Point — the Broad Street intersection — and that area was much lower than it is today. At the foot of this hill, the Town Springs Branch flows towards the Clinch River. When the backwaters would flood, it stranded terrapins, leaving them high and dry, giving this hill its name: Terrapin Hill. Clinton Memorial Park now connects South Main Street to the Library/Community Center area near Town Springs." The date on the sign is 1820.
This is Phase 1 of the walking tour, according to information from Katherine Birkbeck, executive director of Historic Downtown Clinton. Funds for this project were provided by the Hollingsworth Foundation.
"We hope to raise funds to continue the next phase of public sites and we will also be asking private building owners and residents of historic properties to join our tour as well," Birkbeck stated in the news release. "We are also in the process of developing maps for this tour to hand out to any visitors who would like to learn about Clinton’s vast and unique history.
"Many thanks to our vice chair and board member Joey Smith who researched and wrote all the information for these plaques. This was a project he really wanted to make happen for Clinton and one he saw through from beginning to end.
"We hope this new addition is one all Clinton residents are proud of and something each one will take the opportunity to enjoy," the release concluded.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Walk in downtown Clinton; discover its history
