JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
After months of preparations and research, South Pittsburg’s long awaited history signs are now on display across the city’s downtown on Cedar Avenue.
Publicly announced on both Facebook and during the town’s March city meeting, six separate history signs are on display across the historic street for all to see when traversing each block within South Pittsburg. Each sign showcases not only historic photos of the city’s most notable landmarks, but also a summarized description of the landmarks, like the Princess Theatre and the Cookmore Hotel. Kellye Hogan, Chairman of the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society (SPHPS), expressed excitement as to the sign’s designation within downtown.
“It’s fantastic seeing the history of our town on these signs,” Hogan said.
The project was first announced during the city’s February 2025 meeting, when Secretary of the SPHPS Carolyn Millhiser requested permission from the town’s governing council to have signs posted across Cedar Avenue on behalf of the local organization. Vice President of the SPHPS Bill Boyd was recently credited as a major supporter and influencer for history signs within South Pittsburg, the very idea originally stemming from Scottsboro, Ala. and its historic downtown.
“It’s also thanks to Bill Boyd who was also instrumental into getting these put together,” Hogan said.
Hogan noted how each sign plays an integral role into helping preserve and showcase South Pittsburg’s history and the role each landmark played into shaping the town’s past. Currently, plans are underway into possibly introducing new signs throughout downtown, further expanding and visually demonstrating a past which has defined the city in its own way within Marion County, so long as the general reception towards the current six signs remain positive.
“We wanted to create six in the very beginning to see how well they would be received,” Hogan said. “And in future years, we would like to have more signs for each of those buildings in downtown. That’s what our ultimate goal is.”
Photos by Kellye Hudson Hogan