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Article published Jul 24, 2008 Scraps of time: Greenback residents document community's past
By Melanie Tucker of The Daily Times Staff
The city of Greenback measures a mere 7.2 square miles in Loudon County, but the admiration for this community and its historical significance have earned large status among its residents.
Residents like Betty Carroll, Bobby Anderson, Labe Coada, Shirley Hall, Barbara Davis, Colleen Ragain, Paul Bailey, Sandra Tipton and Roy Goddard can recite the many facets of Greenback's history, from its habitation by Native Americans thousands of years ago, to its growth during the railroad days of the late 1800s and beyond. The town was officially incorporated in 1957, and its first mayor was Glenn McTeer. The community center that stands today was built in 1978, constructed by the people of Greenback with no outside help or funding.
A few years ago, many of these families with deep roots in the community decided on a project that would not only provide them with a unique way to document the past but also one that might just spark more people to search their own roots. A Scrapbook committee of the Greenback Community Club was formed to gather and present its findings. They met on a regular basis and held special potluck meetings where the population was invited to bring in old photos and other documents to be scanned. Many of these newspaper articles, family photos, stories and documents are now part of the Greenback scrapbooks. The first scrapbook gives a look back at the 1800s in Greenback. A second book focuses on the period from 1900 to 1930.
Last week, upon completion of the two projects, members of the Scrapbook Committee presented them to the Greenback Library and Greenback Museum. Both will be displayed for public enjoyment. Other volumes are currently in the works.
Time marches on
The books, said Betty Carroll, stretch the boundaries and give details about the goings-on in surrounding communities, not just Greenback proper. She said the committee began working on them in 2004.
"This is a continuing project," Bailey explained. "The next one will include 1930 to 1960. After that there will be one that goes from 1960 to the present."
All of the items residents bring in are scanned and stored in the computer. Bailey said right now the committee has about 1,400 items for the next scrapbook volume. With continuing contributions, there will be 800 to 900 scrapbook pages complete, he said.
Ragain moved to Greenback from Colorado in 2004, but her father was raised here. She still runs into people who knew him or attended church with her grandmother.
"I have always had an interest in history," she said. "It's just been a lot of fun getting to work on this project and learn more and more about my community."
Scanning through the scrapbooks, you will find photos and information about early families, churches and their activities, school days, births and deaths, the old train depot, fires, Greenback businesses, the Depression era and other topics of interest.
"Most of us have lived through most of it," Anderson joked.
There are those involved in this project who grew up in Greenback, moved away and are now back, people like Carolyn Peck. She is looking forward to the upcoming scrapbook volumes.
"I told the rest of them they don't get to me until volume 3," she explained.
Greenback librarian Sue Hammontree was present last week when the scrapbooks were presented and wasted no time delving in. She, like many of the others, has a strong connection to Greenback and its people.
Bailey, who volunteers at the library and served as editor for the scrapbooks, said all are anxious to get the next volume started. There's a lot of history for such a small town.