South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society, Inc.
Preservation through Determination - Insuring a Place in the Future for Our Heritage!
Kimball, Tennessee
Neighbors
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Founded 1890 & Incorporated November 5, 1962
Kimball, Tennessee
By Dennis Lambert
June 4, 2008
Continued from page 1:
It is not known how far the business of building the town of Kimball progressed following the ground breaking. Records have not been found to prove the enterprise a success and little or no evidence of the plans beginning to take shape has been found.
It is possible that the same economic panic of 1893 that gripped the nation and killed the Bridgeport, Alabama boom during the same period may have ended the Kimball dream as well. It is known that Mr. Kimball died in 1895 at his brother’s home in Massachusetts, which may also have affected the enterprise. It is thought that the company filed bankruptcy.
The Kimball railroad depot continued operations until around 1913 when the railroad closed the station, which stood empty for many years after. The post office at Kimball was closed in 1918 after which time the community continues to receive its mail through the post offices at Jasper and South Pittsburg.
The community today still holds onto the Kimball name with pride. Though overshadowed in growth and expansion by its neighbors, South Pittsburg and Jasper, for many years, Kimball was incorporated on November 5, 1962.
For several years Kimball was known as the “Dixie-Lee Junction” since it was here that U.S. Highway 72 (Lee Highway) and U.S. Highway 41 (Dixie Highway) intersected. Though the Dixie Highway has since been rerouted at Monteagle through Tracy City and down to Jasper, Interstate 24, running from Chattanooga through Nashville to Paducah, Kentucky, was constructed in the 1960’s and runs through Kimball.
The interstate’s interchange #152 at Kimball onto U.S. Highway 72 has resulted in a new boom to Kimball. Over the last few decades a large shopping center with numerous retail outlets has been built along with gas stations, fast food restaurants and a motel and hotels that cater not only to those traversing the interstate and highway, but residents of the surrounding area including residents in Alabama and Georgia.
Kimball’s new success has made it a shinning star among Marion County communities. The city has since expanded its corporate boundaries with its eye towards the future. A new community park in the throes of construction near where Mr. H. I. Kimball and others broke ground for the town 118 years ago and other plans in the works will keep it shinning brightly for years to come.
Stuckey's was located in Kimball at the "Dixie-Lee Junction" where U.S. Highway 72 and U.S. Highway 41 intersected. This building was located near the present day Kystal restaurant. The building was said to have been lost during tornadic winds in the 1960's.
Courtesy, Dennis Lambert
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The Ka-Mar Restaurant & Motel at Kimball also served travelers along U.S. Highway 41 and U.S. Highway 72 for many years. The motel was razed in the late 1970's during development and sat near where Wendy's fast-food restaurant now stands.
Courtesy, Dennis Lambert
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The Pine Crest Motel at Kimball served travelers along U.S. Highway 41 and U.S. Highway 72 for many years. The building is used for another type business today.
Courtesy, Dennis Lambert
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Ariel view Kimball, Tennessee made in the 1970's. The old Ka-Mar motel and restaurant is right center of photo and the Scottish Inn motel to the left of it. The Tennessee-Alabama Restaurant upper center. The junction of U.S. Highway 72 (Lee Highway) and U.S. Highway 41 (Dixie Highway) is center. This is why Kimball was known for years as the Dixie-Lee Junction. The old Stuckey's sat inside the "Y" of the junction.
Courtesy, City of Kimball
Page built June 4, 2008
This page was last updated: July 9, 2008
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Pictured above are four scenes of the Kimball public school, students and faculty captured from the November 1941 "South Pittsburg, Tennessee - Our Town on Parade" film. The film and one from 1954 has been transferred to DVD and offered by the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society as a fund raiser. Click film name to learn how to acquire your own copy of this and the 1954 film.
Courtesy, South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society
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SPHPS
The above two scenes of the Kimball public school students and faculty were captured from the February 1954 "South Pittsburg, Tennessee - Our Town on Parade" film. The film and one from 1941 has been transferred to DVD and offered by the South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society as a fund raiser. Click film name to learn how to acquire your own copy of this and the 1941 film.
Courtesy, South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society
