Monthly Archives: July 2014

Joseph Everett Stone Tavern, Kingsport TN

Leave a reply

Another divided back card.  These were in common use starting in 1907, and stayed in use long after that.  There is an inscription on the lower front, in an odd, italic type face: “Ruins of Tavern on Old Stage Road, Kingsport, Tenn.”
According to a map of the Boatyard District in “Kingsport Heritage: The Early Years 1700 to 1900” by Muriel Spoden, this was the 1813 Joseph Everett Stone Tavern located on Lot 2, next to the Netherland Inn, where that gas company is now located.
I assume this picture dates from sometime in the 1930s.  The Spoden book indicates that this tavern was derelict in the late ’20s.
The card has a blue cast, which I’ve seen before in later cards.

oldtavern

backoftaverncard

Train Station, Kingsport TN

Leave a reply

Dating this card is difficult.  It’s an early divided back card popular between 1907 and 1915, but the designs varied widely depending upon what company was printing them.  This train station was not completed until 1916 and the title of the card is “C C. & 0 PASSENGER STATION, KINGSPORT, TENN.  Photo by Bachelder’s Studio”.
On the back, as shown, is written “Form Minnie Fletcher Kingsport”, then “Miss Mae Cooper Keokee VA,”  There is some very, very faint writing in the lower left quadrant of the card, but, despite running it through a bunch of filters, I found it to be unreadable.
In 1916, Bachelder’s Studio (actually Bachelder & McLean Studios) was located on the second floor of what is now “Pappy’s” on the corner of Main and Cherokee in downtown Kingsport.
Note that you can see the beginnings of the neighborhood that existed on Cement Hill.
There are also at least two bicycles in the picture and a gang of people standing to the left of the building.  Behind them is one of the two-story homes that ran along the base of Cement Hill.
cc&otrainstation
backoftrainstncard

Three old Kingsport restaurants

Leave a reply

 

 

This is the Far East Restaurant. There’s a vacuum cleaner place there currently.  On the back: “FAR-EAST RESTAURANT, The only smartest Chinese-American Restaurant in the Tri-City area is located at 1120 Bristol Highway in Kingsport, Tennessee. Featuring finest Chinese and American food.  Specializing in Chinese family dinners. Live Maine Lobster.  Choice steaks and Take-Home orders. Catering to parties.  Pub. by Fred W. Stanley, Johnson City, Tenn.” The card was published by Dexter Press, Inc. West Nyack, New York.

fareastforweb

The Martinique Restaurant.  On the back: “THE MARTINIQUE RESTAURANT Located at Junction of U.S. 11W and U.S. 23 Highways at circle, Kingsport, Tenn.  Near Nice Motels. ‘Serving fine food.’ Telephone Circle 5-9612.”
Elvis is said to have eaten here.

martiniqueforweb

And here’s the United Nations Restaurant.  On back: (graphic of various country flags) THE UNITED NATIONS RESTAURANT 209 E. New Street – Telephone 933 KINGSPORT, TENNESSEE”
The card was published by Howard-Duckett Co., Printers Kingsport, Tenn.
This restaurant was not in business by 1959.

unitednationsrestforweb

Nick’s Western Shop

2 Replies

I checked my 1959 Kingsport City Directory and saw that this location, on the corner of East Market and Cherokee Streets (245 East Market Street) , was then W.B. Greene’s Bargain Annex (used furniture). Nick’s Western Shop, which also specialized in square dancing regalia, was owned by Nick Drakos.  I can anecdotally  track the business back to around 1960 or so, but I don’t have a firm opening date.  I think I took this in the mid-90s, when I learned that Nick’s was going out of business.  Corrections and additions appreciated!

nickswestern