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1898: A crew of surveyors began the work of laying out the town of Middlesborough. The first stake was driven at what was to become 30th and Cumberland Avenue. 1891: Hysteria swept Middlesborough as rumor claims that the police force was lured outside the city limits and... Read More

July 8 – 14 1890: Sanitation officers were serving notices on businesses and residents to clean up their premises. Heavy fines were threatened if they did not comply. 1894: Under the headline “A Public Outrage,” the newspaper reported that a member of the police force assaulted... Read More

1871: Yellow Creek became a post office with John C. Colson, Jr. as the first postmaster. 1890: Two hundred Italians who would be employed in constructing the Middlesboro canal and sewer system arrived in town. 1911: The 4th of July celebration attracted 5000 people. The parade... Read More

1906: Ground broken for a new $30,000 school building across from City Hall. It was a three story brick structure. 1911: An ad offering Greasy Valley 100 proof corn whiskey for $2.00 a gallon boosts, “We have made whiskey for years and know what it takes to please the people of... Read More

1890: Middlesboro reported a population of 6000. It had seven churches, three banks, a steam laundry, three b rick yards, a foundry and machine shop, the largest tannery in the world, electric lights, 15 miles of railroad around the city and 5 miles of a line up Cumberland Ave.... Read More

1891: First water was pumped from Fern Lake to the city of Middlesborough. The dam was the first masonry core dam to be built in the U.S. It cost $185,000 (equal to approximately $3,700,000 today). 1893: The first batch of beer made at new brewery. Production started at 150... Read More

1890: The City Council voted to purchase a cart and mule and hire a man by the month to remove garbage. Editorial comment in the newspaper: “…the removal of garbage from the streets and compelling citizens to keep their premises clean…is a subject of vital importance to our city... Read More

1890: Middlesborough broke the record for southern land sales with a total of $350,164 (approximately equal to $6,700,000 today) sold in just 3 ½ hours. There were 1500 to 2000 people in town for the land sales. 1910: Haley’s comet was visible to Middleboro viewers for the first... Read More

1889: First printing of “The Cumberland Gap,” a newspaper edited and published by E. C. Colgan. (The Bell County Museum has copies of this newspaper in our archives.) 1891: An electric car line was being laid down 19th Street. This will be the first electric streetcar west of... Read More

1890: New city of Middlesborough held its first elections. There were two tickets, one sponsored by the American Association and headed by John Brooks, and the other led by local resident David Colson, who was said to be the largest landholder in the Yellow Creek Valley. 1898:... Read More