Jackson Madison County Bicentennial

Bicentennial Story Time at Casey Jones
2022-04-27 10:30, 2022-04-20 10:30, 2022-04-13 10:30, 2022-04-06 10:30, 2022-03-30 10:30, 2022-03-23 10:30, 2022-03-16 10:30, 2022-03-09 10:30 UTC and 5 more dates | Casey Jones Museum, 30 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
Ms. Jennifer Kilburn will have a preschool story time on a bicentennial topic each Wednesday. Sponsored by Jackson Madison-Co. Library & Old Country Store.

Oakfield Heritage Day
2022-04-24 13:00 - 16:00 | Pugh Bourne Park, 343 Oakfield Rd, Oakfield, TN, 38362, United States
Hear – The Master’s Call Quartet from Oakfield Baptist Church
Share – your old stories about Oakfield and hear everyone else’s
Meet – your classmates from Oakfield, East and Nova Schools
Bring – a card table and display your Oakfield pictures and other items for everyone to see and enjoy
Enjoy – hot dogs/hamburgers, desserts, and the playground and open spaces of our community park.

Historic Structures Tours at Casey Jones Village
2022-04-23 10:00 | Casey Jones Village, Casey Jones Ln, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
The Old Country Store invites you to tour it’s Historic Structures in celebration of the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial theme for April—Architecture and Open Houses!

Tickets are $12 per person and include a guided tour of the Casey Jones Home, the Village Chapel, the Providence House, and a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream in Miss Anne’s Ice Cream Shoppe!

Tickets are available for every Saturday in April and start every hour on the hour, with the first tour starting at 10am and the last tour starting at 2pm.

You must have a reservation and show your printed ticket or email receipt when you check in at the Casey Jones Museum at the start of your tour. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your reserved tour time, so that your group can start promptly touring these amazing historic structures. Thank you!

Link to Purchase Tickets:
April 23rd: https://www.caseyjones.com/store/event/historic-structures-tours-3/

Earth Day Festival
2022-04-23 | Jackson Fairgrounds Park, 800 S Highland Ave, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
Earth Day 2022 by Keep Jackson Beautiful and City of Jackson. Come out and join in the day’s activities: Earth Day 5K, Scavenger Hunt, Free Tree Giveaway, Food Trucks, Face Painting, Obstacle Course, JFD Gaming Truck, Balloon Animals and more.

Davy Crockett - His Time in Jackson
2022-04-16 12:00, 2022-03-12 12:00 | Jackson Madison County Library, 433 E Lafayette St, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
In “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett,” Scott Williams uncovers what propelled Crockett’s fascinating journey to international fame, while also examining the birth of Tennessee during one of the most fascinating periods in American history.

Williams is the president and CEO of Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tenn. He earned his degree in journalism from the University of Memphis, then held positions at advertising agencies and other Memphis organizations including Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Before returning home to West Tennessee, he served as president and COO of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. His wife, Michelle, is a portrait artist and an art history instructor at the University of Tennessee at Martin, and they have two daughters, Alexandra and Olivia.

Scott is also the author of An Odd Book, How the First Modern Pop Culture Reporter Conquered New York and The Forgotten Adventures of Richard Halliburton: A High-Flying Life from Tennessee to Timbuktu.

Historic Structures Tours at Casey Jones Village
2022-04-16 10:00 | Casey Jones Village, Casey Jones Ln, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
The Old Country Store invites you to tour it’s Historic Structures in celebration of the Jackson Madison County Bicentennial theme for April—Architecture and Open Houses! Tickets are $12 per person and include a guided tour of the Casey Jones Home, the Village Chapel, the Providence House, and a scoop of Blue Bell ice cream in Miss Anne’s Ice Cream Shoppe! Tickets are available for every Saturday in April and start every hour on the hour, with the first tour starting at 10am and the last tour starting at 2pm. You must have a reservation and show your printed ticket or email receipt when you check in at the Casey Jones Museum at the start of your tour. Please arrive 5-10 minutes before your reserved tour time, so that your group can start promptly touring these amazing historic structures. Thank you!
Link to Purchase Tickets: April 16th: https://www.caseyjones.com/store/event/historic-structures-tours-2/

"Bicentennial 200 Tree Planting" during National Arbor Month
2022-04-08 15:00 | Middle Fork Bottoms Recreational Area, 111 Sanders Bluff Road, Three-Way, TN, 38343, United States
The Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial Commission is partnering with the Tennessee Forestry Department and the West Tn River Basin Authority to have the “Bicentennial 200 Tree Plantng” in the new Middlefork Bottoms Park in Madison County. The 200 trees will be Ball Cypress trees that are a natural choice for the wet regions of the park.

Where It All Began - A Look Back at the Early History of Jackson
2022-04-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Downtown Jackson, 400 South Highland Avenue, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Downtown History Scavenger Hunt hosted by the Jackson Madison County Library. Pick up a map at the downtown library front desk. The scavenger hunt includes 12 locations and anyone who completes the hunt will receive a free bicentennial t-shirt.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Carnegie Legends exhibit will be free to the public. The Carnegie originally opened in 1903 as the first public library. Now, the building is devoted to telling stories in a different way. On the lower floor, a 70 seat theater is the perfect, intimate venue for songwriter nights, and the first floor is devoted to the Legends Museum.

10 a.m to 10:45 a.m.
Walking Tour of downtown by historian Robert Briley that will start and end at the Courthouse.

Historic buildings open downtown including:

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LD2 Market Shoppes at 215 N. Church, formerly the Delaney’s building

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Ned at 314 E Main St, formerly City Hall. In addition to guided tours, the Ned is hosting two art exhibits. Josie Goulding will have an exhibit in our upstairs gallery and the West Tennessee Artisan Trail will have an exhibit in the main gallery, downstairs.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Listen to actors portraying some of our city’s most influential businessmen and politicians from 1847-1940, and see the varying architecture of the homes (all on the Historic Register) as you walk through the neighborhood of East Main Street in Jackson. Tours consisting of small groups will leave from the East Main Street Park, near the railroad tracks, every 15-30 minutes beginning at 11 am. Presented by the POEMS Historic Preservation Committee.

2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Madison County has been home to many talented Black musicians. Come and hear the fascinating stories and view a mini-series by Mr. Howard Rambsy of all these notable musicians with connections to Jackson with national fame at the Carnegie 305 E College St.

All events are free and open to the public.

Andrew Jackson Marathon, 50th Anniversary
2022-04-02 07:00 - 13:30 | West Tennessee Farmers Market, 91 New Market St, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
The Marathon began in 1972 as a celebration of the city’s sesquicentennial anniversary and has been an annual event ever since. This year, we not only celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Andrew Jackson Marathon but also the 200th birthday of Jackson and Madison County! History will be made on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at 7am!
The race offers two distances, marathon (26.2 miles) – which is a Boston Marathon Qualifier, and half marathon (13.1 miles). The course starts downtown at the Farmer’s Market and takes runners through downtown, midtown beside the University of Memphis Lambuth campus arboretum, around the medical center to north Jackson and back downtown to the Farmer’s Market. Participants include runners from not only our area and Tennessee, but from across the United States as well as other countries.
Success of this event is reliant on community support as well as volunteer support – schools, universities, businesses, churches, social groups and more. Over 150 volunteers are needed to help on race day, Saturday, April 2, 2022. Volunteer information can be found at www.runajm.com. Spectators are welcome to set up along the course to cheer on the hundreds of runners that pass through our city.
The race takes place Saturday, April 2, 2022, 7am – 1:30pm from West Tennessee Farmer’s Market downtown Jackson. Registration closes at 11:59pm on March 29, 2022. There will be no race day registration.
All proceeds from the race benefit the Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

Race details and registration can be found at: https://www.runajm.com
For more information: Danny Crossett, RunAJM Jackson Andrew Jackson Marathon Race Director, danny@crossett.com
The Exchange Club Carl Perkins Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, www.carlperkinscenter.org

First Friday Bicentennial Edition
2022-04-01 11:30 - 13:00 | First United Methodist Church, 200 S Church St, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Bicentennial Edition of First Friday Forum will continue downtown at First Methodist Church on Friday, April 1.
The bicentennial programming and event theme for April is architecture. Former Dean of Arts and Communications at Lambuth University, Dr. Larry Ray will speak on the architecture of buildings in Jackson and Madison County.
First Friday will be held at First Methodist Church located at 200 South Church Street in downtown Jackson on Friday, February 4. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m., and programming will start at approximately 12:15 p.m.
As this is a catered event, advance tickets are required for attendance. The cut-off for purchase is 6 p.m. the Tuesday prior to the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased using a debit or credit card at https://fffapr2022.pushpayevents.com/
Tickets can also be purchased by cash or check at the First Methodist business office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays).
First Friday is sponsored by TLM Associates, Inc.
The Bicentennial edition of First Friday is held on the first Friday of every month through August 2022. Sharon Younger of Younger Associates will be speaking about small business on May 6. A reservation link will be released on jacksonmadison200.com soon.

About Dr. Larry Ray
Dr. Larry Ray is a Memphis, Tennessee native. He graduated with his Bachelor of Arts (Art/English) teacher certification from Lambuth University in 1964. He then continued his education at the University of Mississippi by receiving his master’s degree of Arts (art history/studio/art education) in 1966. He received his Ph.D. at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville (interdisciplinary degree: history of Interior design, decorative arts, and textiles) in 1988.
After graduating with his master’s degree, Dr. Ray began to work at Lambuth University as a Professor of Art and Interior Design. During his career at Lambuth University, he was the chairman of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and Visual Art, 1984- 2010. He later became the Dean of the School of Arts and communication, 1993- 2010.
He has also received many special honors for his work and dedication. In the fall of 2007, the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation honored Dr. Ray with the establishment of the Dr. Lawrence Allen Ray Endowment for the Arts. In July of 2008, Dr. Ray was named a Lifetime Member of the Board of the Jackson Arts Council. In 2008, he was named curator of the Three States of Tennessee Exhibit and author of the Exhibition Catalog. In 2017, he received the National DAR Community Service Award. In 2018, he received the Kakky Tanner Award from the Jackson Arts Council for leadership and service to the arts.
On April 17, 2010, the combined mayors of Madison County and the City of Jackson issued a proclamation that April 17, 2010, will be Dr. Lawrence Allen Ray Day in Madison County and the city of Jackson.

Breakfast with the Mayor: Kids Q&A
2022-03-26 09:00 - 10:30 | Delta Room, 58 Casey Jones Lane, Jackson, TN, 38305, United States
The Old Country Store invites you to Breakfast with the Mayor: Kids Q&A. On Saturday, March 26th from 9-10:30am, Mayor Scott Conger will give a brief explanation of our local government in the Delta Room and then open the floor for Guests to ask questions. The breakfast will be $5 per person and includes a special breakfast buffet and drink.

Heritage Day for Three Way Community
2022-03-26 | Three Way City Hall, 190 Three Way Lane, Three Way, TN, 38343, United States
In addition to celebrating the 200th birthdays of the City of Jackson and Madison County, organizers in individual communities are planning “Heritage Days” to commemorate their history.
The first Heritage Days were held in the fall and the third Heritage Day will take place in Three Way on Saturday, March 26 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Pine Hill Park, Three Way City Hall and Madison County Fire Station No. 6.
Opening Ceremony will be at 12:15 p.m. at Pine Hill Park. Music will be played from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at City Hall and the park. Historian Robert Briley will make a presentation on the history of Jackson, Madison County and Three Way at City Hall at 1:30 p.m. This is a free event and food will be served starting at 12 p.m. for as long as supplies last. Organizers will serve hot dogs, chips, drinks, cookies and ice cream. Children will also enjoy activities on the playground.
This is a family friendly event to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Jackson and Madison County. Attendees are encouraged to bring a lawn chair to the festivities.
Pine Hill Park and Three Way City Hall are located at 190 Three Way Lane, Three Way, TN 38343. Madison Co. Fire Station No. 6 is located adjacent to the park and city hall.

First Friday Bicentennial Edition
2022-03-04 | First United Methodist Church, 200 S Church St, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Bicentennial Edition of First Friday Forum will continue downtown at First Methodist Church on Friday, March 4.
The bicentennial programming and event theme for March is government and politics. Jimmy Harris, the Mayor of Madison County, and Scott Conger, the Mayor of Jackson, will speak on the past, present, and future of Politics and Government History in Jackson and Madison County.
First Friday will be held at First Methodist Church located at 200 South Church Street in downtown Jackson on Friday, March 4. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m., and programming will start at approximately 12:30 p.m.
As this is a catered event, advance tickets are required for attendance. The cut-off for purchase is 6 p.m. the Tuesday prior to the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased using a debit or credit card at https://fffmar2022.pushpayevents.com/
Tickets can also be purchased by cash or check at the First Methodist business office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays).
First Friday is sponsored by Simmons Bank
The Bicentennial edition of First Friday is held on the first Friday of every month through August 2022. Dr. Larry Ray, former Dean of Arts and Communications at Lambuth University, will be speaking about open houses and architecture on April 1. A reservation link will be released on jacksonmadison200.com soon.

About Mayor Jimmy Harris
Jimmy Harris grew up on a farm in Henderson County. He graduated from Lexington High School and the University of Memphis with a degree in Engineering Technology.
Jimmy’s business career began in 1973. He has owned and operated various businesses throughout his career including an ice cream shop, funeral home, cemetery, men’s retail clothing, trailer manufacturing company, drive thru hamburger restaurants and outdoor advertising. He has been in the real estate development and management business in Jackson, Tennessee since 1987.
Jimmy is a member of the Jackson Rotary Club, a Board member of Arise2Read and Salvation Army and attends St. Luke’s Episcopal Church.
He is married, has three children and three grandchildren.
He was appointed as Madison County Mayor by the Madison County Commission and sworn in on July 1, 2007 and was officially elected Madison County Mayor on August 7, 2008. He was recently re-elected to another four-year term on August 2, 2018.

About Mayor Scott Conger
Scott Conger was elected Mayor of Jackson on June 18, 2019 with 63.2 percent of the vote in a runoff election. His four-year term began on July 1. Conger is the third member of his family to serve as Mayor of Jackson. First serving as a city councilman in 2011, Conger represented District 5 of Midtown Jackson. He served on the Expenditure Committee, Budget Review Committee, Municipal Solid Waste Regional Planning Board, and was chair of the Taxi Board.

Along with his political responsibilities, Conger served as the President and CEO of United Way of West Tennessee from 2015-2019, an organization that brings people and resources together to help meet the needs in the area. Before United Way, his career began in higher education working as an admissions counselor for Lane College, later transitioning to the director of the loan management program. He went on to serve as the Donor Management Director of the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation.

From 2010 to 2011, he led the Lambuth Area Neighborhood Association as president. He served on the boards for Jackson Downtown Development Corporation, the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce, Area Relief Ministries, The Salvation Army, and WLJT-DTV Public Television for West Tennessee. Conger is a Rotarian and Eagle Scout, having served as Assistant District Governor, Past-President and affiliate of the Membership Committee and Strategic Planning Committee for the Jackson Rotary Club. He is also a member of St. John’s Masonic Lodge and the Jackson Scottish Rite of Jackson, where he served as Past-President and is a York Rite Mason.

An alumnus of Lane College, Conger was rewarded with the Tradition Award and Outstanding Young Alumni from the National Alumni Council of the UNCF. He went on to earn his Master’s in Business Administration from Bethel University, where he served as an Alumni Ambassador for the program and is now a member of the board of trustees. An alumnus of Leadership Jackson and WestStar, Conger is committed to providing an educated workforce throughout West Tennessee. He was named one of Jackson’s Finest Young Professionals in 2012 and one of The Jackson Sun’s Forty Under 40 for 2014. He has also been recognized for his community service by New Life Christian Ministries and is a recipient of the William H. Graves Sr. Humanitarian Award. He was voted Best Local Public Servant in The Jackson Sun’s 2014 Reader’s Choice Awards. A member of the Lambuth Memorial United Methodist Church, Conger serves as District Lay Leader, and is involved with the Leadership Team, Staff/Parish Relations Committee and Evangelism Committee.

Conger enjoys life in Jackson with his wife, Nikki, daughter, Madelynn, and son, Charlie.

Boys & Girls Club of Jackson - Black History Art Contest
2022-02-25 16:30 | Boys and Girls Club, 832 Lexington Avenue, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
The Boys & Girls Club of Jackson is celebrating the Bicentennial during Black History Month by inviting their students to participate in an art contest to share their reflections about Black History. The winners will be announced on Friday, February 25th, 4:30 p.m. at the Boys & Girls Club. The 1st and 2nd place winners in four age categories will be on display at City Hall from February 28th through March 4th. We invite the public to stop by City Hall and view the exhibit.

Black History - Lunch & Learn
2022-02-11 12:00 - 14:00 | Brooks Shaw’s Old Country Store, 56 Casey Jones Ln, Jackson, TN, 38305, United States
The Old Country Store invites you to a Black History Lunch & Learn on February 11th from 12-2pm to celebrate the Jackson-Madison County Bicentennial theme of Black History. Our Guest Speaker Dr. Logan Hampton from Lane College will be speaking on the “Freshmen Four” and Woolworth sit-ins and how they effected the Jackson community during the Civil Rights Movement.

Guests will receive a “shoebox lunch” with chicken, mac and cheese, green beans, cracklin’ cornbread, and a drink for $8. These specialty lunch boxes are decorated with black history facts and serve for a great learning opportunity about the oppression black people felt during the Jim Crow era when many black people were refused dine-in service at restaurants and ate their lunches from shoeboxes.

We hope that you will join us to learn more!

Creative Expressions Contest Awards Ceremony
2022-02-08 17:30 - 19:30 | The Ned, 314 E Main Street, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
The Jackson Madison County Bicentennial Commission
is inviting you to attend the
Creative Expressions Contest Award Ceremony
presented by Leaders Education Foundation

Tuesday, February 8

5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Reception and Art Viewing

6:30 p.m.
Award Ceremony

The Ned
314 East Main St.
Jackson, TN 38301

RSVP by Friday, February 4

First Friday Bicentennial Edition
2022-02-04 | First United Methodist Church, 200 S Church St, Jackson, TN, 38301, United States
JACKSON, Tenn. – The Bicentennial Edition of First Friday Forum will continue downtown at First Methodist Church on Friday, February 4.

The bicentennial programming and event theme for February is Black History. The President of Lane College, Dr. Logan Hampton will speak on the past, present and future of Black History in Jackson and Madison County.

First Friday will be held at First Methodist Church located at 200 South Church Street in downtown Jackson on Friday, February 4. Doors will open at 11:30 a.m., lunch will be served starting at 11:45 a.m., and programming will start at approximately 12:15 p.m.

As this is a catered event, advance tickets are required for attendance. The cut-off for purchase is 6 p.m. the Tuesday prior to the event. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Tickets are $12 per person and can be purchased using a debit or credit card at https://ffffeb2022.pushpayevents.com/

Tickets can also be purchased by cash or check at the First Methodist business office during regular business hours (8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday-Thursday or 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Fridays).

First Friday is sponsored by Lane College.

The Bicentennial edition of First Friday is held on the first Friday of every month through August 2022. The Mayor of Madison County, Jimmy Harris and the Mayor of Jackson, Scott Conger will be speaking about politics and the government on 4. A reservation link will be released on jacksonmadison200.com soon.

About Dr. Logan Hampton

Logan Hampton was named 10th President of Lane College by the Lane College Board of Trustees on June 12, 2014.

Dr. Hampton earned a doctorate in higher education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, a master’s degree in student personnel services from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, La., and a bachelor’s degree in biology from Arkansas Tech University.

Prior to coming to Lane College, Dr. Hampton served in numerous student services capacities at UALR including Vice Provost for Student Affairs. Before UALR, Hampton held positions at Texas A & M University, Texas Christian University, and the University of Central Arkansas.

In addition to working as a higher education administrator, Dr. Hampton is an ordained elder in full connection of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME). He served twenty-four years as a pastor in the Arkansas Region of the First Episcopal District of the CME Church.

He and his wife, Susan, are the parents of three adult children: Elise, Crystal, and Logan III.
