A HISTORY OF WARTRACE
Wartrace, named after an old Cherokee war trail, was the second chartered town in Bedford County. The Coffeys and the Clevelands, the first settlers in Wartrace, arrived around 1809. Before the railroad was complete, Wartrace had one store and a few houses. By 1852 when the Nashville, Chattanooga, and St. Louis Railway was completed, Wartrace had begun to grow and by 1900 it was a rather large town with two or three stores, two banks, and a large boarding house and hotel. Wartrace was considered a health spa because of the healing sulfur water found in a well in the middle of town. A few years later in 1910, the city obtained electricity. People worked at the mill and for the railroad. The town had an annual street fair which had events ranging from colt shows to baby pageants. Other events included a fox hunt for the wealthy people of the state.
Although Wartrace was a nice place to live, it was also plagued with troubles. Many people were killed by the fast moving trains and fire was a constant problem. The Wartrace High School burned several times. By the mid-1900's, Wartrace's prosperity had dwindled away. Railroads no longer carried passengers and trains were not stopping in the town. The businesses began to close and people began going to Shelbyville or bigger towns for their basic needs. Soon the only symbols of Wartrace's prominent past were the dried-up well in the middle of town, a closed hotel, and the old mill.
By the 1980's a revival had begun in Wartrace. New businesses began to open, and people began to return to their rural roots. The future of Wartrace now looks bright.
MORE WARTRACE HISTORY
The town of Wartrace was established in 1853 as a depot for the railroad, which began operation in 1852. Mr. Rice Coffey donated eight acres of land for right-of-way. White settlers had lived in the area as early as 1806 when it was known as North Carolina territory. The town of Wartrace got its name from an Indian village just north of Bell Buckle named War Trace. Soldiers came into this village and mistreated the Indians so badly that they deserted the area, never wanting to return. Later the name of the village was used to name the present site of the town of Wartrace.
The first mayor of Wartrace was Mr. Daniel Stephens, who was elected in 1853. The first business in Wartrace was a general store, Stephens and Norvell, which was located on the site of the present-day Walking Horse Hotel.
The Walking Horse Hotel was built in 1917 by Mr. John Overall. Behind the hotel is the grave of Strolling Jim. In 1939 Strolling Jim, a local horse, was the first Grand Champion of the Tennessee Walking Horse National Championship held in nearby Shelbyville.
In the early 1920's fairs and horse shows were held on the streets of Wartrace. It was at these horse shows that Floyd Carothers first showed Strolling Jim.
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