Gurley Historical Association, Inc.
Gurley Town Hall
The Historic Gurley City Hall is "A Place that Matters"! It is unique in that it has been used almost continuously for over 100 years. It is the oldest municipal building still standing in our town. So many of our historic buildings and homes have been torn down or destroyed and we need this one to be saved. We need a place in our town that visitors can come to and see and learn about our past as well as hearing the many interesting stories that people have to share about it. This place matters to our town because it has served our community in every possible way.
Gurley began in 1865 as a small settlement along the Southern Railroad tracks and was known as Gurley's Tank. It served as a water stop for the steam engines of the day.
The Victorian building was erected in 1895. It was first used as a hardware store. Then in the early 1900's it was a hand printing shop serving the quickly growing town of Gurley. A weekly newspaper, programs, hand bills, and advertisement of business posters were among services available. Several lodge groups such as the Masons, Oddfellows, Knights, of Phythias, and Knights of the Modern Macabees held meetings in the upstairs room of the building. The bu9ilding was the temporary location of Gurley Public Elementary School in 1909 while funds were being raised to build a school. During the 1920's, this building became a lively place for entertainment as it was the home to the Crescent Theater. Vaudeville performances were presented by traveling troupes of actors and actresses who found Gurley to be a convenient stop on the way to Chattanooga by train. As silent movies became popular, the Crescent Theater was again the place people came to for entertainment. IN 1935, the community suffered the tragic loss of its school due to a fire, and the Theater became the school for 2 years while the new school was being built.
Various businesses occupied the building during the 1940's and 1950's. Helton Welding Shop was one of the businesses. The family of Emmett Branum lived in the upstairs room during the 1950's. In 1965, this building became Gurley's Town Hall. It was the center of all town meetings and business activities. People visited there while waiting to catch the morning train to Chattanooga, TN to work in Huntsville and on to Florence, AL or to wait on the afternoon train. In 1980, the building became Fire Station No. 2 for residents who were on the north side of the railroad tracks. It continues in this capacity to this day.
The Historic Gurley Town Hall is a place that matters. Given the current unstable condition of this building, our history may soon be lost. We want you to participate in helping us to preserve this building and to create a town museum for people to visit, see, and learn about our town's past. After all, THIS PLACE MATTERS!
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