Fowler Brothers Co.: 125 years
One of the oldest businesses in Tennessee, The Fowler Brothers Co. – today known as The Furniture Shoppe and The Patio Shop – celebrates its 125th anniversary, marking five generations of selling furniture in East Tennessee. The present location off I-24 at 4th Avenue is the only location operated by members of the original Fowler Brothers family.
Humane Educational Society: 100 years
As part of their 100-year anniversary celebration, the Humane Educational Society (HES) of Chattanooga recently opened an educational center for kids named “Weezie’s Way”® in honor of Louise P. “Weezie” Guerry and Chappell Guerry Kane. The education center promotes a variety of training classes and programs that stress the need for kindness to all living creatures. Once a protective agency for both animals and children, the HES houses and cares for abandoned, neglected and abused animals of Chattanooga and surrounding areas.
Mayfield Dairy: 100 years
In 1910, T.B. Mayfield bought a few dozen Jersey cows and started a milk route in Athens, Tenn., expanding into the ice cream business a few years later. Pasteurization and other advances followed, and Mayfield’s three sons took over operations after his death in 1937. Today, the company sells about 70 million gallons of milk and 30 million gallons of ice cream each year, and the Athens and Braselton plants are popular tourist spots.
Lake Winnepesaukah: 85 years
Lake Winnepesaukah Amusement Park celebrates its 85th season with the addition of two new rides and a stellar summer concert series lineup. The Sea Warrior, a family thrill ride, and the Silly Saucers, spinning teacups for kids, bring the number of rides at the Rossville, Ga., amusement park to 37. Other additions to the park include a Pizza Café and an addition to arcade row.
Bea’s Restaurant: 60 years
In 1950, Bill and Beatrice Steele opened Bea’s Restaurant, a one-room eatery on Dodds Avenue that featured Lazy Susans on each table in order to serve area factory workers a quick lunch. The restaurant’s motto, “Get your fill for a dollar bill,” was brought back to life for a day in May to celebrate the restaurant’s 60th anniversary.
McKee Foods Corporation: 50 years
2010 marks the 50th anniversary of McKee Foods’ Little Debbie® brand. More than 150 billion Little Debbie snack cakes have been sold since 1960 in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico and on U.S. military bases worldwide. Little Debbie, whose picture is often featured on products, is the granddaughter of O.D. and Ruth McKee, who founded McKee Foods Corporation in 1934. With more than 6,000 employees, McKee Foods offers more than 160 varieties of Little Debbie and 29 varieties of Sunbelt® products that are sold in all 50 states, Canada and Puerto Rico.
RE:START – The Center for Adult Education: 50 years
Started 50 years ago and known as C.A.L.M. (Chattanooga Area Literacy Movement) and Reading Education for Adult Development (R.E.A.D. Chattanooga, Inc.), RE:START’s mission is to improve quality of life through adult education. The non-profit celebrated its 50th anniversary in May by hosting Erin Gruwell, nationally recognized teacher and president of The Freedom Writers, at the Tivoli Theater.
Creswell Richardson: 40 years
Creswell Richardson celebrates 40 years in business and the one-year anniversary of its merger with Richardson Electric. The combined company supplies electrical and power transmission parts and electrical automation/panel building for automotive and textile industries, construction contractors, foundries and heavy industrial customers.
Sports Barn: 30 years
Thirty years ago, The Sports Barn opened in the old CARTA bus barns in downtown Chattanooga. Today, the fitness club has three locations – 301 Market Street, 6148 Lee Highway and 1790 Hamill Road – and more than 10,000 members. All three Sports Barn locations offer the same fitness opportunities, including racquetball and handball courts, weightlifting, spinning, cardiovascular training, a steam room, Pilates, yoga, sauna and spa.
Leadership Chattanooga: 25 years
Celebrating its 25th year, Leadership Chattanooga was established to develop leadership skills among outstanding early or mid-career professionals. Program participants interact with the community’s top leadership, become familiar with key local agencies and institutions, and design community service team projects. The program will host an anniversary celebration at Loose Cannon Gallery on Aug. 14 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Women of Distinction Award: 25 years
The American Lung Association celebrated the continuing achievements of 240-plus women who have been honored over the last 25 years by the Tennessee Women of Distinction Award, which benefits programs and services of the American Lung Association. In honor of the anniversary, three past honorees were jointly named to the 2010 award: Dr. Phyllis Miller, a physician and 2000 honoree; Susan Rich, an attorney and 1991 honoree and Rickie Pierce, an educator and 1997 honoree. Additionally, 10 women joined the silver anniversary trio in being honored this year, including: Kimberly Coffey, Robin Derryberry, Dolores Harvey, Jan Headrick, Jayne Holder, Kristy Huntley, Eleanor Jones, Jill Levine, Jennifer Nicely and Rebecca Elizabeth Smith.
Siskin Hospital: 20 years
In Chattanooga, physical rehabilitation is synonymous with two philanthropic brothers, Mose and Garrison Siskin. In March of 1990, the Siskin Memorial Foundation officially opened the Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation, an inpatient and outpatient facility dedicated exclusively to physical rehabilitation, offering specialized treatment programs in brain injury, amputation, stroke, spinal cord injury, orthopedics and major multiple trauma. Other specialized care includes treatment for neurological disorders and loss of muscle strength and control following illness or surgery.
BenchMark Physical Therapy: 15 years
BenchMark Physical Therapy celebrates 15 years of providing patients with affordable health care with a focus on clinical excellence and patient outcomes in an outpatient rehabilitation setting. BenchMark recently renovated and expanded its Ooltewah clinic, which opened in 1995 as the first of many BenchMark clinics to provide community-based outpatient rehab services.
Computerized Payroll Solutions: 15 Years
Computerized Payroll Solutions, which celebrates 15 years of business this year, offers a variety of payroll services for companies, both large and small, throughout the United States. With offices in Chattanooga and Knoxville, Tenn., CPS recently announced record sales in 2009.
St. John’s Restaurant: 10 years
Celebrating 10 years in business, Chef Daniel Lindley, owner of St. John’s Restaurant, The Meeting Place and Alleia, has been nominated for the second year in a row for the 2010 Best Chef in the Southeast award by the James Beard Foundation. St. John’s Restaurant, located in the former St. John’s Hotel building that was built at the turn of the 20th century, highlights the abundance of each season, including fresh fruits and vegetables picked daily at local farms, fish flown in overnight from all over the country and fine meats.