On the Corner of Main with the Irish

Across from the Catalyst Coffee Company stands a building that has been continuously occupied by businesses since its construction in the early 1800’s. It may be safe to say that this building is the oldest business building in town. The building is currently home to First Tennessee Bank. This building is so much more than the economic hub of our little town, it is the cornerstone of our mental and physical geography and it has so many stories to tell us about our heritage.

The building that we see now began as a store ran by Joseph Brown, an immigrant from the County Antrim in Northern Ireland (although when he migrated in 1800, it was still considered Ireland). Many Irish families found their way here following the lead of William Dickson (our first postmaster 1797- appointed by George Washington!), whose name still resides with the Dickson-Williams Mansion.

The terrible political and economic environment of Ireland during the 1790’s gave us many new residences, and we were blessed to have them. They are also the reason we have a thoroughfare named “Irish Street.” The building on the corner of Main and Depot remained a store until 1890 when a businessman by the name of W.H. O’Keefe (also the son of Irish immigrants) bought the store and turned it into the second branch of Greene County Bank. The original building (pictured here) was an architectural site to behold with steel beams and terra cotta awnings. The inside was adorned with mahogany countertops and black and white marble floors.

In 1966, the bank expanded and bought Stroud’s Barber Shop and remodeled the facades to the design you see today. It has gone from Greene County, to GreenBank, to Capital, and it is now First Tennessee Bank. History always amazes me when it comes full circle because on this very spot was where one of the “first” banks in Tennessee ever opened for business on the corner of Main with the Irish.