Welcome

The Jefferson County Historical Society  (JCHS) is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and safekeeping of the county’s historical structures, documents, artifacts, and heritage. The Society, a continuation of the Restore Our Courthouse and Restore Our County (ROC) efforts, began in 1978 when Restore Our Courthouse as formed by local citizens to save the Jefferson County Courthouse from being destroyed and replaced by a modern building.

For over 40 years, JCHS members and county citizens have worked to ensure that the unique history of the people, places, and events in our county are not lost. It is through the work of people like you that the history of our area from its earliest beginning through today is being preserved for future generations.

Announcements

  • Grateful Nation

    A local movement has been started in coordination with area ROTC and JROTC programs to identify Jefferson County's heroes and having Cards creating for them with the goal of have card decks of Jefferson County Heroes that can be given to local schools and organizations.

    Click Here to Learn More

  • Christmas at Glenmore

    Glenmore Mansion Candlelight Christmas Tours

    The Glenmore Preservation Society is hosting the annual Candlelight Christmas Tours at Historic Glenmore Mansion located at 1280 North Chucky Pike in Jefferson City, Tennessee.

    2023 Tour Schedule
    Tours 5pm - 8:30pm
    Friday-Saturday-Sunday
    December 1, 2, 3
    December 8, 9, 10
    Ticket Prices

    Adults $10, School Age $5, Preschool Free

    No reservations are necessary. Purchase tickets at the front porch. New groups admitted every 15 minutes with the last tour entering at 8:30pm. Tours are self directed at your own pace with docents available in each room to answer questions and share bits of Glenmore history. Tour ends in the grand Dining Room with homemade cookies and a warm cup of wassail served by Glenmore Volunteers.

  • Sawbones and the Pecks of Mossy Creek

     Andy Peck, winner of the 2023 East Tennessee Community History Leadership Award from the East Tennessee Historical Society, will share his story of discovering previously unpublished writings from his family, the Pecks of Mossy Creek (Jefferson City, Tennessee), and the rich stories they contain. After publishing Ada’s Journal and Emma’s Letters: The Civil War Era Journal and Letters of Emma Peck during the COVID pandemic, Andy discovered and published an epic 1879 serial novel called Charley’s Novel: Mary Anderson and Peacock the Mineralogist, the Bad Luck of a Young Southern Girl. In the fall of 2023, Andy published the incredible 2 volume work: Sawbones: The Life and Times of Dr. Isham Talbot Peck (1811-1887). Dr. Peck, a prominent East Tennessee planter, wrote a series of 41 articles from 1874-1886 to The Morristown Gazette (Morristown, Tennessee), and they were carried by newspapers around the nation. Come learn about the Bald Mountain volcano of Appalachia, the Civil War Battle of Mossy Creek, and dueling in Vicksburg, Mississippi. These writings are great resources for family researchers, time period historians, and also teachers/students seeking to learn history using primary sources. Join us for an exciting discussion and readings from the books!

    Jefferson County Genealogical Society
    Monday, February 19
    5-6pm
    First Baptist Church
    1610 Russell Avenue
    Jefferson City, TN 37760

    Old City Hall
    Friday, February 23
    TBD
    2004 Branner Avenue
    Jefferson City, TN 37760

    Rose Glen Literary Festival 
    Saturday, February 24
    9am-4pm
    Sevierville Convention Center
    202 Gists Creek Road
    Sevierville, TN 37876

  • Winter Meeting - January 18

    The Jefferson County Historical Society will hold our winter meeting at the historic Jefferson
    County Courthouse in Dandridge on Thursday, January 18, 2024. The meeting begins at
    6:30pm and everyone is welcome.


    Please join us for an informative program with guest speaker and County Historian Bob Jarnagin.

    The Impact of TVA and the Cherokee / Douglas Projects
    TVA is one of the Federal Agencies created by FDR and the “New Deal”. Charged with
    improving life within the Tennessee Valley, TVA rolled into East Tennessee and the impact was
    massive, mostly in positive ways but there were also controversial aspects. The creation of the
    Cherokee Reservoir in 1941 and the Douglas Reservoir in 1942 changed the landscape of
    Jefferson, Hamblen, Grainger, Sevier and Cocke counties forever. This program will delve into
    the facts and stories behind TVA, Cherokee Dam and the Douglas Dam.

  • Membership / Board Meetings

    Our Board meets 4 times a year at the Shepard's Inn, located in Dandridge. Meetings begin at 2pm. 
    The meeting dates for 2024: 

    November 14 2023

    2024
    March 12
    June 11
    September 10
    November 12

    Want to Become A Member (click here)

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