Historical Markers

Famous historical spots and there markers that I have visited and came across on my many journeys.

The Spot where the genocide of the American Indians began. The horrible Trail of Tears

Born in 1883 Ernest Walker Holmes Senior opened Chattanooga Tennessee's first Independent auto repair garage at 319 Market St. here in 1916 he invented the twin boom wrecker, homes pioneered And did numerous improvements in the towing and recovery industry. He expanded his company into an international enterprise manufacturer of the first military wrecker during World War II he supplied thousands of twin boom wreckers to the Allied forces from 1941 through 1945.

William uncle Bill Lewis was born a slave in Winchester Tennessee. William Lewis came to Chattanooga in 1837 Dearing the Ross Landing and there building a thriving blacksmith business. Lewis purchased his and his wife's freedom in 1851, he purchased the freedom of his mother, brother and sister. In his blacksmith shop the leg irons that he forged and fitted and used for the  Andrew Raiders. Union spies during the Civil War.

The union depot was constructed on this site. A large train, shed, tracks, officeand waiting rooms originated in an agreement on September 12, 1857 between the Western and Atlanta and the Nashville and Chattanooga railroads. These were later joined by the Memphis and Charleston and East Tennessee and Georgia. The depot was modified in 1869 and in 1881 to include a brick building in front with office and waiting area. 

For 61 years the Martin Hotel was located on this site, established in 1924 by Robert Martin with 50 rooms it became the largest African-American hotel in the South, many celebrities and entertainers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Fata Domino, J. Ernest Wilkins, The Platters, Nat King Cole, Willie Mays, Satchel Paige and the original Harlem Globetrotters, the Martin hotel closed November 30, 1985 and is now an African-American historical site and the new building has a Museum on Civil Rights and slavery.