The Old Courthouse - Erwin

photo circa  1912, courtesy of Fred White

Unfortunately, the building no longer exists.  It was replaced in 1975 with a modern structure which still stands today in the heart of downtown Erwin.

Original courthouse copula is  sitting in a field visible from I-26 outside of  Erwin.  Heading  westbound towards Johnson City, about 1/2 mile past the Walmart center on the right.  Photo and info courtesy  Ryan Vance xazen@digitalsatori.net

Main Street - Erwin

photo circa  1910, courtesy of Fred White

The development  of downtown Erwin evolved around Main Street which runs north to south through the county.  During the taking of this photo, infrastructure progressed with electricity, telecommunication, concrete  sidewalks and underground water system  hence the fire hydrant.   The road was compacted soil.  The  building on the right with the clock and the boy standing  next to the fire hydrant was the jewelry/ clock repair  shop of  J. C. White.   The corner building to the left [2 men standing in front of the door] is the  J. F. Toney Building erected in 1882.  It  housed many establishments to include The First State Bank which became insolvent during the market crash of 1929.   Main Street was the central life blood of the town for government and commerce.

Main Street, Erwin

photo circa  1910,  courtesy of Fred White

This is another view of Main Street, downtown Erwin.  The photographer was standing in front of the courthouse property  [on the left which you can not see].   The three buildings facing the reader are located on Gay Street as follows  [left to right]   A. R. Brown Department Store, Toney Tucker Mercantile and the J. F. Toney Building.  The A. R. Brown building was named after Albert R. Brown [1863-1937] , a merchant, patent holder, entrepreneur, Mayor, banker and  owner of the town's water system.

"Big  Office Building"

photo circa abt. 1912, courtesy  Fred White

First Baptist Church - Erwin

photo circa abt. 1905, courtesy  Fred White

The First Baptist Church is located on the corner  of  Main and Love Streets in Erwin.   The original church, located on Tucker and Church streets, formally known as the Indian Creek Baptist Church, was a log cabin established around 1822 [Old Washington Co.],  which also housed the early county court hearings.  In 1892, a  new building replaced the log cabin.   Around 1900,  the brick building pictured on the left replaced both.  Merchant A. R. Brown offered his lot to the church members in exchange for theirs on Church Street.   The church is still standing today.

The A. J. Toney Building

Corner of Main and Gay Streets - 1905

Buffalo Mountain Fire Tower

CC&O Rail Line

CC&O Rail line Through the Unaka Mountain Range