Thank God for memories. Growing up in Knox County, Tennessee on the poor side of Black Oak Ridge I naturally have a lot of memories of Clinton Highway (US 25). Having not had the opportunity to drive Clinton HIghway in a few years my wife and I had the opportunity a couple of years ago to drive it. It is so drastically different now than when I was growing up.

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Do you remember what Clinton Highway looked like before I-75 and I-640 came along. Feel free
to correct my memory but if I remember correctly leaving Knoxville after you went through the railroad underpass at Sears Warehouse on the right sat the Furniture Barn and the Dutch Tavern. Coming out of Sharp's Gap Central Avenue Pike veered off to the right and of course Clinton Highway went left. Frank Roses's house sat on the right. Going on out Clinton Highway after Central Avenue branched off, on the left was a big open field that stretched to Wilson Road. The circus always set up there when it came to town. Later on this became Archie Campbell's Driving Range. After passing Wilson Road on the left sat a motor court (Treemont I think). On up the highway at the crest of a little hill sat the Direct Service Station, it had a gravel parking lot and gas was .16 or .17 cents a gallon. They also had bulk oil for .10 cents a quart. I can't remember what was on the right across from the gas station....In a little dip (on the right) sat T. L. Fines Grocery store and a barber shop and then the Jersey Whip Drive In Restaurant and Nix's Garage. The Jersey Whip provided me one of my first job's as a car hop. It payed a whopping .40 cents an hour and the tips were decent...I would love to see some of the people that worked there (Jack, JoAnn, Peggy, Stella, Harold, Sarah, Harvey, Zippo, Dickie, Ronnie, James, Faye, Kenny, etc). On the other side of the highway was a brick building that had several businesses but, the only one I remember was Cathy's Appliances. Next door was the Tillery Theater where I spent many a Saturday afternoon watching good ole westerns.

Many thanks to the Swankpad.org for a lot of these pictures

The next place on the left was Nixon Machinery. After Nix's Garage was Johnsons Tire Co and, although my feeble memory can't remember it, a very reliable source tells me that a bar named The Castaway was tucked in behind Johnson's Tire. Who can ever forget Fred's Chicken Shack. Right at the top of the hill on the left sat Gateway Hardware, Norwood Barber Shop and McConkey's Drug Store. On the right Inskip Road wandered down to Frog Level and on to Inskip. On the corner of Clinton Highway was Dr. Lawson's office.

Starting down the hill on the left from McConkey's was Wood's Motor Company and the Dairyland Drive-In (later it was Malcolm's Dairyland Drive In). A lot of good friends worked there. Then there was Rhea Furniture The Krystal and a Texaco station where my good buddy Slim worked. On the opposite side of the highway sat the Sunset Drive In Theater....How many of us got our first taste of "making out" there? Will never forget seeing Thunder Road there and everyone spun the tires off leaving the drive-in after the movie was over. Next door was the Jiffy Restaurant. A Sinclair station sat on the corner of Kermit Road that turned right there. Cas Walker's Supermarket and an Amoco Station were next. Across from them on the left was Mercer's TV , and a Pure Service Station sat on the corner. Merchant's Road was a two lane that crossed Clinton Highway here. On the other side of Merchant's on the right was Lyon's Super Market and the Dwarf Drive-In Restaurant. Across the highway was McClain's Nursery and Norwood Meat Market. On the right was The Pride Service Station which was a little higher on gas than the Direct, next was Schaffer's Texaco and Eddie's Auto Parts.

OTHER BUSINESSES ON CLINTON HIGHWAY WERE:

ON THE LEFT		ON THE RIGHT
John Conner's Store		Sleep Motel
Knox Trailer Court		Charlie Duggan's Gulf Station
Knox Package Store		Norris Motel
The Alamo Tavern		Shiland's Mobile Home Court
Tate Motel		Automotive Junk Yard
The Dwarf Restaurant		Lakewood Swimming Pool
Leach's Pottery		Lakewood Grocery
Larue's Place		McClain's Garage
Byrd's Produce		Purity Packing Co
Wallace's Ice Cream		County Line Nightclub
Shell Service Station
25 Drive In
Archie Campbell's Driving Range (later Twin Aire Drive In)
Airplane Service Station
Clark's Motel
Mrs Meadow's Restaurant
C&S Grocery
The Truck Stop
Thoni's Service Station

I know that none of the men from that era remember the Snow White Grill. Ha!
Many thanks to all of you that have jogged my memory about a lot of Clinton Highway,
especially my life time friend Arlen King.

I'm certain their are things I've forgotten and welcome anyone's input about Clinton Highway. It's hopeful this page jogged your memories of a good time you had growing up. Please sign my guestbook




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This page updated 01-10-08 1630