Would anyone on this list know anything about "Frank Fiederling, Cigars & Tobacco" in Clarksville? I remember going there probably in 40's and 50's where they had a real wooden cigar store Indian out in the front. Just wonder if the business is still there. Thanks. Jo...

Jo, I do remember the cigar store Indian but don't know what happened to him. The store closed years ago. There isn't a lot left in downtown Clarksville anymore! What the tornado didn't take, construction did. The courthouse stands as a silent sentry over a gaping hole where the shops from McCellans to Dickson Sadler once stood along Franklin Street. The Second Street side of the courthouse became a parking lot years ago. The Third Street side was heavily damaged by the tornado and most of the buildings were hauled off in dump trucks---I think one or two may have survived. When the tornado hit, downtown Clarksville was made up primarily of law offices, government offices, and "night spots". (Maybe the Good Lord was trying to tell us something!) "Lower Frankin" (from 1st to 2nd Streets) is about all that remains as you would remember it. Joy's Jewelers is about the only "old" business left. I have photos that were taken in the early hours after the tornado. (Two of my brothers were among the first people allowed in the area.) There are also a few videos available that were made before and after that morning. And, don't forget to look at the website---Francis has some photos on it! I don't like to drive through downtown Clarksville anymore----it's not a pleasant site! Some accounts say that no one was seriously hurt during the tornado---they should talk to Frank Frost. Frank lived in the Royal York building and heard the storm. He got up to see what was going on---he said he was being "nosey". As he opened his door, a window shattered and a piece of glass cut his carotid artery. He doesn't remember anything after opening the door---until several days later when he found himself in the hospital! He must have grabbed a pillow to try to stop the bleeding. When Frank's son heard about the tornado, he went to check on his dad. He found Frank with the pillow pressed to the neck wound and soaked with blood. (He almost bled to death!) This past year, Frank moved back to the Royal York----but they won't let him move back upstairs to his old room! By the way, Frank was born in 1911 and ran a business in downtown Clarksville--he was a welder. His mind is "sharp" and I love talking to him! (I usually just get him started---then, enjoy!) My brother is also on this list and maybe he would share a story our grandfather told him about the angels that used to sit at the 4 corners of the courthouse---how about it, Stan? Sandy Ellis ----- Original Message ----- From: bzbee <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2001 5:06 PM Subject: [TNMONTGO-L] Fiederling Would anyone on this list know anything about "Frank Fiederling, Cigars & Tobacco" in Clarksville? I remember going there probably in 40's and 50's where they had a real wooden cigar store Indian out in the front. Just wonder if the business is still there. Thanks. Jo...

Jo, I asked my Dad about the cigar store and the Indian. He said that his bother worked for Mrs. Fiederling when the store closed. From what he remembers, Carneal Vaughn worked for the Fiederlings, too. Vending machines were becoming popular and Carneal told several people that he was going to buy up a bunch of the machines and sell cigarettes from them. Daddy said that when Carneal bought the machines and stocked them with cigarettes, not many people went to the cigar store so Mrs. Fiederling closed it. I kept asking for a time period and the best I could get was between 1957 and 1960 for the store closing (based on my uncle moving to Utah in 1957). Daddy said the Indian is still around. He read something about it and thinks it may be at the local museum. This discussion with my Dad brought up lots of things because I asked for the exact location of the cigar store! (Daddy loves it when I start wanting him to get specific!) I think he moved everything downtown to a different location but I don't know what time period he was refering to. He said that the cigar store was about where Tommy Meeks law office is now. I said, "near A.J. Clark's Jewelers and the Pullman?" He said that A.J. Clark was across the street. I said that Pennebaker's and M. L Cross was across the street. This went on for about an hour before my husband said that we'd rearranged Clarksville more than the tornado did! (I guess this means that we'll have to dig out the photos!) Sandy Ellis