Nominate your loved ones for a story:

Nominate your loved ones:

Monteagle’s Historic Gathering Place Transformed Through Generations.

by | Jul 2023

IN THE historic and charming town of Monteagle stands an old quaint stucco building that had been a witness to many generations. This building, built in 1939 by Raymond and Hazel Sanders, was initially called “Sanders Grocery.”

It was more than just a grocery store; it was a place where people gathered to share stories, laughter, and friendship.

The large main room served as a general store that customers perused for all the necessities of mountain life, while the rest of the building served as the Sanders’ family home.

Time passed, and the store’s ownership changed hands within the family. From Hazel’s brother and his wife to a close cousin, the building remained a symbol of family unity and tradition.

Photographed by Brooke Snyder.

The grocery store eventually closed its doors as the years passed, and the building became a simple residence. The quiet hum of everyday life replaced the once lively marketplace.

During this time, Mrs. Mooney, a relative of the original owners, moved into the house.

Mrs. Mooney was a gentle soul with a passion for growing African violets. People from all over would visit Mrs. Mooney to admire her vibrant blooms and purchase a piece of her cherished collection.

Mr. Mooney grew a big garden out back and sold his produce. He also did lawnmower repair.

From the bustling marketplace of Sanders Grocery to the tranquil residence of Mr. and Mrs. Mooney and her African violets, it remains a constant presence in the community.

The scent of African violets still wafts through the air, and the legacy of the building continues, passed down through generations of women, each leaving their mark on its storied history

Photographed by Brooke Snyder.

Store owner Joan Thomas kept the name “Mooney’s” to preserve and commemorate the historic Mooney family home it once was.

“Locally, everybody knew this as the ‘Mooney Place.’ And I couldn’t think of anything else to call it, so I went to visit them and asked them how they felt about it. And they were fine with it.”

Thomas worked with her husband in a contracting business for 16 years, where she developed a love for restoring old buildings.

“The contracting business I worked with my husband was restoring old buildings. It was a historical restoration. So I had a love and appreciation for old buildings. But I also have a love and appreciation for this community. And this building had been a part of our community for so long, with the Mooneys living here, so I couldn’t bear just to let it go.”

During her transition from the contracting business, she broke her leg and spent six months recovering. At that time, she reflected on life and received help from the community. After this experience, she was inspired to give back to the community and opened Mooney’s Market Emporium.

Photographed by Brooke Snyder.

Thomas renovated the building years ago and maintained the store’s charm and historical aspects while adding her personal touch.

She said, “By the time I finished all that, I knew what would be in every room, and I knew I had to do it. I just did everything that I knew and the things that I loved in my life. And I added things that would really help the planet and the community. So that was all my motivation.”

Enter Mooney’s Market Emporium, and the amazing aroma of essential oils and incense immediately envelops your senses. You walk in, and you’re immediately greeted by the Natural Foods Grocery collector’s items, antiques, memorabilia, and, more specifically, a large picture on the wall of Raymond and Hazel Sanders standing behind the counter of the original store in the 1940s.

You’re transported into your grandmother’s backyard when you enter this
wholistic haven.

Along with local, organic, and natural foods, crystals and wind chimes adorn the store’s front room.

Upon entering, find natural supplements, alternative medicines, essential oils, local produce, Amish goods, locally roasted coffee, and Manchester honey. Explore the hallway for greeting cards, candles, incense, books, T-shirts, and Solmate socks.

Venture into the Pink Room for antique furniture and consignment items or the Green Room to admire locally crafted pottery and knitted creations. Turn right to visit the Yarn Shop, featuring highend natural fiber yarns and knitting and crocheting supplies. Next door, the Plant Room offers house plants, potting soils, and garden tools. Step outside to find flower pots, compost, organic gardening supplies, and sunflower seeds for birds.

Experience a one-stop shop for health food and unique, hard-to-find items.

“It’s me, sharing me with the community. This is who I am. And I know there’s a lot more of us (hippies) out there. And it’s just really important for me to anchor this alternative lifestyle, to have something for all of us who embrace it and live this way,” Thomas said. GN

More Good News

Honoring Richard Ellis

Honoring Richard Ellis

WHAT WILL your legacy be? This question often lingers in our minds, prompting us to reflect on how we hope to be remembered and the impact we want to leave behind. For some, legacy is found in the...

read more
Homegrown Heroes

Homegrown Heroes

JOHN WINE led a group of teens on a mission trip in the sweltering heat of a Louisiana summer, working on a house without power. As sweat trickled down their faces, the reality of the need struck...

read more
A Lifeline In The Skies

A Lifeline In The Skies

THE EMERGENCY phone rang, cutting through the morning silence at Erlanger Health System. This sound was familiar, yet one that never failed to send a rush of adrenaline through the LIFE FORCE Air...

read more
Mac’s Meat: Farm-to-Fork

Mac’s Meat: Farm-to-Fork

MAC’S MEAT Processing has transformed local food traditions in our town since 1969. Established by Hugh “Mac” McCormick, this family-owned business has continuously grown and adapted over the years...

read more
John Ferrell: Sweet Success

John Ferrell: Sweet Success

JOHN FERRELL squinted into the sun, watching honeybees lumber from flower to flower. It wasn’t the same frantic buzzing that irritated him as a child. This time, he saw the intentional movements,...

read more
Ray Cobb: A Lens of Courage

Ray Cobb: A Lens of Courage

A YOUNG RAY Cobb, barely out of his teens, crouches behind a sandbag in a mock Vietnamese village. Sweat beads are on his forehead, and condensation gathers on his vintage camera lens. The distant...

read more
Legacy in Motion

Legacy in Motion

LEGACY. A term that has many definitions. It can be one’s money or assets, faith or values, or reputation. While it can mean so many things, what is important to remember about a person’s legacy is...

read more
Giving the gift of lights

Giving the gift of lights

JASON DAUGHERTY is a lover of Christmas. He enjoys the time of year when the family gets together and shares gifts and fellowship, along with the birth of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He not...

read more
Songs for the Season

Songs for the Season

OVER A century ago, the Festival of Lessons and Carols was introduced by the King’s College Chapel In Cambridge, England. According to the college’s website, the event was introduced in 1918 to...

read more
Bringing the Local Butcher Back

Bringing the Local Butcher Back

JEFF EBNER was riding his motorcycle on a hot Florida day when he stopped at a stoplight and noticed his shoe was stuck to the road. “I checked my shoe thinking I had stepped on a piece of chewing...

read more
Come Gather Here

Come Gather Here

CHEERS, THE Central Perk, Paddy’s Pub, MacLaren’s, and Monk’s Cafe. What do they all have in common? They are all iconic gathering places. Places that came into our lives each week, via our...

read more
The art of Preserving History

The art of Preserving History

PAINTERS CREATE with oils, pastels and watercolor. Sculptures work with clay, stone, and wood, and musicians experiment with melody, harmony, rhythm, and form. Each of these types of artists work...

read more
Remembering those who served

Remembering those who served

MY GRANDFATHER was a World War II veteran. He served as a staff sergeant for the United States military. He woke each morning and raised the American Flag, displaying it proudly from a front yard...

read more
The good stuff takes time.

The good stuff takes time.

MARTHA CAROL Luttrell, more commonly referred to as MC Luttrell, has played a foundational role in organizing a community outreach event in Franklin County over the last several years. Her tireless...

read more
Juneteenth

Juneteenth

“FREEDOM” enters the chatroom, and immediately it’s all, barbecued meat and who’s got the biggest bang of a firework show. While Independence Day is our nation’s designated time to pause and...

read more
Training for success

Training for success

Α NEW DOG, we imagine, would be a wonderful addition to our homes. We immediately picture wet kisses and cold evening cuddles. We see the perfect spot for his bed in the living room corner and...

read more
Licenses and Learning

Licenses and Learning

POWERBOATS, HOUSEBOATS, jet skis, jon boats, and even sailboats all make appearances at the annual Spirit of America Youth Boating Camp on Tims Ford Lake.  As the interest in water recreation...

read more
Juneteenth

For God and Country

FRANKLIN COUNTY residents have a long history of service to their country. It’s a history still being uncovered and honored through the Franklin County Veterans Flag Memorial, an American Legion...

read more