EVERY GREAT American small town has a recognizable and historic square. But not every small town across America is like Shelbyville. In fact, this particular square has made an impact on small towns throughout the United States. When you think of a small town, the historical square often comes to mind. It doesn’t matter if you’re thinking of small town Shelbyville or a smalltown in Arkansas. Each is filled with history and surprising good news. Every brick has decades of history imprinted on it. Shelbyville, however, made an imprint on small towns from coast to coast in the United States.
The Shelbyville square is historic and holds a title that only a few hometowns can claim. The layout of the square is called “the block pattern,” like a square of roads intersecting at the four corners with the courthouse nested in the center. It’s a common layout for a square. They’re seen in small towns from Texas to Michigan. “It’s called the block pattern, or otherwise known as the Shelbyville Plan. It’s believed to be the first American style square,” Calvin Cannon said. Calvin is a local business owner with an extensive knowledge of the square’s history. His business is in the historical district of downtown Shelbyville.
Calvin wants to see the town’s history preserved forever, if possible. “I’ve always loved historical buildings. I want to see it preserved and live forever,” Calvin said. “I’ve always loved the history and the architecture.”
At the heart of the historic square is the Bedford County courthouse building. According to the Bedford County Historical Society’s website published in 2013, the first of five courthouses sat at the square in 1810. Three years later, construction began on the new building. The second courthouse took its place in 1813. Then, on May 31, 1830, a raging tornado ripped through Shelbyville. It took the courthouse with it. After three years of construction, the third courthouse called the square home. In 1863, it’s believed that the Confederate Army “accidently” burned down the courthouse. The Tennessee Encyclopedia says that at the time of the Civil War, it’s believed that at least half of the Shelbyville locals were pro-Union, not wanting to leave the United States. The fourth courthouse was also burned down. This time, an angry mob burned down the courthouse when news spread that an African-American—whom they wanted to hang—had been transferred away to another courthouse. Workers finished construction on the fifth and current courthouse in 1935.
It’s the classic small town square known all across America, with stories of change, and history. That square we all know as the heart of the great American small town came from right here in Shelbyville. Communities all over the country recognize the importance of a courthouse square. Millions of dollars are poured into historic preservation efforts from Washington state to Florida. They have life from corner to corner, movie theaters, town halls, restaurants, and barber shops. The great American small town square is like a woven fabric with each strand being a magnificent thread of what it means to be American. -GN
