In addition to the numerous accomplishments of the Pirates, South Pittsburg’s high school football team, the small-town stop on I-24 is known far and wide for its manufacturing of cooking and heating items.
The city is home to Lodge Cast Iron cookware and serves as corporate headquarters for U.S. Stove Co., one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of wood-burning heating stoves.
The downtown area centers on Cedar Avenue, the main street, which boasts shops, restaurants and businesses.
The Lodge iron factory and its outlet store, Hammer’s, bring numerous visitors who purchase items from hats, shoes, jeans, overalls and work boots to cowboy boots and winter coats.
Despite the huge manufacturing operations, small-town charm prevails. The marquee of the Princess Theatre still lights up downtown and announces community happenings.
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*FAST FACTSPopulation: About 3,000Biggest employers: Lodge Manufacturing, Marion County School BoardLandmarks or geographic features: South Pittsburg is situated alongside the Tennessee River and is only minutes from camping and fisherman’s paradise Nickajack Lake.Distance from Chattanooga: 30.8 milesDate founded: May 23, 1876History: While the first settlers moved in during the 1830s, the South Pittsburg area played a part in the Civil War with troops from Union and Confederate armies passing through constantly. The Union army went so far as to build a pontoon bridge across the Tennessee River prior to the Battle of Chickamauga, Ga., in the fall of 1863. Both armies had camps in and around the area and the most notable war event was a Confederate attack of Fort McCook, which took place at the same time as an attack on nearby Bridgeport, Ala. Throughout the Civil War, local residents suffered because of plundering by troops from both sides.Famous residents: Former National Football League player Eddie Moore played at South Pittsburg High School. Moore was an All-SEC linebacker at the University of Tennessee and the first pick by the Miami Dolphins, for whom he played for four years.Unique traditions: Many of South Pittsburg’s streets are paved with concrete because of the city’s heritage as a hub for the concrete industry.*Source: South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society; U.S. Census; Marion County Chamber of Commerce; Richard Hardy Memorial School
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CORNBREAD COUNTRYMost people make their way to South Pittsburg for two reasons: cast iron and cornbread. The town is home to Lodge Manufacturing, a major employer that makes cast-iron pots, pans, skillets and Dutch ovens.>Shoppers can find bargains on cookware at Lodge’s factory outlet store, which has moved from its former locale on South Cedar Avenue to 220 Third St. In the winter, it’s open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CST Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays. During the summer, the store stays open until 6 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Call 423-837-5919 for holiday hours.The National Cornbread Festival takes over South Pittsburg’s main drag for one weekend each spring and has hosted as many as 17,000 visitors over the two days. The festival, occurring on the last weekend each April, includes a carnival, fireworks, the crowning of Miss National Cornbread and a cornbread cook-off.>Admission is $5, with preschool-aged children admitted free. Visit nationalcornbread.com for a full schedule.
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HOLLYWOOD TIESThe Princess Theatre began showing silent films as early as 1908 before going out of business in the 1980s and is now an updated venue that combines past and present. Its modern restoration makes it a quality place to catch a concert, host a party or sit back and watch a movie. The current condition of the building was made possible through an intense restoration project that lasted more than a decade.Before being dubbed the Princess, it was known as the Imperial and the Palace during renovations over the past half-century.>Located at 215 Cedar Ave., the venue sporadically hosts movies, concerts and other shows. For an updated schedule, call 423-837-5924.The city’s silver-screen accolades don’t end there; it also has a connection to two former big-screen stars. Jobyna Ralston, a South Pittsburg native, was the leading lady in numerous early films, and western movies star Tom Mix once worked in security and management at the local Penn-Dixie cement plant.Source: South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society; City of South Pittsburg
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*TOE-TAPPING TIMEMusic on Cedar Open Mic Night is a great way to experience the local flavor and area’s talent. The event happens at 6 p.m. Central the first Tuesday of the month April-October at the Cornbread Festival Stage next to Citizens State Bank, 404 S. Cedar.Fire on the Mountain Bluegrass Festival is a three-day fundraiser for the South Pittsburg Mountain Volunteer Fire Department that takes place each fall at the mountaintop fire department. The festival features home cooking, barbecue and music around the campfire late into the night. For more information call 423-837-9895.*Source: Marion County Chamber of Commerce
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CEMETERIES TRACE AREA’S HISTORYHistory buffs and genealogists will revel in South Pittsburg’s many cemeteries, which include Ayers, Beene, City, McDaniel, Patton and Gilliam, along with several others. Some of these graveyards house the remains of the area’s original settlers.>With such historical significance, several area nonprofits have taken to identifying and inventorying the burials at each cemetery. To find a list, visit historicsouthpittsburgtn.org.Source: South Pittsburg Historic Preservation Society
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PLANNING A WEDDING?Check out Chapel on the Hill, a rustic setting with definite rural appeal for the exchange of vows. The chapel was built in 1888 and has been completely restored, serving as an ideal place for beginning life with a loved one.