Happy Birthday, East Ridge! Cake and concerts mark 95th birthday

The city of East Ridge is throwing a birthday bash Saturday, Aug. 20, in Camp Jordan Arena to mark its 95th birthday, and everyone’s invited.

“There’s a lot happening in East Ridge right now,” says Marvin “Stump” Martin, East Ridge Parks and Recreation director. “Bass Pro Shop just opened, we’ve added a Wal-Mart [Neighborhood Market], and we’ve got a new interchange coming where people will pull directly off I-75 South onto Camp Jordan Parkway. A lot of the restaurants here are remodeling, and there are new ones coming in. Our park is doing better than ever before, and it’s an exciting time to be in East Ridge.”

Although settlers first arrived in that area as early as 1840 when Pressley Lomineck moved his family east of Missionary Ridge, it wasn’t until 1920, after World War I, that citizens began discussions on becoming a chartered town, according to East Ridge history on file at the East Ridge City Library.

Meeting in East Side School at the corner of Marlboro Avenue and Ringgold Road, citizens elected a temporary mayor and five commissioners: S.M. Hudlow, R.J. Citty, S.M. Snyder, P.C. Pennebaker and Mike Lerch. A charter of incorporation was drawn up for the Tennessee legislature to grant. Legend has it that when the document was being made, lawyer Shepherd Pope asked B.D. Stone what to call the area. Stone replied, “East Ridge.”

On April 4, 1921, the General Assembly passed House Bill No. 1271, Chapter 569 of the Private Acts of Tennessee of 1921, and East Ridge became a fully incorporated town with a population (then) of about 300.

Officials are planning to celebrate with a much larger crowd at Saturday’s party. A cake that will feed 3,500 will be cut at 5 p.m. Guests will be served inside the air-conditioned Camp Jordan arena.

Melissa Lee – nicknamed Diminutive Dynamite – will kick off the night’s music with her band. She has been touring with headliners Confederate Railroad. She also has been opening for Nashville names such as Cole Swindell and Tyler Farr.

At 7 p.m., North Georgia-based Smith & Wesley takes the stage for a 90-minute set. Brothers Scott and Todd Smith lead the band, backed by father-and-son guitarists Steve and Josh Pettyjohn, keyboardist Greg Gordy, Dee Callahan on bass and Brad Thompson on drums. The “Wesley” in the band’s name is a nod to the Smith brothers’ dad, who recently passed away.

“Close your eyes and listen, and you’ll think you’ve got Marshall Tucker up there, because their harmonies are as good as I’ve ever heard,” says Martin of the band.

In their online bio, the brothers say their parents made them take piano lessons if they wanted to play sports in school. Since they played multiple sports, they agreed. Before long, their interest in music expanded to stringed instruments. Scott taught himself guitar, mandolin, banjo and Dobro. They started a band in 2009.

Hometown favorite Confederate Railroad will start its 90-minute set at 9 p.m. before the party concludes with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. The East Ridge bash will also be a birthday party of sorts for Danny Shirley, lead singer of the country band, who turned 60 on Aug. 12.

“Confederate Railroad is from the Chattanooga area; a lot of people around here know them. They’ve just put out a new song and have a new album out. It’s like they have rejuvenated themselves. We want to throw a party, and they’re a good party band,” says Martin.

Confederate Railroad’s set will include all the old favorites – “Jesus and Mama,” “Queen of Memphis,” “Daddy Never Was the Cadillac Kind” – as well as cuts from the band’s new album released July 15. “Lucky To Be Alive,” the band’s first album in nine years, includes a 20th anniversary remake of “Trashy Women” that features Willie Nelson, John Anderson and Colt Ford.

Earlier in the day, the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market is sponsoring the Children’s Miracle Network car show at Camp Jordan. All proceeds from the $10 entry fee will be donated to the construction of the new Children’s Hospital at Erlanger.

Registration will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., with judging at 2 p.m. Awards in nine categories will be announced at 3:40 p.m. For more information, contact 423-693-3444.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.