A piece of Dunlap history could be placed on the National Register of Historic Places if the past seven years of restoration work meet National Park Service standards.
The iconic Dunlap Mercantile building in Sequatchie County is among 11 properties in Tennessee nominated for a listing on the National Register, and the Tennessee Historical Commission will vote on the 11 nominees Sept. 18.
The two-story Dunlap Mercantile building on Rankin Avenue in downtown Dunlap was built in 1899, the first brick structure built in town, and served the community as a major merchandise store for more than 80 years, according to nominating documents. Almost a decade earlier, population statistics from 1890 show Sequatchie County was home to about 3,000 people, while neighboring Bledsoe County had 6,100 residents and Marion County had a population of about 15,400.
(READ MORE: This couple is restoring buildings, revitalizing downtown Dunlap))
The restoration of the building began seven years ago, according to Cody McCarver, co-owner of the store with Lewis and Rebecca Card. McCarver mostly credits “Becky” with the successful restoration of the Mercantile along with five other downtown buildings the trio has taken on.