In 1969, two neighboring small towns - Soddy (to the north) and Daisy (to the south) - along with nearby developed areas along U.S. Highway 27, merged to form Soddy-Daisy.
Its city limits encompassed 18 square miles along Dayton Pike and Highway 27.
Residents of Soddy-Daisy will celebrate the community's 50th anniversary on Saturday, Sept. 28, with activities and music in Veterans Park, 9000 Dayton Pike, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The community is invited to bring lawn chairs and spend the afternoon socializing and reminiscing with friends.
If you go
* What: Soddy-Daisy’s 50th Anniversary Celebration* Where: Veterans Park, 9000 Dayton Pike* When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28* Admission: Free* For more information: www.soddy-daisy.org
Among activities planned will be music by Stringer's Ridge Band, inflatables and storytelling for kids and performances by choruses from three Soddy-Daisy elementary schools. Representatives will be on hand from the Soddy, Daisy and Montlake Historical Association.
Guests can show their town pride by purchasing commemorative 50th anniversary hats and T-shirts.
There are various tales about how Soddy and Daisy were named, depending on who you ask.
One version maintains Soddy is an Anglicized version of the Indian word "Tsati," which means sipping place. This could be true based on the location of Soddy Lake and many creeks and streams. A second states that Welch inhabitants corrupted the name of William Sodder's Trading Post to "Soddy."
Daisy is reportedly named after Daisy Parks, daughter of Thomas Parks, who was vice president of the Tabler-Clendys Coal Co.
For more information on Soddy-Daisy's 50th anniversary, go to www.soddy-daisy.org or call 423-332-5323.
Did you know?
Soddy-Daisy was home to Hamilton County’s first courthouse and government seat, Poe’s Tavern. The tavern, built in 1819, was the home of Hasten Poe.In 1838, the tavern served as a way station for 1,900 Cherokees who were on the Trail of Tears. During the Civil War, Poe’s Tavern was a hospital for Union and Confederate troops.Though the original Poe’s Tavern was torn down in 1911, the city of Soddy-Daisy reconstructed a replica of the building a block away from its original site.