Tag: Dixie Carter

The Dixie

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On September 17, 2025, the Huntingdon TN Historical Society went to The Dixie, in Huntingdon, TN in order to conduct their monthly meeting. Above is the video associated with the presentation. At this meeting, Ms. Jean Newsome and Ms. Susan Cary gave the history of The Dixie. The full history of The Dixie is on The Dixie’s webpage at: dixiepac.net/history-and-mission. The following is a summary of the history of The Dixie.

Above is the famous Dixie Carter as she explains what it means to be raised in a kind and nurturing atmosphere. Home. That is what Tennessee means to a lot of us. Home. Where our parents and ancestors lived and died. Home. Where we are loved and accepted by our family members and community members. Home. Where people try to be kind and considerate of others. Home. Where we, as members, are safe. Home is not perfect. The only perfect home is in Heaven. But this, in this case, Huntingdon, Tennessee is home.

The Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center was named after one of Carroll County’s most famous personages – Dixie Carter. Dixie Carter was born in McLemoresville, Tennessee in 1939. Dixie Carter became famous on the hit show, Designing Women. Dixie Carter played Julia Sugarbaker, one of the main roles. Dixie Carter also is known for her roles on Desperate Housewives and Family Law. Dixie made her debut in 1960 in a production of Carousel. She moved to New York City in 1963 and landed a role in an off Broadway production of Shakespeare’s A Winter’s Tale.

Dixie Carter moved to Los Angeles in 1979 and married actor Hal Holbrook in 1980. Besides the roles listed above, Dixie Carter had roles in Diff’rent Strokes and The Edge of Night, among many other roles.

Pictured below is the Mudslingers Studio, which is a part of The Dixie. The Mudslinger Studio offers classes in pottery to local people. The Dixie also offers music programs and Summer Camp programs.

The Dixie also offers tours and has recently renovated portions of The Dixie.

The Dixie was built on the court square of Huntingdon, TN. Hal Holbrook gave his expertise during the building of the theater in the Dixie, which is why the theater is named after him.

The origins of The Dixie began in December of 1999 with Mayor Dale Kelley, who unveiled plans for The Dixie. The original idea had been to place the theater into the original buildings in place, which were 125 years old. However, in 2004 during early construction, a portion of the south wall of The Dixie collapsed. After a safety assessment, it was decided that the safest route was to completely demolish the existing buildings. The original buildings were demolished and bricks from the original buildings were used throughout the Dixie when building The Dixie.

The Hal Holbrook Theater has hosted many great performances. Some include the following: New York City Ballet, Nashville Symphony, Richard Marx, Lady Antebellum, Ronnie Milsap, Carol Channing, Sara Evans, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra, just to name a few.

In addition to The Dixie’s webpage, information on this page came from volopedia.lib.utk.edu/entries/dixie-virginia-carter. Come visit The Dixie! You’ll be glad you did!

Mr. Phil Williams, McLemoresville, and a Special Guest from Rutherford County

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On Wednesday, May 21, 2025 Mr. Phil Williams was the speaker at the monthly meeting of the historical society. However, before Mr. Williams spoke, the group was introduced to a Mr. James Allen Gooch from the Rutherford County Historical Society. Mr. Gooch knew Mr. Williams through the Williams Furniture Store in McKenzie, Tennessee that Phil Williams owned and managed for 46 years before his retirement. James and Carol Gooch specialize in cemetery preservation and offered their knowledge to the group.

Phil Williams gave his talk on the history of McLemoresville, Tennessee, as well as on his father, Billy O. Williams, who was a Poet Laureate of Carroll County and an Associate Poet Laureate of the State of Tennessee.

Pictured above is Billy O. Williams. Billy Williams also served in the Air Force during WWII. During this presentation, Phil Williams read a poem that his father had written to the group.

Above is a picture of the Old Main Campus Building of Bethel College. Bethel College began as Bethel Seminary and was founded by West Tennessee Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1842. The picture above was taken at approximately 1900 – 1905. The college was moved to McKenzie, TN in 1872.

This was a picture of the Main Campus Building that was town down in 1912.

Carrolton was established as a town on land that was owned by R.E.C. Dougherty, who was a surveyor and entry taker in 1819.  The town later became McLemoresville.

The town of McLemoresville was named for Colonel John Christmas Mclemore, who owned much of the land in McLemoresville in 1820.  The first county court was also in McLemoresville.  It was called the court of pleas and quarter sessions and was organized in March of 1822.

Perhaps the most famous resident of McLemoresville, TN is Dixie Carter, who was born in McLemoresville, Tn in 1939. Her father owned and operated a dry goods store in McLemoresville. Dixie Carter is also buried in McLemoresville.

There is a link at the top of the page to the video on the presentation by Phil Williams of the history of McLemoresville, Tn.