Last week, Clarksville got a little more historic, if that's even possible for Tennessee's second-oldest city. The big fuss is about the release of 'Historic Clarksville 1784-2024,' a hefty tome with an equally hefty goal: to detail the city's 240-year saga. The man of the hour, Wally Burchett, president of Burchett Media, flaunted the 392-page volume at the city's December council meeting. Bolstering local pride, all the elements – research, writing, photography, and even printing – were a true Clarksville production, according to an announcement on the City of Clarksville.
Burchett has a knack for celebrating history in more ways than one. Not only did he shepherd this behemoth book project from concept to physical reality, but he also doled out copies like an early Santa. "This is 392 pages covering our colorful and dynamic 240-year history. This has been a two year project and I'm thrilled to have been involved," he enthused in a statement obtained by the City of Clarksville. Libraries, schools, colleges, and retirement homes in the area are getting 150 freebies from the Burchett family stash. But the true cherry on top? Profits from bookstore sales are all going to the Customs House Museum and Cultural Center. Talk about giving back to your roots.
Meanwhile, as local leaders were tipping their hats to Burchett at the meeting, Mayor Joe Pitts swung in with a plaque. It wasn't just any old plaque, though. It was a nod to the Burchett lineage's enduring stamp on Clarksville, specifically commemorating the rededication of Ewing C. Burchett Park. "[The Burchett family] has a long and distinguished public service history in our community," Mayor Pitts explained, evoking the memory of a certain Ewing C. Burchett, a past city council member with, what we can only assume, was a penchant for civic duty.
Oh, and the author behind this historic endeavor? None other than Jimmy Settle, a veteran Clarksville journalist with three decades under his belt and the city's current Director of Communications. Settling into new territory, his latest work adds around 75 pages of new content that glances back at the years 2004 to 2024. He told the City of Clarksville's website, "It includes hundreds of illustrations illuminating the triumphs and tragedies of Tennessee’s second-oldest city." So, for anyone itching to get a detailed peek into Clarksville's storied past, this book could be your time machine – minus the flux capacitor, of course.
