To Save a Small Town
What happens when the central square of a once-thriving small town — indeed, the governmental seat of its surrounding county — begins to decay amid declining revenues, general neglect and disrepair? What happens when classic architectural details begin to disintegrate on the deteriorating historic structures that once proudly drew the community’s residents into town to shop, dine and mingle? Does a white knight ever ride into such a place to rescue it from the mire?
In the case of Bolivar, Tennessee, the answer was a resounding yes.
The town, named in honor of the famed South American patriot and liberator, Simon Bolivar, is home to approximately 6,000 residents.
At the same time that Bolivar’s town officials were vying for state funding to revitalize the courthouse, several local businessmen were busy crafting a much larger plan to bring prosperity and an old-fashioned sense of community back to the town square. The group hired Memphis-based firm Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, Inc., in concert with Page/Duke landscape architects of Nashville, to study how to revitalize the area around the courthouse and to create a master plan. The resulting Hardeman County Development Strategy was presented to Tennessee’s Governor in September 2007.
The plan recommended that “rural stewardship” be used to create an incentive-based regional growth strategy that preserves and enhances the county’s best assets. The plan focused on the inter-relationships between historic preservation, conservation, transportation and tourism. In it, several major initiatives were outlined, featuring a master plan for downtown Bolivar, as well as the creation of a life-like battlefield memorial, improved access to the nearby Hatchie River, and construction of a new lake as part of the Bill Dance Signature Lake Trail throughout Tennessee.
The old and new now peacefully co-exist on the square, where this centuries-old oak tree graces the courthouse lawn, surrounded by a new brick wall with concrete capstones designed by Ben Page.
The town was one of only six state jurisdictions to be awarded funds through The Courthouse Square Revitalization Act of 2005. With the help of Ben Page, Looney Ricks Kiss, and others, the project launched. Historic buildings around the square were restored, and new retail tenants began moving in. Sidewalks were updated, and streetscapes were planted with ginkgoes and crape myrtles. The courthouse was renovated, and a new 300-seat outdoor amphitheater was put in place just behind it.
To date, a number of projects have been completed, and the goal of bringing people back to the square has been realized. Each week, on Tuesdays and Fridays, town residents converge around the courthouse, often hundreds in all, to enjoy concerts in the amphitheater.
Location:
The town of Bolivar, with a population of about 6,000, is located in Hardeman County, just 45 minutes east of Memphis, Tennessee. The area’s current economy is based on light manufacturing, wood milling and agriculture.
HARDEMAN COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY:
Conceived and designed by Ben Page as a gathering place for the community, the ampitheater behind the courthouse seats nearly 300 people.
The plan that was presented to the Governor in September 2007 included the following projects:
- Bolivar Downtown Master Plan: Using funds awarded through The Courthouse Square Revitalization Act of 2005, establish Bolivar as an attractive and desirable place to live, work and play.
- Highway By-Pass: Create a boulevard-type by-pass that traverses the countryside adjacent to the city in order to divert large trucks away from the courthouse square.
- Bolivar/Hardeman County Airport: Improve the existing hangar and runways, build a new entrance and access roads, and construct a new terminal to serve the growing needs of the community and the region and to make the area more accessible to tourists.
- Warren Street, behind the Courthouse, is blocked off during outdoor concerts so the stage can be set up for the band.
- Hatchie River: Create the Hatchie River Conservancy with a mission torestore, preserve and enhance use of the Hatchie River, designated by The Nature Conservancy as one of the 75 last great places on earth most deserving of protection for future generations.
- Lake Silerton: Create an additional asset to attract tourism and serve as a catalyst for community development, while also creating a centerpiece for recreational enjoyment for the region.
- Ghost of Davis Bridge: Create a three-dimensional Civil War battlefield complete with life-size figures carved from limestone at the site of the Battle of Hatchie Bridge (also called Davis Bridge).
The new lampstands downtown, fashioned to look old, proudly display banners promoting the weekly Music on the Square events, which showcase local talent.
COMPLETED PROJECTS (AS OF 10 OCTOBER, 2009):
- Restoration of the historic Hardeman County Courthouse.
- Construction of a 300-seat amphitheater adjacent to the courthouse.
- Improvements to the square’s sidewalks and streetscapes, including landscaping and lighting.
- Restoration of more than 50 buildings surrounding the Courthouse square.
- Construction of a timber-framed pavilion that is home to the new Farmers’ Market, just a block from Court Square.
FUTURE PROJECTS SLATED FOR DEVELOPMENT:
- Turn a fire-ravaged block along Court Square into a remarkable theater of performing arts, blending the new (a grand theater with state-of-the-art acoustics) with the historic by transforming the old Bank of Bolivar building (listed in the National Register of Historic Places) into a breathtaking lobby (with 25-foot ceilings and balconies) and reception hall.
- Construct a charming new hotel fashioned from a row of Reconstruction Era buildings and storefronts right on Court Square.
- Construct a courtyard for relaxing or dining immediately adjacent to Farmers’ Market.
For more information on Bolivar, contact Marni Truelove, mtruelove4@comcast.net, 615.636.2077