These 12 Rare Photos Show Tennessee’s Farming History Like Never Before

Here in Tennessee, our farming community is one of the most important facets of our state well-being. Our rolling countrysides and ranch homes are full of history, carrying on an age-old tradition into the normalcy of the everyday. You know what our great farmers are today - but have you ever taken a look into the past, to see what once was?

1. Durham General Store, 1807.

The building, unfortunately, is no longer standing. This was where both farm goods and wares were sold and purchased.

2. Farmers and Merchants Bank, built in 1925.

Located in Cannon County.

3. Dean Bell taking a look at his ten-acre corn field.

This photograph was taken in August of 1963.

4. Strip cropping on the Melton Farm

This photograph was taken in October, 1959.

5. Farming in the sixties.

A rare photograph taken during the 1960's. Date unknown.

6. A field of rye grain.

This photograph was taken in May of 1963.

7. And where there is rye grain there should be a field of corn, too.

This photo was taken in 1971, with the location just outside of Bradyville, Tennessee.

8. A farmer checking his stream channel.

Photograph taken in 1969.

9. Calculating the spring water supply.

This photograph was taken in the summer of 1965.

10. Planting trees in response to erosion.

Finas Gunter observes his land in 1965.

11. Spreading a bit of fertilizer to ready the field for corn.

Taken in May, 1965.

12. Perusing a field of lespedeza.

Curious what lespedeza is? Here, it's a type of pasture hay.

What a strange thing, to look so far back in the past. Enjoy another peek into behind the Tennessee state curtain with this unique hidden destination.