1867

Our archives are growing every day. We were beyond pleased to find an article from 1867 - 1 year after J. W. Kelly arrived in Chattanooga and set up shop - with a brief mention of Kelly and Webb. This was the second company beneath the J.W. Kelly & Co umbrella, the first being Deep Spring Distillery. Kelly partnered with J. G. Webb in a grocery/tobacco store here in Chattanooga. (You can check out one of their ads we found from a newspaper in Gasden, Alabama here. ) In this fire, a hotel - the Crutchfield House - burned down.

Note: The Crutchfield House originally opened in 1856. When it burned down in 1867, it was rebuilt and reopened in 1872. It is now the Historic Read House, which - back in the day - was right across the street from J.W. Kelly & Co.

The article makes a brief reference, but it is definitely one we were excited to find. (Hint: it’s in the last paragraph.)

Nashville Union & American September 22, 1867