Long Awaited Arrival of Hardeman County’s Bicentennial Family History Book is Here
A bustling festival was held on Bolivar’s town square in the Fall of 2023 in celebration of Hardeman County’s bicentennial year. The festival featured food trucks, local vendors, live music, and blissful residents. Two years after the bicentennial celebration, copies of the Hardeman County Tennessee Family History Volume III History Book, bicentennial edition, have been delivered to the Bolivar-Hardeman County Library.
So what took so long?
To honor the bicentennial year, a committee was formed in the Spring of 2022 to begin plans for Hardeman County’s third family history book. The book was intended to be published in December 2023. However, just as the county was experiencing several hardships, including a transition of mayors and a million-dollar lawsuit, so did the history book planning process. The committee’s Chairman, Greg Howell, passed away two months after the first submission, leaving the committee without a leader, until the committee eventually dissolved. In addition to a crumbling committee, there were not enough submissions to make the required standard compilation. Ultimately, the publisher, Acclaim Press, decided to publish the book with the histories that had been submitted.
Despite the lack of overall community enthusiasm for the book, there were a few passionate Hardeman County residents who believed in the importance of preserving our history. Because of their devoted efforts, Hardeman County residents will now be able to flip through a physical book highlighting their county’s history. If there are historical events not included in the book, it is because they were not submitted.
Those who placed an order for a family history book are invited to pick their book up at the Bolivar-Hardeman County Library on Friday, August 1, and Saturday, August 2, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Extra copies will also be available for purchase at the library for $60. Call the library at (731) 658-3436 for more information.
Author Hannah Thompson
As the assistant director of the Bolivar‑Hardeman County Library, Hannah has the privilege of sharing her love of stories with the Hardeman County community every day. She is excited to do the same as a member of the Hatchie Press team. When she is not working, you’ll likely find Hannah reading in the company of her sweet feline children, Galinda and Galileo.
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