Middleton Displays Patriotism with Permanent Flagpole Downtown {video}
When you travel through Middleton, Tennessee on Highway 125, you will not be able to miss the newly installed flagpole in the middle of downtown where an American flag now waves in the wind. The Middleton Woman’s Club (MWC), which was instrumental in the installation project, hope it sends a message as tall and firm as the flagpole itself, to people stopping in town or just driving through, of the love of community and country felt by the people who live in the City of Middleton.
“We in Middleton are known for our patriotism. You see flags flying all over our city at City Hall, the post office, library, and various local businesses. They proudly display our flag,” said City of Middleton Mayor Mott, who opened the flag pole dedication ceremony on Saturday, December 21, 2024.
Mayor Mott went on to share it was Mr. James David Kirk, retired from Kirk’s Supermarket of Middleton, who suggested to MWC treasurer Jo Doss a flagpole be placed in the center of town. With that suggestion, the Woman’s Club got to work on bringing Mr. Kirk’s idea into reality.
“It grew from there and the Woman’s Club ran with it. The Woman’s Club is never daunted by a project,” said Mayor Mott, who expressed his appreciation for the partnership of Keith and Laurie Shelley and Willis and Willis Construction with the MWC in seeing the project through to completion.
The Woman’s Club raised much of the funding required for the project, with some assistance from Keith and Laurie Shelley, who own J.P. Shelly & Sons Hardware and the Rainbo Inn Café Coffee & Diner/Green Frog Coffee and Grill, in front of which the flagpole now stands. Willis and Willis construction provided the labor.
“We have been working on this project for months,” said Ms. Doss, who has was born in Pocahontas but has live in Middleton for more than 40 years, and been a MWC member for more than 20 years. “I could not imagine a better place for the flagpole to stand. This is right here in downtown Middleton, and we have so many veterans. One is Mr. Dick Shelton who has two Purple Hearts. This town is all about patriotism!”
The Middleton Woman’s Club has been active in the city for almost 60 years. Along with completing improvement projects in Middleton, the organization also participates in community service. Mayor Mott encouraged ceremony attendees to support the MWC when it holds fundraisers, noting the money it collects through those efforts goes right back into the community.
Heather Harris has been a member of the organization for seven years, and the president for the last two years.
“The Middleton Woman’s Club is an integral part of our community because we give back and serve our community, which we love! We are there for everybody who needs us,” said Ms. Harris. “We have 25 active members who are nominated and selected by the club, and we vote and run our meetings just like a parliamentary procedure. It is very formal.”
MWC member Mary Barkley, whose mother was also a MWC member, shared some history of the earlier projects, which have been credited to the organization.
“The Woman’s Club is the one that got the telephone lines put through Middleton,” said Ms. Barkley. “The Middleton Woman’s Club was also instrumental in getting a permanent place for the library.”
Although she is not a native of Middleton, Ms. Harris loves living in the community and serving as part of the MWC.
“I love it! I married into Middleton and can’t imagine living anywhere else. It is just a wonderful place to live. Everybody is just there for everyone and supports each other and loves each other. Just like any event we have, fundraiser, or whatever, everybody shows up and just truly cares. You feel that sense of love.”
The Middleton Fire Department presented the MWC with a plaque recognizing its efforts in continuing to provide for the betterment of the Middleton community.
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