Editor’s Notes
We’re Ready For Spring!
Spring is an exciting time, and we’ve got a magazine that covers it all, plus our terrific calendar and dining guide to help you get the most out of this gorgeous season.
This was a banner year for Helping Hand. Some of the radio auction’s most enthusiastic participants were youngsters from Sulphur Well Church of Christ. Don’t miss their story in Around Our Town.
Arts and Entertainment is brimming with news of an upcoming visit from Bethel University’s Renaissance Theatre. “Matilda the Musical” comes to the Krider Performing Art Center stage in April, thanks to a trio of partners – KPAC, Arts Council and the Chamber. Buy tickets now to see talented performers tell Matilda’s endearing story.
Warm weather is the start of camping and gardening season, and no one has funnier camping tales than Bill Neese in Back in the Day. Our other favorite humorist, John Watkins, made me laugh out loud with his garden history, especially the invention of the garden hose.
If you attended last year’s World’s Biggest Fish Fry Grand Parade, you’ll remember Grand Marshal George Combs, Jr. Our Neighbors features snippets from this local icon’s interview with Paris Podcast. Coincidentally, Combs discusses attending Atkins-Porter Elementary School, which is featured in Reminiscence and Remember When. The history lesson continues with a fascinating piece about the Swor family, whose linage may be more thoroughly researched than the Royals!
This issue points the spotlight on long-time, Paris barber Jerry Maddox. I was so excited to read what he has been up to in retirement. No one will be surprised that he has a new project that folks are already loving.
From pickleball to a locally filmed movie, there’s lots more to read.
And last, but not least, springtime in Henry County means it’s time for theWorld’s Biggest Fish Fry! Be sure to check out the inside back cover for a full list of events.
Happy Hushpuppies Y’all,
In This Issue

BACK IN THE DAY: Sleeping on a Railroad Bed
By Bill Neese
I had always heard stories of a small gauge railroad that carried clay from the pits to the processing shed in Whitlock. The best I can tell, it wasn’t even a narrow gauge, just a special built train with open cars and a small steam engine. I have been told various routes, but I do not have any solid information. Read More >>

THE PAST 200 YEARS: Uncle Jesse's Swortown
By James H. Swor, Jr
This story is part of an ongoing series by PARIS! Magazine for the Henry County Bicentennial.
One of my most memorable experiences growing up was listening to my grand-uncle Jesse F. Swor and my grandparents talking about the subject of “Swortown.” To a shy preteen who was curious about anyone outside of our small family unit having “my” name, it was magical to hear that there was actually a “town” named after me. Read More >>

REMINISCENCE: Remembering Atkins-Porter School
By Shannon McFarlin
You know you’ve had a good childhood when your memories of your grade school are sweet ones. That’s the case of Atkins-Porter School, which remains a good memory for generations of Paris residents even many years after the school has been gone. We realized just how important Atkins-Porter School was to its former students when we posted a photo of the school on our Facebook page and 144 people shared their memories with us.
Read More >>

REMEMBER WHEN: Old-time School Photos
Third grade class at the former Atkins-Porter School, taught by Mrs. Ramsey, in 1945-46. And, of course, they’re posing on the familiar front steps at the former school. (click more for names and more photos!)
Read More >>

AROUND OUR TOWN: Just a Swell Bunch of Kids
By Shannon McFarlin
Despite all the obstacles faced by the Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction due to the COVID pandemic, Helping Hand is having a banner year.
Read More >>

JUST FOR FUN: Crossword Puzzle Fun
Test your word skills with this fun Springtime crossword puzzle!
Read More >>

FEATURE: Acting "Steadfast" Local Actors to Appear in Upcoming Movie
By Karen Geary
It’s been quite a year for Reece Hassell. The former sportswriter for Jackson’s WBBJ-TV is currently a grad assistant at the University of Memphis-Lambuth Campus, but he has also scored as a “feature extra” in Luke Bryan’s music video, “Up”, and a major character part in the upcoming movie, “Steadfast Country Christmas.” And he became engaged, too!
Read More >>

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Roald Dahl's Matilda, the Musical, is Coming to KPAC
The Krider Performing Arts Center, the Paris-Henry County Arts Council, and the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce are proud to partner with Bethel University to bring Bethel University’s Renaissance Theatre program back to the Krider Performing Arts Center this spring.
Read More >>

FACES & PLACES: People & Events About Town
Don’t miss this fun section chock full of fun, education, music and every good thing in Paris and Henry County.
Read More >>

SPOTLIGHT: Jerry Maddox: A Cut Above
By Shannon McFarlin
Before his retirement, Jerry Maddox had cut hair for generations of Henry Countians –and he loved it. “I enjoyed the people. I’m a people person,” he said. “And most of my customers I now count as my friends.” Maddox started cutting hair in 1961, and he’s met a lot of people and heard a lot of stories. And he’s told a lot of stories.
Read More >>

OUR NEIGHBORS: Paris Podcast: George Combs, Jr, a Parisian Gem
Maybe you know him as Tink or maybe you call him Little George. He has at least four monikers: Tink, Dr. Love, Little George and George Combs, Jr.
Read More >>

HEALTHY IDEAS: Play Ball! No Pickles Required
By Rhonda Stanton
What do you do when it’s 1965 and you need to entertain your kids with no cable TV, DVD’s, video games, computers or cell phones? You use what you have and make the rest up! That’s exactly what dads Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum did in Washington State when they took the sports equipment they had on hand and created the game of pickleball. They took rules from tennis, badminton, and table tennis to create a new game for their families to enjoy.
Read More >>

PARIS CUISINE: Copycats: Restaurant Dishes Made at Home
What’s better than going out? Staying in and cooking the most delicious dishes in the comfort of your own home. Get ready for a takeout fakeout with these easy copycat recipes.
Read More >>

IN THE GARDEN: John's Gardening Trivia
By John Watkins
Spring at last! Looking back through some previous articles and trying to come up with some worthwhile ideas to write about, I noticed that I have been submitting these short compositions for over 10 years now (and for some reason, they keep encouraging me!) So with that kind of history behind me, I got to thinking that while we’re on the subject what better time than now to look back at a little garden history as well.
Read More >>

World's Biggest Fish Fry
69th Annual Fish Fry, 2022 Schedule
Read More >>
- Alexander, Thompson & Arnold
- All Temp Heating & Cooling
- Attitudes Hair & Nail Salon
- Bo & Co. Boutique
- Paris Board of Public Utilities
- CBTC Investments/LPL Financial
- Cannon Realty Group
- Coast To Coast Tinting
- Edward Jones
- First Baptist Church
- Foundation Bank
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Henry County Medical Center
- Henry County Monument Works
- Joe Mahan Ford
- Cinematic Saviors, Senior Thesis Exhibition by Knox Brewer (see events and ad in magazine)
- Lakeway Animal Clinic
- Lakeway IGA
- Landmark Realty
- LPL Financial
- Lura Lee’s Gift Shoppe
- McEvoy Funeral Home
- Mineral Wells Animal Clinic
- Moody Realty
- Moon’s Jewelry
- Neese Law Firm
- Paris Civic Center
- PARIS! Distribution
- Paris First United Methodist Church
- Paris-Henry County Arts Council
- Paris Henry-County Chamber of Commerce
- Paris Insurance Agency
- Paris Pharmacy
- Parisian Theatre
- Peggy Sydnor, Realtor
- Peppers Automotive
- Premier Realty Group
- Servall Restoration
- Sight 2 See Family Eye Care
- Silverwood Cabinetry
- State Farm Insurance
- Street Dynamics
- Tennessee Valley Community Church
- Trolinger’s
- TruGreen
- Twin Lakes Dental Associates
- West Tennessee Bone & Joint
- Wimberley Agency
- World’s Biggest Fish Fry
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