yesterday's tennessee

United Grocery Company
Our 50th Year, 1905-1955

from the collection of Brenda Fiddler

It was the sixth year of a new century - a century that was to be the most important in the history of mankind. Theodore Roosevelt was President of the United States and the American economy was bustling along in the surge of prosperity that followed the Spanish-American War. In the South, in those days of 1905, progress came slowly, for industry was almost unknown, and business had not completely recovered from the devastation of the War Between the States. The sturdy people of West Tennessee, living among the hills that their grandfathers had cleared, had begun to sense the hope and promise of a new and better age.

Thus begins the booklet published in 1955 by the United Grocery Company of Lexington to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the company and to honor their customers and employees.  Continue reading the booklet by clicking "next" at the top or bottom of this page.  You can go directly to specific pages by selecting the page number from the pull down menu at the top or bottom of each page.

The pages of this booklet containing text have been transcribed for easier reading.  Click on the image on any page to view the full size original page.

Please contact me if you have additional pictures or information on the United Grocery Company that you would like to contribute.

United Grocery Co. will Celebrate 50th Anniversary

August 26, 1955
Lexington Progress

United Grocery Co., founded in 1905, will celebrate 50 years of progress with free entertainment on the Square and open house for its customers.

Appearing in the free entertainment on the Square Thursday will be Opry stars, Marty Robbins, Moon Mullican and Rod Brasfield.

[The original company merged with the one organized in 1917 by Fanning, W. W. Hay and Bob Hart.]

[September 9, 1955 with photo of Mrs. Hare and Mr. Fanning: Mrs. John L. Hare brought in the oldest receipt, and invoice dated December 3, 1905 for three barrels of flour.] 

W.C. Fanning

February 29, 1952
Lexington Progress

One of the better known salesmen of this section is Lexington’s W.C. Fanning, who will observe his eightieth birthday next July 11. 

Mr. Fanning spent over forty years with the same firm as salesman and is vice-president of United Grocery Co., a position he has held since the firm was organized in 1917.  From 1905 to 1917, Mr. Fanning traveled for Enochs-Edenton Co.

On November 17, 1896, Mr. Fanning was married to Mrs. Cora Davenport.  They have one son, Innes, who is connected with the Memphis Baseball Club.

Born near Decaturville, Mr. Fanning came to Lexington in 1905.  He is the son of the late Alfred and Sarah Fanning.  He is a member of the Church of Christ, is a Mason and is a member of the Eastern Star.

Mr. Fanning attended Decaturville schools and received his business degree from the old Huntingdon Normal.   

Mr. Fanning is an avid baseball fan and Fanning Field is named in his honor.