Bicentennial Plan: Covington looks toward tommorow with help from yesterday
By: Craig Spence, The Leader
Covington marks a special milestone this year: 2025 is the 200th anniversary of the city’s founding. Two centuries of stories, life experiences, evolution and change, not always such smooth transitions.
The county seat grew from a Native American trade route used well before the New World’s rediscovery by Europeans. It became the county seat for the fledgling Tipton County in 1824 before the state legislature officially recognized Covington’s incorporation in December 1826.
Time and the world did not always treat the city kindly. Wars, the Great Depression, and social tensions all played their parts to bog down Covington’s progress, the effects of which became evident as the city’s shine began to dim.
Revival became the objective, but hurdles stood in the way: Memphis, for example, and its musical history and sheer size difference; Union City and the Discovery Park of America; Alamo and the Safari Park. These attractions and factoids do well to draw attention to their homes, but what could Covington offer?
The answer sat on every street corner, business façade, and city park: Covington could offer Covington.
“Downtown is the heartbeat of Covington,” said Stephanie Pugh, director of Main Street Covington. “We have so much history to share and hidden treasures to offer, and that’s exactly what we want to do.”
Renewal began in earnest after the turn of the 21st century.
On the state level, Tennessee re-established the Tennessee Main Street Program in 2003. This program helps communities with economic revitalization and development and is based on the model of the National Main Street Center. The four key points to for recognition are:
Design: Not only must downtown look aesthetically appealing, but it must also be physically safe and inviting.
Economic vitality: Play to the location’s current strengths, explore other opportunities, bring in and keep businesses.
Promotion: Let the market know what can be found, where to find it, and when.
Organization: Network among the downtown-invested to create a local nonprofit Main Street operation.
2003 also saw the establishment of the Covington Economic Development Corporation (CEDC), the entity that would help Covington satisfy the fourth point.
Former Chamber of Commerce director Lee Johnston continued the process with beautification projects and improvements to paving and walkways around the historic Covington square. Soon came landscaping projects that brought splashes of color and floral fragrances to those who walked the area. Boutiques, cafes, bakeries, and specialty shops began to pop up in former for-rent spaces.
Patriot Park and the Park on the Square both received facelifts. 2012 saw the first annual Chocolate Tour and showcased Covington as Tennessee’s sweet spot. The Heritage Festival showcased the offerings annually. Scarecrows decorated the square and showed Covington’s season’s spirit. Dickens pays his yuletide visit every year to bring holiday cheer alongside special shows at the Ruffin.
It sounds like a lovely way to spend a casual afternoon: Grab a bite to eat at Jose’s on the Square, walk over to Theo and Roe’s to see what new flavors Tara created for the day, walk around window shopping (so no accidental drips from the cone), and catch a show, all in the intimacy of local downtown.
The progress continues today, though not without its own hiccups.
“Hurricane Helene hit during the Tennessee Main Street Grant decision,” Pugh said, “so we had to wait two months to find out if we would receive $300,000 to put toward our goals.”
Once the wait ended and the grant came in, the CEDC wasted no time and funneled the funds and effort directly into revitalization. This work led to Covington’s national accreditation within its first year, an almost unheard-of accomplishment.
“Not many towns can go from application to acceptance to accredited like that,” Pugh said. “It just confirmed in my mind we were doing things the right way, even if not everything went as quickly as possible.”
The return on investment, while slow, shows in repainted buildings along the span, in the completed mural and second in progress, in the inclusion of nationally registered historic buildings such as Hotel Lindo (1982), the Ruffin (1992), and Rose Construction (formerly the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, 1997).
In the establishment of businesses like Theo and Roe’s, Jose’s on the Square, Old Town Hall, and Liberty Vintage. The Cellar. Bayou Belle’s Boutique. Crafted Coffee. Mix-South. Currently, the total sits at 19 retail establishments and 12 eateries along the square.
In the sounds of chatter from groups who walk along the sidewalks and ooh and aah over some retro piece that caught their attention or the recollections of a grandparent to a wide-eyed child who cannot imagine a time before Wi-Fi and streaming services.
In a simple delight it brought Stephanie Pugh while in Philadelphia during a Main Street conference. She shared a taste of home with the group and pointed out the Blow Pops sold in Pennsylvania started off in a factory in a little place called Covington, Tenn.
To help further the message of homegrown showcases, the Bicentennial Gala will bring together the past, present and future of the county seat to honor the legacies Main Street offers.
“There are three driving influences that make a community,” Pugh said. “History, industry, and agriculture. Well, we happen to have all three of those here! Why not celebrate our smalltown legacies?”
Take the Turner family, for instance, who the Tennessee Department of Agriculture recognized for five generations and 250 years spent as proud farmers. This service helped to build the foundation of Tipton County.
Or Charms, Covington’s oldest operating industry (1973): The company announced a $97.7 million expansion project that is projected to bring 62 new jobs to the plant. The project broke ground earlier this year.
Or Barlow Funeral Home, which joins the Century Business List as it turns 100 this year. It joins other long-term Tipton County businesses such as The Leader (1886), Covington Granite (1890), Maley Yarbrough Funeral Home (1890), and Naifeh’s Foods (1910).
The gala will also honor the four living mayors of Covington to recognize their leadership and advocacy for the city: former mayors Russell Bailey, David Gordon, Justin Hanson, and incumbent mayor Jan Hensley.
In addition to the honors, the gala will also offer a (responsible) cash bar, catering by Rick Laxton, dancing backed by live music from the Bruce Kee Band, and a silent auction, the proceeds of which will go the continued growth, preservation, and revitalization of downtown Covington.
The Bicentennial Gala will take place Saturday, November 15, 2025, from 7 p.m. to midnight. The dress code is cocktail attire, a lovely balance of comfort and elegance. Tickets cost $50 per person and can be purchased via link at https://www.mainstreetcovington.org/.
