Remember the canopies in Downtown LaFollette?

By Charlie Hutson

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – In the late 1960s, Urban Renewal came to Lafollette. At that time, there were several government projects underway in downtown. 

One of those projects was to install sidewalk canopies on both sides of Central Avenue from Nevada Avenue on the north side and from Depot Street on the south side to near the viaduct bridge. They were also down North Tennessee Avenue from Central to about Mill Street on both sides.

In the late 1980s, the city decided to remove the canopies at the request of the downtown merchants. The canopies leaked when it rained and snowed and made the downtown area really dark.  After sundown, there was no lighting under the canopies.

Another problem was that on occasion someone would walk into the poles that held them up which was anchored in the center of the sidewalk. If you look really close, some of the old canopies can still be seen around town today. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 10/21/2021-6AM)