For years these four lots in the center of town at Jefferson and Main streets was called "The Town Square" or "The Public Square". There is no written history as to why this county owned property was set apart from the rest of the town. Altogether they are not nearly large enough for a courthouse, so maybe they were meant to be hitching, feeding and watering lots for the horse-drawn vehicles that came to town for business. Before 1930, the traffic flow in Nashville was centered at the Public Square. While Van Buren Street had mostly businesses, it was a dead end on the south at about where the traffic signal is now.

The square was not maintained and was barren of trees and grass until 1917, when a photographer took residence in what is now known as the Taggart House. He prohibited activity there and established a good lawn. The photographer, Frank M. Hohenberger, also took charge of the well in front of his studio and kept it clean and the pump in repair. All of his photo development was done with the water from this well, and he did not allow any abuse of it.

The lot adjacent to the United Methodist Church received some attention and became a spot for horseshoe players. In the 1930’s, high school teacher and basketball coach, Joseph S. Haines began maintaining the horseshoe court and expected all of the players to play by official rules- not “Barnyard” style. The older men did not like to change their game, but since Mr. Haines was keeping up the court and providing the equipment, they went along. The men even rigged up lights for late evening play. After school hours, Mr. Haines would make the court ready by clanging the shoes and the men would gather. Among the players were Clyde McDonald, John Sherrill, Mr. Hohenbereger and Jim Bowden.

The level places on the lot were used by the boys of Nashville for mumbletepeg or marbles. At festival times in the spring and summer, the girls danced around the maypole and the boys competed at climbing the greased pole or catching greased pigs. The Northeast part of the square was generally reserved for stickball or darebase.

The southeast lot had a good well and pump, and a water trough. There is some record that the well was originally a flowing artesian well, but was plugged with a log chain. Some effort was made to remove the chain, but without success.

(From 1989 Letter to the Democrat Editor by Fred King)