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Historic Columbia Funeral Home to Become African American History Museum

Issue #515

August 03, 2025

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🌧️ Columbia’s Weather - Cloudy w/ 60% chance of rain. High of 80, low of 66.

📰 Historic Columbia Funeral Home to Become African American History Museum

🚒 Fire Station Renovations Nearly Complete, Ribbon Cutting on August 8th

📌 8/5: Spring Hill Police Department’s National Night Out Against Crime

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🎵 Today’s Live Music

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Historic Columbia Funeral Home to Become African American History Museum

Photo provided by Maury County Archives

The historic Mrs. A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home in Columbia has been added to the African American Civil Rights Network, a designation that highlights its deep connection to civil rights history and African American entrepreneurship.

Located on East 8th Street, the funeral home was the site of a pivotal moment in the 1946 Columbia Race Riot, when state law enforcement violently raided the city’s Black business district. The attack, which damaged multiple properties including the funeral home, marked one of the first major post-WWII incidents of violence against African American veterans and drew national attention.

The building also played a central role in the legal response to that incident. Civil rights attorneys, including future Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, defended the accused, helping lay the foundation for the civil rights legal movement.

Originally established during the Reconstruction Era, the Morton Funeral Home represents a long legacy of Black-owned businesses and the vital roles women played in maintaining them. For decades, widows of the Morton men kept the business running, making it one of the longest-standing African American commercial institutions in the county.

Now recognized as both a local and national historic site, the building is set to be renovated and repurposed as an African American museum and cultural center. The center will focus on educating the public about the region’s civil rights history, as well as highlighting the stories of local African American residents whose contributions may often be overlooked.

The African American Heritage Society of Maury County, which led the recognition effort, also plans to seek inclusion on the national Civil Rights Trail. The transformation of the funeral home into a museum is expected to provide new educational and economic opportunities for Columbia and surrounding communities.

Fire Station Renovations Nearly Complete, Ribbon Cutting on August 8th

From the City of Columbia, TN - Government’s post…

The City of Columbia is proud to announce that Fire Station 1 is nearly complete! The temporary emergency response trailer has been removed and fire crews have officially moved back into the newly renovated and expanded facility!

The upgraded station features modern enhancements, including separate sleeping quarters for male and female firefighters, additional administrative space, a large conference and training room, and a dedicated emergency operations command center—equipping our fire department to better serve the Columbia community.

Join us as we celebrate this major milestone at the official Fire Station No. 1 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Friday, August 8th at 9:00 a.m. at Fire Station 1 (1000 S. Garden Street). All are welcome!

Final touches are underway, and we’re excited to showcase this investment in public safety with our community.

8/5: Spring Hill Police Department’s National Night Out Against Crime

Join the Spring Hill Police Department for the 2025 National Night Out Against Crime — a night of community, connection, and fun!

Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Location: Fischer Park | 4285 Port Royal Rd. Spring Hill, TN
Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Bring the whole family and enjoy:

Food & drinks (food trucks)
Kids’ activities & games
K-9 demos & police vehicle tours
Meet your local officers & first responders
Community safety resources

This annual event strengthens police-community partnerships and sends a powerful message that Spring Hill stands united against crime. Let’s come together for a night of fun and safety — we hope to see you there!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Sunday, August 3rd

Monday, August 4th

Tuesday, August 5th

Wednesday, August 6th

Thursday, August 7th

Friday, August 8th

MORE EVENTS COMING SOON!

📌 Mark Your Calendars…

Aug 14 - 23: Tennessee State Fair (Lebanon)
Aug 22: Tennessee Titans First Pre-Season Home Game
Aug 28 - Sept 1: Maury County Fair & Expo 

👇 Click the Links to Learn About our Local Business Sponsors! 👇

🎵 Today’s Live Music

Sunday, August 3rd 

The Sins, Amber Falls Winery, 1:00 - 5:00 PM
Texas Flood Relief Concert, The Rebel Bar & Grill, 1:00 - 7:00 PM
Elmer’s Tunes, Fozzy’s Bar & Grill, 4:00 - 7:00 PM
Jay Hoppus, Puckett’s, 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Want to get your business in What’s Up Columbia? Let’s talk