Magnolia tree

The home of Mr & Mrs William B. Drake (built in the 1880s) was once located at 2nd and Pleasant (present location of Trueblood Real Estate). Mr. Drake was Mayor and Town Marshal. He was also a wagonmaker and a Union veteran who was wounded at the battle of Murfreesboro. Mrs Drake grew many rare and unique plants. Her exotic garden (which stretched to Oak St) was featured in a circa 1900 gardening magazine. Mrs Drake planted the Magnolia tree that still stands on the corner. Madge Gazley, daughter of Clara Stevenson, was the last resident of the Drake house and it was torn down in 1973-74 to build Dr.Goodwin’s Optometry Office (later converted to Trueblood Real Estate).