The historic Fireman’s Fountain in Fountain Square has been dedicated to several firefighters throughout the city’s history since it was erected. | Photo by NOOGAtoday
The historic Fireman’s Memorial Fountain that sits on Georgia Avenue will soon undergo a $175,000 restoration after the City of Chattanooga donated the land to Hamilton County.
In honor of preserving its history, we’re sharing some facts you might not know about the landmark.
The origin
On June 9, 1887, a devastating incident at Fourth and Market Streets known as the “Bee Hive” fire took the lives of two Chattanooga firefighters — Henry Iler and W.M. Peak.
Erecting the fountain
A year later, the Chattanooga Times jump started a campaign to raise funds for a memorial fountain + contacted New York-based J.L. Mott Iron Co. to build it.
“Dangerous, keep out” Imagine alligators on Georgia Avenue — because in the early 1900s, the fountain was actually protected by two alligators in the water as a way to deter birds, dogs, and anyone wanting to mess with the memorial.
“Alkebulan: The Mother of Mankind” | Friday, Feb. 7-Saturday, Feb. 8 | 7-9 p.m. | The Howard School | $5+ | Journey into the heart of African history, mythology, and royalty as this production takes the stage with iconic figures like the wealthiest ruler in history, Mansa Musa.
The Emo Night Tour | 8 p.m. | The Signal | $28+ | Show that it really wasn’t just a phase by coming out to hear the greatest hits from punk bands like Taking Back Sunday, Fall Out Boy, and My Chemical Romance.
Dine Nashville: The Music City Way | Friday, Feb. 7-Sunday, March 2 | Times vary | Locations vary, Nashville | Free+ | Dine Nashville is a month-long culinary celebration featuring collaborative chef experiences, a restaurant week with specialty menus, and delicious deals at local spots. Some events are paid.*
Saturday, Feb. 8
Galentine’s Vintage Swap | 12-4 p.m. | Heirloom Chattanooga | Free | Share the secondhand love by bringing your vintage items with at least a $10 value to swap with others in the community.
Drew & Ellie Holcomb | 8 p.m. | Memorial Auditorium | $42+ | The award-winning Holcombs are joining each other once again on stage during their “Memory Bank” tour.
Sunday, Feb. 9
FrogWatch USA Volunteer Training | 2-4 p.m. | Chattanooga Zoo | Free, RSVP | Learn the calls of frogs and toads native to the area + how to record and report the different species for wildlife research.
Monday, Feb. 10
Floral Preservation | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery (Broad Street) | $50 | Build your own flower press + create an art piece with already pressed flowers.
Yelp’s Elite Squad is the place for local movers and shakers. | Photos provided by Yelp
Meet your new favorite club.
If you love food, Chattanooga, and meeting people who also love both, get to know Yelp’s Elite Squad.
As a member, you’ll be invited to special events, get to know more Chattanooga businesses, and have a genuinely good time with other Elites who write “chef’s kiss” reviews.
Here’s the best part — you can nominate yourself (or a friend) to join the Yelp Chattanooga Elite Squad. We’re cheering you on.
Editor Haley here — I recently had my first-ever In-N-Out burger, and the hype is real. Don’t get FOMO because Chattanooga is now being eyed for two to three possible locations. There aren’t sites + timelines listed just yet, but we’ll make sure to update when they do. (WVLT8)
Open
Speaking of new food options, we’ve got your next takeout order idea — Rain Thai Bistro has officially opened an express location on Broad Street. You can order menu items like crispy rolls, curries, fried rice, and more that are made by traditional recipes all the way from Laos.
Community
The Chattery has announced its Black History Month lineup of events with weekly programming. You can expect co-working every Thursday in February from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. + card making, a show and tell focused on culture, and a return of the Night Market.
Outdoors
The Raccoon Mountain Recreation Area will undergo major construction and maintenance work starting Monday, Feb. 17 through Friday, May 16. During this time, access will be closed to the public.
Sports
The 2025 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup recently announced its schedule with the first round set for Tuesday, March 18 through Thursday, March 20. The Chattanooga Red Wolves will play in the USL League One division while the Chattanooga Football Club will be matched up in the MLS Next Pro division.
Edu
The College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS) will host its E-Week CECS Open House on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This all-ages event features a lineup of interactive experiences like lab experiments and VR-play + food from local trucks.
Finance
Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. This one even offers 5% cash back on your purchases, helping you save even more while you pay down your debt.*
Health
Weight Loss by Hims & Hers makes hitting your goals simple and personalized. Answer a few questions online, and a medical provider will design a plan just for you — medications, follow-ups, and all. Plus, it’s the least expensive 12-month GLP-1 plan around†. Ready to get started?Take the free assessment.*
Job
Ready to connect with the best local talent in 2025? We created our community job board just for you. Give it a try + post your first listing for free.
†Please note: Comparison based on 12-month plan prices for compounded semaglutide from 12 leading competitors as of December 2024.
City
City
How Chattanooga preserves historic homes
Learn more about the principles mapped out to help preserve Chattanooga’s oldest buildings. | Photo by NOOGAtoday
The City of Chattanooga has released a drafted update to its Historic District Guidelines + is seeking input from residents before presenting the new document to the Historic Zoning Commission and City Council.
While we encourage folks to take the time to skim through the full 186-page document — which covers an overview of designation + guidelines for aspects like roofing, exteriors, and signage — we’re highlighting some of the sections we think our readers would be most interested in.
Section 3, p. 31-48 | Architectural styles
Chattanooga was primarily built around three major architectural styles (which all held their own subsets) — this section identifies glossary terms + characteristics common with our historic buildings like:
Late 19th Century, Victorian Era | Steep-pitched roofs, gabled dormers, brick chimneys, towers, asymmetrical facades, patterned shingles, wrap-around porches
Early 20th Century, Eclectic + Early Modern Era | Moderate-to high-pitched roof, wood shingles, symmetrical facade, unfinished masonry, Palladian windows, brick or stone foundation
Mid-Century, Modern Era | Broad roof lines, skylights, stucco facades, unadorned windows, stoop or decks
A corner bathroom counter organizer. Elegant and functional, its three tiers are perfect for housing toiletries and cosmetics while saving precious bathroom counter space.
I know it’s hard to think winter thoughts with this warm front that’s taking over this week, but I’m bringing you all back to some of the coldest days in Chattanooga history. In our recent quiz, 26.6% of readers were correct — Jan. 20, 1985 was the third coldest day in history when temps dropped to -9°.
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