New Historical Marker At Monterey Depot For General Wilder

The Tennessee Civil War Trails program has installed a new sign in Monterey highlighting the life of General John Thomas Wilder.

Wilder was an Union officer during the Civil War. He was also a coal-company owner that led to the development of the unincorporated town Wilder in Fentress County. Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary said the historical marker is located on the west side of the Monterey Depot property.

“It’s positioned in a really unique spot now where it’s in clear view of his home place, the Imperial Hotel that he built and the home which he lived at,” Cleary said. “As you read the sign, you can get a bird’s eye view of both of these locations.”

Cleary said the new marker is a part of the statewide trail that identifies significant Civil War locations. Cleary said it also compliments some of the artifacts that can be found inside the depot museum.

“The Civil Wars Trails program came up here and repositioned the marker that was already on our property but had to be moved,” Cleary said. “It’s a better location and a new sign. We have a lot of visitors that are taking part in the Civil Wars program.”

Cleary said an old sign highlighting Wilder was located behind the depot, but an outdoor classroom project caused it to move. Cleary said the trails program installed a new sign since it was moving anyways.