State Honors Sparta’s Historic Businesses, Chamber

Historic businesses in White County are being recognized by Governor Bill Lee and Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Stuart McWhorter.

Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce President Jenny Dale said they will be having a certificate ceremony for businesses that have been in the county for over one hundred years. Dale said they will be honoring Sparta Woodworks, Hunter Funeral Home, and the chamber itself.

“They’ve become a staple to our community,” Dale said. “They’re families, you know, it’s been generational. And just knowing that they’ve been in business that long is just awesome for our community, how they’ve thrived here.”

Dale said state officials chose to give out certificates as a way to excite the community and increase publicity for these businesses. Dale said Economic and Community Development Upper Cumberland Regional Director Angela Regitko will be at the event to present the awards.

Awards ceremonies take place on September 10 at Sparta Woodworks from 9:30am to 10:00am, at Hunter Funeral Home from 10:30am to 11:00am, and at the Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce from 11:15am to 11:45am.

“Sparta Woodworks, they started in 1896,” Dale said. “Hunter Funeral Home, 1891, and the chamber of commerce, 1895.”

Dale said the Sparta-White County Chamber of Commerce is the oldest, longest running chamber in the state of Tennessee.

“This will be my tenth year here at this chamber,’ Dale said. “But in 2025 the chamber will actually be celebrating one hundred and thirty years old, so we’re pretty excited about that.”

Dale said Sparta Woodworks used to be the Sparta Spoke Factory and Hunter Funeral home used to be a dry goods store, both many years ago.