The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum dedicated one of its display rooms in recognition of the support it has received from the City of Dickson.
At a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 13, representatives of the museum’s Board of Directors, staff and volunteers joined members of the Dickson City Council as Mayor Don L. Weiss Jr. cut a ribbon to rededicate the room known as The Sitting Room in honor of the City of Dickson.
Museum Executive Director Zach Kinslow said the City of Dickson is being recognized for the financial support it has provided since before the museum opened in 2009.
“It’s very important, people who have contributed to our site, whether it’s the state or individual investors,” Kinslow said to open the ceremony. “The City of Dickson is one of the most important partners that the museum has here. Since our doors first opened, even before that, even before 2009, the city has contributed more than $200,000 to our site. And that is extremely vital to opening this place and keeping it going.”
When the Frank G. Clement Foundation began the effort to renovate the Hotel Halbrook and create a museum honoring the legacy of the late governor who was born there and the history of the railroad in this region, the City of Dickson committed $50,000 a year for the first three years of operation. Since 2017, the Dickson City Council has included a $10,000 allocation in each annual budget to help fund the Visitor Center at the museum.
Kinslow said The Sitting Room is where Robert and Maybelle Clement, the parents of the late governor, lived while they were operating the railroad hotel. Robert Clement served as the Town of Dickson’s elected recorder 1935-45, as mayor 1957-61 and as city attorney for many years.
“That is an important room, I think, when we talk about the connections between the city and the museum,” Kinslow said. “Because it was in those rooms in the 1920s, 1930s and then again in the 1970s where Robert and Maybelle Clement lived, where they kind of called home. Specifically, Robert Clement. He is that deep connection that takes us all the way back to when this building was a hotel.”
Bob Clement, grandson of Robert and Maybelle Clement, son of Frank Clement and president emeritus of the museum board, thanked Weiss, the council members, board members and volunteers in attendance.
“Anna Belle (Clement O’Brien, the governor’s sister) and myself years back went to see the mayor and city fathers to ask for their help because this place was about gone,” Clement said. “And we had to raise about $2 million to save it and restore it so it’d look like it did when it was first built by the Halbrook family. And the mayor and the city fathers, many of them, you’ve had many elections since that time, so a number of them are not with us anymore, and a lot of them have retired now and all that, but they sure stepped up to the line and what the City of Dickson agreed to was if we can pull this off, we’ll give 50,000 (dollars) a year for three years. This was huge, huge in being able to fulfill this dream.”
The former member of the U.S. House of Representatives talked about ongoing efforts to return passenger rail service to Tennessee, emphasizing the role of the Hotel Halbrook as a railroad hotel when his grandparents operated it.
“This is a tremendous opportunity now with this museum,” Clement said. “You know, a lot of places, a lot of towns and cities, as the mayor knows, they don’t have a museum to capture history, to save history, to plan for the future like we do in Dickson. And y’all have had so much vision, so much good leadership over the years, and a lot of longevity, too, and seniority that’s helped immensely. Everyone has pulled together to make it possible.”
A Dickson native who has served as mayor for 30 years, Weiss thanked the museum for recognizing the city’s contributions to making it a reality.
“I remember when Bob and Ms. Anna Belle came to the old City Hall down where the police station is now and we talked about the museum. And this building was in total disarray. Matter of fact, there were even talks about tearing this building down,” Weiss said. “It was obvious that they had a vision and they needed the city’s participation. We were able to talk to the City Council and convince them that this would be a place that would be good for the City of Dickson and be good for downtown Dickson.”
Weiss pointed out that when the museum opened in 2009, Dickson had just received its first grant for a downtown revitalization project that is now entering its seventh phase with more than $8 million dedicated to reviving the downtown area. The proposed seventh phase will include improvements to Frank G. Clement Place in front of the museum.
“A lot has changed since we first started talking about the museum and getting the museum open. I feel strongly that our downtown and what we’ve been able to do in our downtown and the museum have complemented each other every step of the way,” Weiss said. “I appreciate Zach, Bob and Miss Mary (Clement), your board of directors for recognizing the city with the naming of The Sitting Room as the City of Dickson Room.”
Weiss said the city will work with the museum to present exhibits depicting some of the history of the City of Dickson.
“We look forward to continue working with the museum,” Weiss said.
Following the ceremony, those attending crowded into the hallway in front of The Sitting Room as Weiss cut a ribbon to officially dedicate the room in honor of the City of Dickson.
The Clement Railroad Hotel Museum at 100 Frank Clement Place is open 9 am-5 pm Tuesday-Friday and 9 am-4 pm Saturday. Several membership levels are available for individuals, families and businesses that include free admission, discounts in the gift store and admission to a variety of events hosted by the museum during the year.
Built in 1913 as the Hotel Halbrook across from Dickson’s railroad depot, it operated as a railroad hotel until 1954. Frank Clement, the state’s 41st governor, was born in the hotel June 2, 1920. The museum features permanent exhibits on aspects of Dickson County’s history, Clement’s career and 10 years as governor and the role of the railroad in the area’s development, including a large model train display.
For more information, visit clementrailroadmuseum.org, like the museum page on Facebook or call 615-446-0500.
