Atoka General Store

Atoka General Store Atoka General Store, c. 1928, was located in the original business district of Atoka, Tennessee. It is no longer there due to various reasons. Thank you!

MISSION STATEMENT

Exploring Our Legacy: Our mission is to honor the legacy of our community's past, enrich our present, and build a hopeful future. We are the stewards of our history, participants in our shared story, and builders of the days to come. Together, we journey, cherishing our heritage and fostering a bright future for all community members. (Written with the help of Bing Chat with GPT

-4 AI ~Artificial Intelligence~ on December 6, 2023)

The purpose of this page is to provide historical information and research. ATOKA GENERAL STORE

Atoka General Store was once located close to the center of Atoka, which is located in West Tennessee. The picture on the cover was taken somewhere between 1980 and 1992. Andy's Atoka General Store was the last business to operate out of this community landmark. Before that, there was Atoka General Store (Mr. & Mrs. Doug Walker), Mize's Grocery (Houston Mize), and CJ Walker & Sons (Charlie Jasper Walker, Charles Lewis Walker, Douglas Lee Walker). There may have been more. Anyone wishing to add to this information may send a message to this page. After a tornado struck downtown Atoka, Tennessee, in 1928, this was one of the businesses rebuilt in the original business area of Atoka. The owners of the store were relatives of the first business owner in Atoka, Tennessee, according to an advertisement posted in a Covington Leader advertisement, on October 15, 1936. I believe the first business owner's name was John McLaughlin. ATOKA, TENNESSEE, HISTORY

We don't claim to know all the history of Atoka. But there is a lot of history in this town/city. Many people who no longer live here have ties to this community. Atoka has also long been a welcoming community to people from many different backgrounds. We would love to discover events and figures that shaped the local history of our town/city. We want to explore how the geography of our community influenced its development over time and the crucial role that industries and businesses have played. Help us journey through time and learn about the landmarks or buildings no longer standing. Explore the backgrounds of people who have called this place home. Please let us know the origins of your information as well as who should be credited with supplying; writing; photographing; and/or creating artwork, music, and/or crafts. Written by Stephanie Bohrman



Note: This page has no intention of violating Facebook Community Standards. If it appears that we have, we would appreciate being contacted by FaceBook before Facebook takes enforcement action. The perceived violation may be nothing more than a misunderstanding. If that is the case, we would like the opportunity to give our side of the story.

07/10/2025

This letter from a Marine writing home has been around for a while. It would be nice to know where it originated.

🤣🤣🤣
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Dear Ma and Pa:

I am well. Hope you are. Tell Brother Walt and Brother Elmer the Marine Corps beats working for old man Minch by a mile. Tell them to join up quick before all of the places are filled.

I was restless at first because you get to stay in bed till nearly 6 a.m. But I am getting so I like to sleep late. Tell Walt and Elmer all you do before breakfast is smooth your cot, and shine some things. No hogs to slop, feed to pitch, mash to mix, wood to split, fire to lay. Practically nothing.

Men got to shave but it is not so bad, there's warm water. Breakfast is strong on trimmings like fruit juice, cereal, eggs, bacon, etc., but kind of weak on chops, potatoes, ham, steak, fried eggplant, pie and other regular food, but tell Walt and Elmer you can always sit by the two city boys that live on coffee. Their food, plus yours, holds you until noon when you get fed again. It's no wonder these city boys can't walk much.

We go on "route marches," which the platoon sergeant says are long walks to harden us. If he thinks so, it's not my place to tell him different. A "route march" is about as far as to our mailbox at home. Then the city guys get sore feet and we all ride back in trucks.

The sergeant is like a school teacher. He nags a lot. The Captain is like the school board. Majors and colonels just ride around and frown. They don't bother you none.

This next will kill Walt and Elmer with laughing. I keep getting medals for shooting. I don't know why. The bulls-eye is near as big as a chipmunk head and don't move, and it ain't shooting at you like the Higgett boys at home. All you got to do is lie there all comfortable and hit it. You don't even load your own cartridges. They come in boxes.

Then we have what they call hand-to-hand combat training. You get to wrestle with them city boys. I have to be real careful though, they break real easy. It ain't like fighting with that ole bull at home. I'm about the best they got in this except for that Tug Jordan from over in Silver Lake . I only beat him once. He joined up the same time as me, but I'm only 5'6" and 130 pounds and he's 6'8" and near 300 pounds dry.

Be sure to tell Walt and Elmer to hurry and join before other fellers get onto this setup and come stampeding in.

Your loving daughter,

Alice

Happy 4th of July!Independence Day for the United States of America
07/04/2025

Happy 4th of July!
Independence Day for the United States of America

Note: The following text is a transcription of the Stone Engraving of the parchment Declaration of Independence (the document on display in the Rotunda at the National Archives Museum.) The spelling and punctuation reflects the original.

06/27/2025

I like the new Town of Atoka updates. This one is from today:

This was a beautiful tribute to Flag Day and the United States Army’s 250th birthday - Union Station, Kansas City, MO. ...
06/15/2025

This was a beautiful tribute to Flag Day and the United States Army’s 250th birthday - Union Station, Kansas City, MO. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Many more tributes to the United States 250th Birthday are coming up. Let’s not forget to celebrate!!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16VjC7wywL/?mibextid=wwXIfrsy

06/15/2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdVWrxS5G/?mibextid=wwXIfr
06/14/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AdVWrxS5G/?mibextid=wwXIfr

"This We'll Defend." On June 14, 1775, the Second Continental Congress formally established the American Continental Army. The resolution read: “Resolved, that six companies of expert riflemen, be immediately raised in Pennsylvania, two in Maryland, and two in Virginia; that each company consist of a captain, three lieutenants, four serjeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates. That each company, as soon as completed, shall march and join the army near Boston, to be there employed as light infantry, under the command of the chief Officer in that army.” Please join the National Board of Management in congratulating the U.S. Army on a quarter-millennium of service! We give thanks to the men and women, including many Daughters, who have served our nation with bravery and dedication in the Army since more than a year before the Declaration of Independence was even signed.

An explanation of Flag Day by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.Flag Day is Saturday, June 14, 2025.
06/13/2025

An explanation of Flag Day by The Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Flag Day is Saturday, June 14, 2025.

Flag Day is Saturday, June 14. Why do the red, white, and blue color symbolize? Did Betsy Ross design the first flag? Find out what Flag Day is all about, the origins and meaning of our flag, and 5 surprising flag facts!

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Our Story

Andy's Atoka General Store was the last business to operate out of this community landmark. Before that, there was Atoka General Store, Mize's Grocery, and CJ Walker & Sons. There may have been another. After a tornado struck downtown Atoka, Tennessee in 1928, this was one of the businesses that rebuilt in the area. The owners of the store are relatives of the first business owner in the Town of Atoka - John McLaughlin, b. 1818, d. 1903.

In 2017, the building was torn down, but the spirit of the store continues.