Honoring a Local Air Force Hero
In tribute to a courageous airman from Springfield, a display titled “A Hometown Hero” was once added to the Military Room of the Robertson County History Museum. This exhibit highlighted the life and sacrifice of Lt. James W. Wilson, a distinguished local figure who gave his life to protect others.
Early Life and Achievements
Jimmy Wilson, son of Mr. & Mrs. John Herman Wilson of 8th Avenue East, graduated from Springfield High School in 1942. While in school, he excelled in academics and extracurricular activities, earning letters in basketball, forensics, and band. He also served as president of his class and was the business manager of the school newspaper, The Yellow Jacket.
After high school, Jimmy attended Memphis State for a year before volunteering for the Air Force in 1943. He became a flight instructor before traveling to Europe in 1946 for occupation duty. Following his discharge in 1947, Wilson briefly operated the Springfield airport and later managed Cornelia Fort Airport in Nashville. He was also an accomplished midget racer pilot, well-known in Tennessee aviation circles.
Service and Sacrifice
Lt. Wilson was recalled into active service with the Air National Guard in March 1951. Stationed at Berry Field in Nashville before moving to Knoxville with the 105th Fighter Squadron, Wilson continued his aviation career.
On September 6, 1952, Lt. Wilson was flying a P-47 Thunderbolt out of McGhee-Tyson Air Force Base on a mission to Syracuse, New York. While returning to Knoxville with airplane parts, his aircraft caught fire over Cortland, New York. Despite having the opportunity to bail out to safety, Lt. Wilson remained in the cockpit, guiding the crippled plane away from the densely populated city below. He crash-landed in a field just outside the area to prevent harm to civilians. Tragically, he perished in the crash. The plane’s guns, loaded with live ammunition, exploded either from impact or fire, further confirming the risk he undertook to save lives.
A headline in the Cortland Standard read, “Pilot Plunges to Death to Save City from Damage.” The people of Cortland responded with an overwhelming wave of sympathy and gratitude, sending numerous letters and cards to Lt. Wilson’s parents in Springfield.
Lasting Memorials
Funeral services for Lt. Wilson were held on September 11 at the Springfield Baptist Church, where one of the largest recorded crowds gathered to pay tribute to the 27-year-old pilot. Floral offerings overflowed the church, and numerous servicemen attended the ceremony.
In February 1953, the citizens of Cortland established the Lt. James M. Wilson Memorial Award. This $50 cash prize was presented annually to an outstanding young man graduating from Springfield High School who demonstrated citizenship, leadership, and character. After several years, the award was relocated to Cortland, where it continued to honor Wilson’s memory.
In 1956, McGhee Tyson Air Force Base dedicated its new recreation building as Wilson Hall in Lt. Wilson’s honor. His parents and two brothers, J.H. and Don Wilson, attended the dedication ceremony.
Fifty years after his heroic act, the Cortland Standard published an editorial titled “Remember Jimmy Wilson,” emphasizing that Cortland had never forgotten the airman who sacrificed his life for their safety. The street between Smith Elementary School and the Wheeler Avenue Armory was named Wilson Place in 1958. Additionally, a monument dedicated to his memory stands at the Veterans’ Memorial in Courthouse Park, bearing the inscription:
“In memory of U.S. Air Force pilot Lt. James W. Wilson, who sacrificed his life for the citizens of Cortland, Sept. 6, 1952.”
The Robertson County Historical Society received a plaque and numerous newspaper clippings about Wilson, generously donated by J.H. Wilson of Florida.
Washington Hall: A Historic Mansion’s Legacy
Construction and Early History
Washington Hall, a grand 44-room mansion near Cedar Hill, was constructed between 1896 and 1900 by George A. Washington, Jr. and his wife, Queenie. The impressive home featured furnishings from Italy and France and boasted intricately hand-carved doors.
George A. Washington, Jr. was born on August 5, 1868, at Wessyngton, his family’s ancestral home. Educated at Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities, George was well-read and widely traveled. He married Queenie Woods of Nashville on June 21, 1893, and the couple had one child, Robert Woods Washington.
George, Jr. farmed his expansive acreage, raising tobacco and other field crops. He resided at Washington Hall until he died in 1926. He was laid to rest in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Nashville.
The Washington Family’s Legacy
The 1,065-acre tract where Washington Hall stood was gifted to George, Jr. by his father, George A. Washington, Sr., in 1888. The transaction was recorded in Robertson County Deed Book 30, Page 220, with the consideration noted as “$1.00 and love and affection.” In addition to this land, George, Jr. inherited 965 acres when his father’s estate was divided in 1893.
The stately Washington Hall rivaled Glenraven, a magnificent home built by George’s sister, Jane Washington Ewing. Stories passed down suggest a friendly rivalry between the siblings as they sought to outdo one another with their impressive estates.
In 1948, Washington Hall was sold to the Worthington family of Nashville. The once grand mansion fell into disrepair, enduring years of neglect and vandalism. It was ultimately destroyed by fire on September 11, 1965, leaving only memories of its past grandeur.
“Blessed are Those Who Mourn” by David C. Allen
Early Mourning Practices
In the early 1800s, mourning customs were simpler. Upon a person’s death, a carpenter was called to craft a custom-fit coffin while the deceased’s body was shrouded and laid out at home for viewing. Funeral services were often brief or omitted entirely, and burials occurred quickly.
Evolving Traditions
During the Victorian Era (1850-1890), mourning customs became elaborate. Queen Victoria’s lengthy mourning period after her husband’s death influenced societal expectations. Death came to be seen not as a terrifying end but as a peaceful transition to a heavenly afterlife.
The growth of the funeral industry also influenced mourning customs. Cabinet makers expanded their services to include embalming, hearse transportation, and grave digging. In Tennessee, Austin & Bell Funeral Home emerged as the state’s oldest surviving funeral provider.
The Impact of War
The Civil War brought mass casualties, transforming the way Americans handled death and mourning. By the 1880s, floral arrangements became popular at funerals and wakes—overnight vigils beside the deceased—offered comfort and ensured the deceased was truly at rest.
Victorian funeral practices often included specialized mourning attire. Widows observed a strict mourning period that could last over two years, during which they wore solid black clothing and jewelry. In contrast, widowers traditionally wore a black armband for only two to three months.
Lasting Traditions
While some customs, such as mourning cards and wakes, have faded over time, the process of grieving remains an important part of healing. Completing the mourning process, whether through traditions or personal reflection, helps individuals find comfort and closure.
Sources
- Winds of Change: Robertson County Tennessee in the Civil War
- Tim Henson, City of Adams Museum, Archives, and Library
- Robertson County Times, July 29, 1926
- Historic Robertson County Places & Personalities by Holman and Durrett
- Hospitality Homes and Historic Sites by Ralph Winters
- Widows, Weepers & Wakes: Mourning in Middle Tennessee
- The History of American Funeral Directing