Discover Bells: Local History and Cultural Heritage

Bells combines a distinct local history with a theater tradition and community recreation options. When planning your trip, you can explore the town through its development, cultural heritage, or recreational opportunities. Green Frog Farm highlights historic buildings, a collection of trees and landscapes, and insights into past working life. These different themes give you concrete ideas for tailoring your stay to your interests.

History and Theater in Bells

Bells was founded as Bells Depot in 1855, incorporated in 1868, and later renamed Bells. The sequence—from the original name, through incorporation, to the later renaming—traces the town’s development in three distinct stages. Both its founding and its later name are important starting points for exploring local history.

The theater’s history also includes two notable dates: the Ray Theatre opened in 1936 and was renamed Bells Theatre in 1941. The opening and the renaming were separate events, and both are part of the theater’s history. This places the name change in its historical context without confusing it with the year Bells was founded.

Historic Buildings at Green Frog Farm

Green Frog Farm offers day tickets for self-guided tours of 19th-century buildings. Check fees and availability in advance. The historic buildings include the Redmon Schoolhouse, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1920 that came from Crockett Mills. While it was in use, a single teacher taught grades one through eight there. This gives the building a concrete connection to how education was organized at the time.

May Chapel is a rural church; its original predecessor was a log cabin built around 1825. The Cotton Museum of the South houses an original cotton gin, as well as a seed building with an exhibit on an antique loom. The museum also includes a general store. The Cotton Gin General Store uses antique doors and windows to create a 1910s atmosphere.

Arboretum, Grounds, and Craftsmanship

The Louise May Pearson Arboretum at Green Frog Farm is state-certified and features more than 100 tree species. The four ponds offer a different view of the grounds: they are surrounded by farmland, including a blackberry and blueberry farm. The tree species and ponds therefore offer different highlights—one showcasing the variety of trees on display, the other the agricultural landscape.

Craftsmanship and technology are represented as well. The blacksmith shop is operational and includes restored equipment from the local J.C. Moore and Zab Williams blacksmith shops dating to the early 20th century. The Print Shop has a working Linotype machine. Together with the schoolhouse, church, and museum buildings, these offer several ways to explore everyday and working life, rather than focusing on a single historical theme.

For orientation, Green Frog Farm is located on Highway 412 between Jackson and Dyersburg. The Harvest Farmstand Café there offers locally sourced goods; check operating details before your visit.

Recreation in Bells

Bells is home to a community park that is part of Crockett County’s parks and recreation system. The town’s recreational facilities also include a ball field, tennis courts, parks, and a swimming pool. Alongside local and theater history, community recreation is another aspect to consider when planning your trip. Pool availability may be seasonal, so check it separately in advance.

For an overview of the wider area: Crockett County.