The Sam Davis Theater

Published April 28, 1937, Pulaski Citizen

Before the picture show people start work on the new theater at the north-west corner of the Square, it might be interesting to notice the door to the basement room at the north-west corner of the original two-story part of the building.

The jail occupied that lot before, and at the time of the Civil War. It was in the jail that stood one that lot where Sam Davis and Capt. Shaw were imprisoned. It was from that jail that Sam Davis went to his execution on East Hill.

There is a story, probably true, to the effect that sometime after the execution of Sam Davis, a local citizen was held in the jail for some violation of military regulations, and that the jail was badly infested with bed bugs, fleas, lice and possibly other vermin. The citizen was released after a few days but was outraged that a man should be imprisoned in such a place. A few days after he was released, the jail count on fire one night and burned down – bedbugs, fleas and all. Whiles here were no clues as to the sourced of the fire, many people had their suspicions, but generally kept them to themselves.

The lot was bought and Bannister Hall, the present house, was erected there very soon after the war.

J.D. Lewis was a soldier under Gen. Harrison, who became interested in some timber land in the Aspen Hill community, and when mustered out of service, young Lewis was given employment in the office of the lumber yard by Gen. Harrison. He proved himself competent and when the new Postmaster was to be appointed for Pulaski on recommendation of Gen. Harrison, Lewis was appointed.

He secured the basement room at the west end of the building facing Jefferson Street for the post office, and a slot was cut in the door so letters could be slipped through when the office was locked up. The old door with the slot for letters is still there. Before it is torn away, if it is to be removed when time comes for overhauling the old building, you might find it interesting to look over it over and compare what e had sixty years ago with the handsome post office we now have.