Blackman Community Club

By Nancy De Gennaro
Source: The Daily News Journal

Economic growth may have rerouted the roads in Blackman and brought a few more thousand people into the unincorporated community, but progress has failed to stop the longest-standing tradition in the community.

“This will be the 66th annual Blackman Barbecue,” said John L. Batey, local businessman, farmer and lifelong member of the Blackman Community.

The annual Blackman Community Club fundraising barbecue is always held the fourth Friday in June. This year, it’s being held at Lane Agri-Park, 315 John Rice Blvd. in Murfreesboro. But expect that to change next year, said event chairman Marshall Campbell.

“Next year we’re probably going to have it at The Grove (at Williamson Place) over by Batey’s Berry Farm,” said Campbell, who moved his family into the community just a few years ago.

The barbecue was originally held on the McDonald farm in the Blackman Community to raise funds to build a community center for the club, which was established in 1947. Funds were raised to build the Blackman Community Club, 4310 Manson Pike, where the event eventually moved and stayed for decades.

For the most part, the menu has stayed the same throughout the event: barbecue sandwich, baked beans, slaw and chips.

“The first three or four years, we had our choice of pork barbecue or goat barbecue,” said Batey, a hog farmer. “They got it from what was called the old 41 Club on Old Nashville Highway.”

Location for the screened-in barbecue pit was just a few miles from the community center. The ladies of the community would go in the morning and pick up the barbecued meat, take it back and chop it up by hand for the barbecue sandwiches that would be served at the event.

The women would also chop up cabbage and carrots to make slaw, Batey said.

Members of Blackman’s home demonstration club, now known as the Family Community Education Club (FCE), would also sell homemade ice cream.

“And every family would take home two gallons of beans and they all had the same recipe to follow so the baked beans tasted the same,” Batey recalled. “By the time we got ready, we were worn out.”

In addition to food, families could enjoy fellowship.

“For years, having it at the club was almost like a homecoming,” Campbell said.

Batey said there were wagon rides for kids, cake walks, games and even a dunking machine.

“We also had square dancing every year,” Batey said. “We had a lot of entertainment. So many different things for all ages.”

As the city of Murfreesboro grew, so did the Blackman Community. And the barbecue grew in size and popularity, too.

The event got so big, “we just had to move it,” Batey said.

Since 2012, the Blackman Barbecue has been held at Lane Agri-Park and draws around 400-500 patrons.

“We’ve served as many as a thousand,” Campbell said. But since 2015 is not an election year, he thinks the crowd will hover around 500.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit a variety of club projects. And just recently, after nearly 70 years in existence, the Blackman Community Club finally garnered an official 501c3 nonprofit charity status, Campbell said.

Money helps fund two $500 college scholarships for graduating Blackman High seniors.

“We also adopt a family at Thanksgiving, one at Christmas and one at Easter,” Campbell said.

The club purchases holiday dinners and provides gifts at Christmastime.

“The money also goes to the upkeep of the club. We’ve got a playground set that’s open to everyone. And the club can be rented out, too. It’s an old building, so it’s harder to keep that up,” Campbell said.

Tickets for Blackman Barbecue can be purchased at the door. Cost is $12 for adults and $6 for ages 10 and younger. Julia’s Sweet Truck will be on site to sell treats.

And while the food is definitely a draw, Campbell said the best part of the Blackman Barbecue is getting to meet your neighbors.

“This is a social event. It’s a great time to socialize with others in the Blackman Community as well as Murfreesboro as a whole,” Campbell said.

The Blackman Barbecue has always drawn the politicians, Batey said, especially during election years.

By Scott Broden
Source: The Daily News Journal

Long before the annual Blackman Barbecue started its tradition of gathering neighbors, friends and politicians, young folks in this former rural community used to enjoy a social event on the McDonald farm.

“It was an ice cream supper and square dance,” recalled Donald McDonald, whose late aunt, Frances McDonald, organized the event.

This year’s barbecue, the 65th, will be from 5-8 p.m. Friday at Lane-Agri Park, 315 John Rice Blvd. Those enjoying the barbecue sandwiches, cold slaw, beans and other treats will also get the chance to complete a straw poll for the candidates running in upcoming elections, organizers said.

“Most all of the politicians have come out for years and years,” club member John L. Batey said. “We’ve had bunches.”

The meal will be $5 for children, $8 for those 65 and older and $10 for other adults.

Prior to the event being at Lane-Agri Park, the Blackman Community Club used Blackman Middle School for a few years, and that was only because the clubhouse grounds at 4310 Manson Pike proved to be too small for the marquee event for this fast-growing community on the west side of Murfreesboro .

The clubhouse served as a gathering spot for a barbecue that attracted many people beyond the Blackman community.

Before that, younger Blackman residents used to gather for the square dancing, music, ice cream and water melon event celebrated on the front yard of the home of Frances and Dennis McDonald, recalled their nephew.

His aunt held the event for young people involved with the 4-H Club in particular, and a University of Tennessee Extension agent helped by setting up a public address system, Donald McDonald said.

His aunt was in a group of women who were part of the UT-Extension Home Demonstration Club, which involved learning how to work with electricity, preserve food, make clothing and other domestic activities, the nephew said.

They wanted a regular place to meet.

“They convinced their farmer husbands to construct the Blackman Club,” Donald McDonald said. “They called it the Blackman Club because the women chose to call it that.”

The name “Blackman Club” remains on the building even though others refer to it as the Blackman Community Club, which is also the name that appears on the sign at the entrance to the club property.

Club members such as Batey and McDonald are proud that the clubhouse remains a viable part of a new Blackman community that blends farm families with new folks who have moved into the suburban subdivisions that surround Blackman schools.

Part of the proceeds for the barbecue funds the upkeep of the old clubhouse. The grounds there include a concrete basketball court with one hoop, a playground, a few picnic tables and a pavilion.

McDonald said part of the reason the grounds no longer were spacious enough is because the club lost land when the Murfreesboro government widened Manson Pike.

In addition to the proceeds helping clubhouse maintenance, the club members also award usually $500 college scholarships each to male and female students from the Blackman community after graduation from high school, Batey said.

The Blackman Community Club has installed officers for 2014. They include: Mark Starling, president; Billy Pitmon, vice president; Sherry Tidwell, secretary; and Scott Rowlett, treasurer.

The Blackman Community Club was established in 1947 and is one of the oldest known organizations in Murfreesboro.  Club members meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.  The club is located at 4310 Manson Pike. The club playground and picnic area is open during daylight hours for the community to use as a local park.

Currently the Blackman Community Club provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who lives in Blackman and raises funds by holding the annual Blackman Barbeque. Additionally, the club helps local families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and the beginning of the school year.

The 64th annual Blackman Barbeque will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 28 at Lane Agri-Park Facility at 315 John R. Rice Boulevard in Murfreesboro.

Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children and will be sold at the door. Proceeds go for upkeep of the Blackman Community Center, help with upgrading the playground at the community center, the scholarship fund and various service projects.

Traditional food is smoked pork BBQ cooked on site by B&T’s Cajun Country Catering, beans, slaw, chips and tea. There will also be hotdogs available for children. In addition to dinner the event includes live music, an auction and a raffle. There will also be activities for children including an inflatable bounce house, face painting and pony rides.

The Blackman Barbeque was conceived by the Blackman Community Club in 1949 to raise funds for a clubhouse and grounds. Over time the event has grown and the community center has flourished as a place for community meetings, family reunions and for children to play.

The Blackman Community Club has installed officers for 2013. They include: Christi Lux, president; Marshall Campbell, vice president; Sherry Tidwell, secretary; and Scott Rowlett, treasurer.

The Blackman Community Club was established in 1947 and is one of the oldest known organizations in Murfreesboro. Club members meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The club is located at 4310 Manson Pike. The club playground and picnic area is open during daylight hours for the community to use as a local park.

Currently the Blackman Community Club provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who lives in Blackman and raises funds by holding the annual Blackman Barbeque. Additionally, the club helps local families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and the beginning of the school year.

June 22 event raises money for service projects, upkeep of Blackman Community Center

The 63rd annual Blackman Barbeque will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 22 at a new location – the Lane Agri-Park at 315 John R. Rice Boulevard in Murfreesboro. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children and are being sold by Blackman Community Club members. Tickets will also be available at the door.

The Blackman Barbeque menu includes pork barbeque, beans, slaw, chips, dessert and tea. In addition to dinner, the event includes activities for children, live music, dancing, an auction and a raffle. The barbeque also offers voters, who will be going to the polls soon, an opportunity to meet many of those running for elected office locally. Many candidates see the barbeque as a must-attend event.

The Blackman Barbeque was conceived by the Blackman Community Club in 1949 to raise funds for a clubhouse and grounds. Over time, the event has grown, and the community center has flourished as a place for community meetings, family reunions and children to play.

The 2012 July meeting of the Blackman Community Club has been canceled due to the Independence Day holiday.  The next regular meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 6:30pm.

The Blackman Community Club has installed officers for 2012. They include: Pam Rowlett, president; Christi Lux, vice president; Sherry Tidwell, secretary; and Scott Rowlett, treasurer.

The Blackman Community Club was established in 1947 and is one of the oldest known organizations in Murfreesboro. Club members meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The club is located at 4310 Manson Pike. The club playground and picnic area is open during daylight hours for the community to use as a local park.

Currently the Blackman Community Club provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who lives in Blackman and raises funds by holding the annual Blackman Barbeque. Additionally, the club helps local families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and the beginning of the school year.

The 62nd annual Blackman Barbeque will be from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, June 24 at Blackman Middle School located at 3945 Blaze Drive in Murfreesboro. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children. They are being sold now by Blackman Community Club members and will also be available at the door. Proceeds go for upkeep of the Blackman Community Center, the scholarship fund and various service projects. Traditional food is pork barbeque, beans, slaw, chips and tea. In addition to dinner the event includes live music, dancing, an auction and a raffle. There will also be activities for children including an inflatable bounce house.

The Blackman Barbeque was conceived by the Blackman Community Club in 1949 to raise funds for a clubhouse and grounds. Over time the event has grown and the community center has flourished as a place for community meetings, family reunions and for children to play.

The Blackman Community Club has installed officers for 2011. They include: Marshall Campbell, president; Nathan Lux, vice president; Sherry Tidwell, secretary; and Scott Rowlett, treasurer.

The Blackman Community Club was established in 1947 and is one of the oldest known organizations in Murfreesboro. Club members meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The club is located at 4310 Manson Pike. The club playground and picnic area is open during daylight hours for the community to use as a local park.

Currently the Blackman Community Club provides a scholarship to a graduating senior who lives in Blackman and raises funds by holding the annual Blackman Barbeque. Additionally, the club helps local families at Thanksgiving, Christmas and the beginning of the school year.