White's Fresh Foods Warehouse
Johnson City, TN
History
From the legends we were told and what we read in the book written by the daughter of Hack Smithdeal ( the accused).
On the night of May 11, 1962, Roy Faircloth was having a huge automobile sale in the downtown location of Faircloth
Chevrolet. Appearing that night was Roy Acuff and another small town group. But before I go on, here is a little bit of
prior history between Roy Faircloth and Hackett (Hack) Smithdeal.
In 1929 Hack Smithdeal was made an offer to become part owner in Scout Cab Company in Johnson City, Tennessee and that is
when Smithdeal got his start. After four years Smithdeal was able to afford to begin his own cab company named the Yellow Cab Company. Paul Hill, a local owner of Hill-Summers Chevrolet, made an offer for Smithdeal to buy a fleet of cars to
begin this business. When the business began to grow, Smithdeal needed to buy more cars and this is where Faircloth comes
into play. In 1952, Hill-Summers Chevrolet was sold to Roy Faircloth due to the death of Paul Hill. In 1955, Hack
Smithdeal bought a fleet of cabs from Faircloth Chevrolet and thus is when the altercations truly began between these two
men. When the cars arrived, they were painted and made ready to go into service. When Smithdeal was ready to pick up the new fleet, he was presented with a bill that was greater than the quote price for the work done. Smithdeal protested but
Faircloth would not back down on the new price. Smithdeal finally gave in and paid the higher price. In 1955, Smithdeal
finally came to the point that he could not continue to do business with Faircloth. When Smithdeal needed more cars for
his cab fleet he turned out another car dealership and purchased from them, promising to never return to Faircloth
Chevrolet again. From here out there were words and threats exchanged everytime that the two men or their families met.
They would not eat, shop, or visit at the same places. Phone calls came at all hours of the night with very threatening
promises, attempts to run the Smithdeal family off the road and so on. On the night of May 11, 1962, during a huge sales program at Faircloth Chevrolet, where Roy Acuff and another small town group was playing, Smithdeal pulled up to the
dealership and began his pathway to end all the foolish things that had been going on. When Roy Faircloth walked to the
entrance of the dealership, he told Smithdeal "to get the hell off his property and not to come back" this is when
Smithdeal shot Faircloth. There was four shots fired that night, leaving Faircloth dead where he stood. Several of the
men who were there attending the music show, detained Smithdeal and took the gun from him until the police got there.
Once he was arrested and questioned he was charged with First Degree Murder and placed in jail at the old Jonesboro Jail.
In September of 1952, he went to trial and was acquitted for the murder of Roy Faircloth on the grounds that Faircloth
had harassed Smithdeal and his family for a number of years. The "Chevy Room" is where the coroner actually picked the
body of Roy Faircloth up at since several of the men pulled him back into the building to try to save his life. And that is where his life ended. When the building was taken over by Smithdeals brother he removed the Glass store front, put up
a concrete wall there, and moved the store front where "Area 59" is at in the Whites building.
From her, this is where the legend began of how that Faircloth was killed. On the current site where the Whites warehouse
sat, there was Faircloth Chevrolet, Young's Supply Company, a small dress and hat makers shop and the fourth building I
could not find out about. The property originally dates back to 1940 with Young's Supply Company being the first building to open on the block.
Newspaper articles that were written in the Johnson City Press-Chronicle from May 11, 1962 until May 13, 1962 and others
can be found the the Library at ETSU Campus.
Captured Evidence
Photo Evidence
We did not have any photo evidence
Pictures of the Investgation
Possibly a face in this picture by the shelves.
Video Evidence
No Evidence Found
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Captured EVPs
| Sounds like something says "I wish." |
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Our Conclusion
We could not find any evidence to prove activity.