Origin of Name of City Confirmed in 1903 Letter

State Archaeologist Jodi Barnes opens time
capsule and explores items placed inside
112 years ago while County Judge Keith Neely
watches.

For years, the origin of the name of the City of Warren has been rumored to be that Captain Hugh Bradley, the namesake of the county, named the city after one of his slaves, a personal groomsman. Other possible reasons have floated around for years.  Today, station archaeologist Dr. Jodi Barnes, opened a letter from Hugh Bradley, Jr. that was written in 1903 and discovered in the time capsule behind the cornerstone of the Bradley County Courthouse.  In that letter, Hugh Bradley, Jr. wrote, "Bradley County is named after my father and the town of Warren is named after Warren Bradley, a good old slave who belonged to my father and was bequeathed to me in my father's will."  The letter was dated July 4, 1903.

Dr. Barnes advised Bradley County Judge Keith Neely of the process that needs to take place concerning the documents.   Each document and artifact found within the time capsule will be photographed, transcribed, and catalogued.  This process will begin next week.

Filmmaker Rob Reep, who recently premiered his full-length feature film on Captain Hugh Bradley, searched for two years for proof of the naming of the city after a slave.  "I find it eerie that just one day before the film was released that this time capsule was discovered and that a letter from
Captain Bradley's son was inside.  When I learned that Hugh Bradley, Jr.'s letter confirmed the legend of how Warren got its name, I was floored.  I am thrilled we have the answer and wish I could have had it before we finished the movie.  It is great to finally be able to say, it is not just a legend, now we know," says Reep.