Harton Realty Co. History

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and signed it “John W. Harton, Real Estate Sales.” While he also worked in insurance, real estate remained his primary focus. His accomplishments were numerous: he served as Treasurer of the State of Tennessee before World War II and was a three‑time mayor of Tullahoma.

In 1950, his daughter, Nancy, and her husband, Nat I. Washburn, moved to Tullahoma. Although Nat knew little about real estate at the time, Mr. Harton took him under his wing and began teaching him the business. Their office in the Harton Arcade inspired the name of their first company, Arcade Realty Co. Nat proved to be a quick study, and Mr. Harton soon guided him in developing several subdivisions throughout the community. After Mr. Harton’s passing in 1963, Nat became General Manager and continued the family’s real estate legacy. 

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In 1951, Mr. Harton purchased William Northern Field from the federal government after it was declared surplus property following World War II. The land that now forms the Tullahoma Regional Airport is owned by the City of Tullahoma, and it serves as our community’s airport today. The Harton family sold and gifted portions of this land to support the city’s growth and long‑term benefit. 

 In 1957, the Harton family gifted 90 acres for the first nine holes of what would become Lakewood Country Club, an important community asset that later expanded to eighteen holes. Their contribution helped establish the foundation for the fine, upscale club Tullahoma enjoys today.  

In 1962, shortly before Mr. Harton’s passing, the family donated ten acres of land to the City of Tullahoma for the construction of a new hospital. The facility was named Harton Regional Medical Center in his honor. It was later acquired by Vanderbilt and now serves the community as Vanderbilt Tullahoma‑Harton Hospital.

the family relocated and constructed a new office building on South Jackson Street. With the move came a new chapter, and the business was renamed Harton Realty Company. Nat Washburn retired in 1990 after more than forty‑two years of dedicated service to the family business.

Soon after, Nat’s son‑in‑law, Joe Lester, assumed management and became General Manager. Joe has continued the Harton tradition of community involvement and thoughtful development throughout the Tullahoma area. Over the years, Harton Realty Company has played a key role in creating many well‑known neighborhoods, including The Fairways—an upscale residential community adjoining Lakewood Country Club—along with Westwood Subdivision, Linkside Estates, Blue Creek Estates, Setters Point, Creekstone, Courtside, and Monteagle Development.​

Harton Realty has also played a major role in bringing commercial growth to Tullahoma. The company was instrumental in the development of Jackson Medical Plaza, Forrest Gallery Shopping Center—home to tenants such as Applebee’s, Red Lobster, Hardee’s, and Kroger—Harton Airpark, Ruby Tuesday, Waffle House, and the Hampton Inn, as well as numerous new tenants in Cherokee Square and Northgate Mall. Harton Family Partners has continued this momentum by securing projects such as NHC, Electronic Express, Holiday Inn Express, and the recently constructed Ascend Federal Credit Union. The family also leases land to Life Care Center of Tullahoma and to Hobby Lobby, further contributing to the city’s commercial landscape. 

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Among its many commercial contributions, Harton has also played a role in the financial growth of the region. The family was an early influence and stockholder in the formation of Southern Community Bank—now SmartBank—a state‑chartered institution established in 2004 that has since expanded significantly and now operates more than twenty branches across Tennessee.

to the community, and that commitment continues today. The company remains dedicated to providing exceptional service to every client, carrying forward the values that have guided the Harton family for generations.