Scott Bowers didn’t always like history, in fact he hated it. That was until he explored his own family tree.

“The more I found all sides of my family being involved in history, especially local history, I couldn’t stop there,” he said. “That’s how I grew.”

Bowers is now a historian and genealogist, noting that he spends plenty of time researching people’s families.

It was several years ago that Bowers ended up creating his historical Facebook group called, “Carter TN, Histories and Families.” The group has since grown to over 3200 members.

“I’m just going be honest to say I don’t consider it my page anymore. It was for maybe a week, and then it took a life of its own,” he said. “I see it more as the community’s page. I’m just there to post things when I see something and encourage others. To see it happen is pretty cool.”

Those on the page are able to share stories and photos about Carter County’s history, including old family pictures. Bowers said many have reached dead ends and this has helped them. Additionally, people have even found relatives through the page.

“The goal is to have a hub where people can post pictures,” he said. “I mean people love pictures. Before the internet, unfortunately, if you didn’t sit and talk with someone you couldn’t see these pictures and hear these stories, and once they passed all the knowledge was gone.”

Bowers said that the group not only includes members from the area, but also around the country who have shared family here.

According to Bowers, Carter County is one of the most understated and unrecognized counties in the United States. He also said that, little do people know, it has been listed that in the late 1800s the county was actually considered the jewel of the south for its iron industry.

Bowers said that he has been getting increased requests to join the group and is thinking of including admins to the group to help aid. The main rules of the group are to give photo credit where needed and to ask before sharing someone’s photo, as well as being respectful to others.

Those wishing to join can go to the group’s page on Facebook and request to do so.

“It’s a good resource because you don’t just stop at who a person was…it rounds your knowledge out of the area and who lived here, who does live here, how we got here and how we move forward,” said Bowers.