photos courtesty Chief Larry Farley, RCFRD

FOSTERVILLE, TN (WGNS) - Fosterville has always been one of those quiet corners of Rutherford County where history feels close enough to touch. Neighbors gathered along the roadside, watching helplessly as fire consumed the old Fosterville store. Rutherford County Fire-Rescue was dispatched to the structure fire around 6:00 o'clock Friday night (9/25/2026). For many, the store wasn’t just a building; it was a link to the people who carved out a life here long before modern roads and subdivisions. Losing it felt like losing a chapter of the county’s story.

Fire Chief Larry Farley told NewsRadio WGNS, "First-arriving units found fire throughout the building, with the fire also spreading into a nearby field and barn. Crews worked quickly to contain the fire and prevent further spread. While the store building was a total loss, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the immediate area. Fire crews worked to knock down the blaze, but the damage was already done as it was reduced to charred timbers and ash—the old Fosterville store now carries only in memory, photographs, and the stories passed down by families who still call Fosterville home.

The community was incorporated by 1832, and about twenty years later the Chattanooga–St. Louis Railway brought new life to the area. Fosterville Road sat almost perfectly halfway between Murfreesboro and Shelbyville, with the village tucked at the foot of the high hills to the east.

Old Fosterville Village took its name from Samuel Foster, a rail agent and stagecoach station keeper whose family roots stretched back to Charlotte County, Virginia. Samuel was born in 1783 to John Foster, who came to Tennessee and established the first home and trading post in 1820. Samuel later married Frances Foster of Virginia, and together they helped shape the early character of the community. Their names still echo through local records and family stories.

Crews remained on scene for more than four hours working to extinguish the fire and ensure the area was safe.

The cause of the fire is under routine investigation by the Fire Marshal’s Office. WGNS will keep you informed.