Dresden, Tenn.–“The Iris has bloomed again” were the words spoken by Mayor Maddox over the weekend at the new Dresden Municipal Complex ribbon cutting.
On the night of December 10, 2021 the small tight knit community was devastated by an EF-3 tornado. The storm started on the southwest side ripped right through downtown and continued on Eastward through our city. Deputy Fire Chief Kory Green said, “Our lives as we knew it were changed forever.” The tornado destroyed homes, businesses and government buildings.
“Over the next few days, weeks, months, and years we saw our community come together like never before. We started the cleanup, we started the process of rebuilding our small town. We saw our first responders, city hall staff, public works, parks department, complete strangers, friends, and neighbors come together as one.”
Fast forward to Sunday, May 18, 2025, “and we feel like we now have closure. We opened our new complex this afternoon with the clip of a pair of scissors. This complex is magnificent. Our city hall staff, police and firefighters now have a place to call home, a place to work, train, and be a family again!”
“While our town still continues to rebuild, it continues to make great strides in returning to its old self, this complex gives us that hope that some day we will be the Dresden of old. Our citizens and city has something to be proud of, while our old building served us well for many years this one will serve and protect us for the next 50 years.
“We can not say thank you enough to former Mayor Jeff Washburn for this vision after that devastating night. He started the cleanup and could see what we needed for the future. To Mayor Mark Maddox, thank you for continuing his vision and see us to where we are today. We have an amazing board that is always willing to do whatever is necessary to see Dresden shine and we are thankful for them all.”
The Iris sure is blooming bright purple today…..
Dresden Fire Department photo.