Moore Co. Courthouse - Lynchburg, TN

Moore County is the smallest county in Tennessee in terms of both size (130 sq.mi.)and population (5,740). Lynchburg, the only city in the county is known by most people as the home to Jack Daniels, yet is a "dry" county. One author described Lynchburg as a place so out of the way that you can't accidentally stumble into the town, Lynchburg has to be your destination to end up there.

This courthouse was built in 1885. The walls are 20 inches thick of brick fired in town and held together with sand and lime. the building was renovated and expnaded in 1967-68 using matching foundation stone from Fayetteville and brick from Shelbyville. Listed on the National Registry of historic Places. This courthouse has a rare distinction of being the one and only courthouse this county has ever had.

Nashville Early Music Ensemble @ Christ Church Cathedral

On Tuesday, November 25, the Nashville Early Music Ensemble performed at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville.

Today, the Ensemble makes their final performance. If you don't have any plans and are interested in Renaissance or World Music, or you just want to hear something completely different than what you'll hear in Nashville, check it out. For more information, see: nashvilleearlymusic.blogspot.com/

Drive under a huge train bridge

On an old road surrounded by lush overgrowth, it seemes like there's no imaginable reason to be driving over here unless you want a closer look at the immpressive span of the train bridge that crosses the Duck River. At one time many decades ago this road was TN Highway 50 and I suspect was the main way west out of Centerville.

Omega Force

Omega Force is a collection of people who do feats of extraordinary strength while promoting their love of Jesus. In this scene, the man on top weightlifts a several hundred pound log while the lower man supports him while on top of a bed of nails.

"It's Just Over the Hill to Gilsville"

The first time I saw this sign, I figured it was for some kind of family fun zone, a place parents could take their young children to climb the bubble-tubes and sink in the ball crawl. Of course those are modern establishments, and this sign is over 30 years old.

It's located at a key intersection in Smyrna, the intersection of Sam Ridley Pkwy, Jefferson Pike (TN266), and Nissan Dr. (TN 102), back in the 70s, the major road was Sam Davis Rd. and a billboard advertised the complex run by Sewart Air Force Base officer Gilbert Olerud, Jr.

The complex started in the 50s as Gil's Supermarket, and then they added a full service garage / gas station and a Drive-in. Those became a mini market and a sit-down restaurant.

When the Air Force Base closed, Gil helped to keep the area afloat with expansion and Gilsville was born. He added Gil's Hardware, a Radio Shack, a drug store and an appliance store.

Gil died in 1980, but the Hardware Store is still there. The rest of today's occupants include a barber, a church, a dance studio, a hispanic bakery and the Rocking Chair Cafe.

Milton Country Market

Old highway 96 - Milton, TN (Rutherford County)

Until recently, it was known as Manuel's Cajun Country Store.

Along with their all-you-can-eat catfish, on Friday nights they had a Cajun music jam. People line up and down the street to enjoy it. I went once with my parents about 10 years ago. (It's their kind of thing, not so much mine.)

Patrick Sullivan Saloon

Located in Knoxville Old City.

The railroad came to Knoxville in the 1850s and many businesses opened around the Southern Railway depot. A young Irishman named Patrick Sullivan started his saloon nearby and business was so good that he needed to expand with this building, a three story Victorian red brick saloon. Stories say that many notorious figures like Buffalo Bill Cody visited here.

When prohibition came to Knoxville in 1907, this establishment had to close. Over the years the building fell into disrepair and was used as a boarding house, a bordello and an upholstery shop. (if you look closely, the second story windows are painted with bordello-ish women.) In 1988, the business was reopened and the building was restored to its previous glory.

This building and much of Old City are on the National Register of Historic Places as the Jackson Avenue Warehouse District.

The Old and Older Highway in North Georgia

When I took this picture, I was riding the Newer US41 or Joe Frank Harris Pkwy. On the far left is a drivable portion of the original Dixie Highway which the Frank Harris Pkwy replaced. This is between Cartersville and Adairsville, GA.

The Dixie Highway dates back to the 1920's and was the road from Chicago to Miami. When the US Numbered Highway system began, US41 became the way to get from Chicago to Miami. Today, most long distance drivers passing through the area would be on Interstate 75.

The Dixie Highway has become better remembered in the northwestern corner of Georgia than in other places along the old route.
www.dixiehighway.org/

Sevier County Courthouse - Sevierville, TN

The Sevier County Courthouse was completed on November 10, 1895 with Kenneth McDonald as the supervising architect. This is the fifth courthouse for Sevier County and was built for a little over $22,000. Limestone came from a nearby quarry and Isaac Dockery, a notable African American brick mason in Sevierville, manufactured the bricks. The centerpiece of the courthouse is the Seth Thomas clock which is located in the 130ft tall tower. This clock cost more than $1,300 and is still in flawless operation today. Several finishing touches were made over the next several months and the first court was held on October 5, 1896.

Cal Turner's barn

This barn is located on the family farm of Cal Turner, the deceased founder of Dollar General. This is in Brentwood, TN (Williamson County) along U.S. 31 north of Franklin. This barn is best known for the large Nativity painting which is draped on the roof every Christmastime (and preserved in storage the rest of the year.) If the family were to sell the farm, it could fetch a large amount of money being in some incredibly prime real estate area. In the background is the bottom half of the WSM 650 AM radio tower, which, when it was built in the 1930's was proclaimed as the tallest radio tower in the country.

Wilma Rudolph Statue

Wilma Rudolph is perhaps Clarksville's most prominent citizen ever. Most people are familiar with her story, from growing up with Polio all the way to her multiple gold medals at the 1960 Summer Olympics. The City of Clarksville placed this bronze statue of Rudolph along the RiverWalk near the base of the pedestrian overpass. Many of you will even remember the famous photo of Rudolph crossing the finish line that this statue was adapted from.

The Original KFC

Known at the time as Harland Sanders Cafe, is located along an old stretch of Highway, US 25W in Corbin, Ky. The inside has a statue and a bust of Col. Sanders, a replica room from the Sanders Motel that used to be next door, the original kitchen on display, and you can order the same KFC food you can get at any other KFC.

Joe's Crab Shack post card sign

Painted on the side of their restaurant on 2nd near Broadway. If you have trouble recognizing these:
N - country music performer
A - Titans logo
S - Gaylord Entertainment Center - Eh, Sommet Center - Well, you know...
H - AT&T bat building
V - Rolling hills and river
IL - Country Music Hall of Fame
L - Country wear
E - Parthenon

Lookout Mountain Lion

This lion female is at the southern end of Lookout Mountain at the zoo at Noccalula Falls Park in Gadsden, Al. She was sleeping when I walked up to the outer fence. My camera makes a quiet bark sound when a picture is taken, and that sound got her attention.

Jamestown, TN Depot

Ths depot was built by the Oneida & Western Railroad when they decided to extend their line another 7 miles past their previous end of East Jamestown in 1930. O&W was started by the Tennessee Stave and Lumber Company, but their railroad soon started losing money after extending to Jamestown. Passengers could board a train here and take the 37 mile trip to Oneida and from there connect to Southern Railway.

In 1942 O&W was sold to Crown-Healy Company of Illinois on news that TVA was planning to build a dam on Wolf Creek near Jamestown. WWII delayed building that dam until 1946, and by then, another building company had won the bid for the dam project.

Then, Jewel Ridge Coal Corporation bought the line when coal mines were proposed in the area, but this did not amount to enough business. The last train left this station on March 2, 1954.

Later, this depot was sold and used as a business, hence the Nutrena sign on the front. Today, the building is vacant.

Bowling Green Fountain Square Fountain

Yesterday, I showed a photo of the Bowling Green fountain at the center of town, in the following pictures are some details.

Bowling Green Fountain Square Fountain

In the center of the town of Bowling Green, KY is Fountain Square, and the center of Fountain Square is this fountain. Fountain Square was dedicated in 1872 with a limestone fountain.

That original fountain soon deteriorated, and a new fountain had to be installed. In 1881, the city leaders purchased this 6,000 pound precast fountain from New York City's J.L. Mott Ironworks for $1,500. The fountain was sculpted by Antonio Canova and for the top of the fountain, he sculpted Hebe, the goddess of youth.

Tomorrow, I'll show some close-up views of the fountain details.

Gov. John C. Brown House

Pulaski, TN

From the historical marker:

Built between 1853 and 1860 by Dr. William Battle, this house is a significant example of Greek Revival architecture. As the home of Dr. Elihu Edmondson, it was occupied by Union troops during the civil war. The house was owned by John C. Brown after his term as Governor of Tennessee. In 1927, the residence was sold to Dr. and Mrs. James Knox Polk Blackburn, who modernized the dwelling known as "Colonial Hall." Martin Methodist College purchased the house in 1994. Two years later, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Nine of the animals at the Freak Show.

These are the images from a wide banner which was part of Barnum's Barnyard along the midway at the Tennessee State Fair.

I'm going to guess what these are
Ziggy the 8-legged piggy
Tiny Tina the worlds smallest horse
Bimbo the blue elephant
Cyclops the one-eyed pig
4 by 4 the four-horned ram
spot the 8 legged dog
meow the siamese cat not worthy of two names
tatou the low-to-the-ground dog
Oink & Boink the two-headed pig

McMinnville, TN Church

First Methodist Church; (200 W. Main St.)
Dating from 1886, the First Methodist Church was built from bricks fired to construct the Great Falls Cotton Mill at Rock Island. Stained glass windows and original oak pews have been retained even though several additions to the rear of the church have been made over the years, including the Willis and Gribble annexes.

www.tngenweb.org/warren/warsite.htm

Brown's Diner

This little hole-in-the-wall establishment is popular with the locals, although I've never eaten there. Not too long ago, there was a fire here. Soon after the fire, I remember reading a restaurant review in the paper that said "The food's still good, but not quite as good as when they had 40 years of grease caked on the griddle."

Not far from Vandy on Blair Blvd. near the intersection with 21st Ave.

Cookeville's 509

The Tennessee Central Depot in the heart of Cookeville has been turned into a museum, and is known as "The Crown Jewel of the Tennessee Central Railway." Several train cars are outside and part of the museum, highlighted by this locomotive.

As a side note, this reminds me of the song "The Railroad Comes through the middle of the house" as one of the lines is: Here comes the 5:09.

Blue Circle Hamburgers

Blue Circle Hamburgers used to be a chain of 30 drive-in fast food restaurants in the area around Northeast Tennessee. Years later, this one location on the old Bluff City Highway in Bristol is the only one still open and the old neon sign still stands since 1964.

Ironically, Circleburgers are square, like a Krystal or White Castle, but many of the locals think it's so much better. I wish I could have stopped here, but I can only expect my wife to humor me so many times on one trip. :)

For the full story, see:
www.gotricities.com/content/article.dna?idnumber=03052113....

Roxy Theater

On the corner of Franklin and First in Downtown Clarksville, the Lillian Theater was built in 1912. It burned down in 1913 and was rebuilt. It burned down again in 1945 and the was rebuilt again, this time as the Roxy theater.

It showed first run movies until 1980 and then ever since 1983 has been used as a popular live theater.

The Art Deco theater was also the backdrop of the music video "All I wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow in the mid 90's.

For more info, see:
www.roxyregionaltheatre.org/

Marshall County Courthouse

The present Colonial Revival style courthouse was completed in 1929. This was the third to occupy this location in Lewisburg, TN. The first was built in 1838 an then burned in 1873. The second was completed in 1874 and burned in 1927. This courthouse was designed by the Nashville firm of Hart, Freeland and Roberts, and the same firm renovated and modernized the building in 1974.

Marshall County is named after Supreme Court Cheif Justice John Marshall.

The Mitchell House - Lebanon, TN

Home of one of the founders of the Castle Heights Military Academy, where this house is located. (along Main St. or U.S. 70 a few blocks west of the town square) It is now the headquarters of Cracker Barrel chain of southern restaurants. It was built in 1906 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Alvin C York Gristmill

Tennessean and hero Alvin C. York was one of the most decorated soldiers in World War I. On Oct. 8, 1918, while leading a small patrol through the Argonne Forest in France, Sgt. York had the assignment to eliminate a flank of opposition machine gun fire that was halting his regiment's advancement. York found himself alone facing a German machine gun unit and he took them on with only a rifle and a pistol. The fight ended with over 20 German soldiers dead and another 132 soldiers surrendering along with their four oficers and 35 machine guns. For his efforts he was awarded a dozen medals including the Congressional Medal of Honor.

After the War, he returned to his family farm in Pall Mall, nestled in the Tennessee Mountains. York never seeked to capitalize on his fame, and instead led a quiet life.

York's Family farm, grist mill, and burial site are now maintained by Tennessee as a State Historic Park. The Grist Mill and dam were built on the Wolf River and operated by York until his death in 1964. Since then, the farm has been designated a National Historic Landmark District and has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Mrs. Grissom's sign

At the top of the sign in a picture of a tub of Pimento Cheese Salad. If you've never heard of Mrs. Grissom's, they make that and chicken salad and tuna salad and not mixed greens tossed salad. I ate a lot of pimento cheese sandwiches as a kid, but I didn't pay attention to brand names back then. To cut and paste from their website:

"Grace Grissom began making her delicious salads on Nashville's Historic Second Avenue back in 1955. If you've lived in the South very long, chances are you grew up eating Mrs. Grissom's delicious pimento cheese spread, chicken, ham, and tuna salad."

If you've got time to kill, here'd the story of Grace and Herbert Grissom:
www.mrsgrissoms.com/MG/story.htm

Abraham Lincoln's Birthplace

It can get cold during the winter months in Kentucky. Fortunately, Thomas Lincoln had the forethought to build a huge concrete temple around the cabin to keep the inside warm. Also, Camera flash's haven't been allowed for 183 years.

Then, there's the other saying: A young Abe Lincoln built the log cabin he was born in with his own two hands!

There are two old roads from Nashville to Louisville, which became highways U.S. 31E and 31W. This cabin is located on U.S. 31E just outside of Hodgenville, KY in Larue County

Wave Swinger

When Opryland was open, My wife's favorite ride always was the Tennessee Waltz. Now, anytime we go to a theme park or a fair, the Wave Swinger (or sometimes called the Tornado) is high on her priority. She's in this picture as she's got her hand on her head to hold down her red hat.

There's been a lot of recent news in the paper that the 2010 State Fair may go on after all. Here's to hoping that can come true...

Regions Bank / Stahlman buildings - 14 minutes after sundown

The neon sign for radio station WKDF (103.3) has been on top of the Stahlman Building for about 20 years. Before that, it was a sign for sister station WKDA 1240 AM back when they played 50's/60's Oldies music. The Stahlman building when built was one of Nashville's tallest and has recently been converted to residential.

Not too long ago, instead of being the Regions bank building, it was the AmSouth Bank building. It is currently the 10th tallest building in Nashville. The Titans logo banner probably came down soon after this was taken as it is only up during football season.