Tellico Blockhouse site

From Wikipedia:

The Tellico Blockhouse was an early American outpost located along the Little Tennessee River in Vonore, Monroe County, Tennessee. Completed in 1794, the blockhouse operated until 1807 with the purpose of keeping the peace between nearby Overhill Cherokee towns and early Euro-American settlers in the area in the wake of the Cherokee–American wars. The Tellico Blockhouse was the site where several treaties were negotiated in which the Cherokee were induced to cede large portions of land in Tennessee and Georgia. During this period, the blockhouse was the site of official liaisons between the United States government and the Cherokee.

The Tellico Blockhouse site is located at the junction of Nine Mile Creek and the Little Tennessee River (now Tellico Lake), just off U.S. Route 411 between Maryville and Vonore. Fort Loudoun was located just across the river to the west, but was in ruins by the time the blockhouse was built.

For much more history:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tellico_Blockhouse

Hume-Fogg High School front entrance - Nashville

Hume-Fogg High School is a public academic magnate school located in downtown Nashville. The five-story Tudor Revival building opened in 1912 when two schools merged. The school building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. For more information:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hume-Fogg_High_School

A good friend of mine is a Hume-Fogg alumnus. I showed him this picture and he said that sometimes going to class felt as daunting as the photo represents.

Restored Coca-Cola Mural - Cookeville, TN

In 2015, a store owner in the Cream City Depot District in Cookeville was renovating the exterior of his building. When removing the stucco, they found a forgotten Coca-Cola mural. From there, they contacted Coca-Cola who has been restoring vintage ads throughout the region. On Sept. 4, 2015, the city unveiled the restored mural with the 'Silhouette girl.'

Full story:
herald-citizen.com/stories/historic-coke-sign-unveiling-i...?

Heigold House facade - Louisville, KY

text of the historic marker:
Christian Heigold, a German immigrant and stonecutter, came to Louisville sometime prior to 1850, and in 1857 he built his home at 264 Marion Street in an area known as the Point.

This was a period of unrest and attacks on Irish and German immigrants, not long after the infamous Bloody Monday incident in 1855. In order to prove his patriotism and loyalty to America, he carved inscriptions and busts of American notables into the facade of the house. Among the incised mottos is one reading, "Hail to the City of Louisville." Heigold died shortly after the facade was completed in 1865, and his son Charles lived there until his death in 1925.

The Heigold house was one of only a few structures on the Point to survive the Great Flood of 1937, and the only one still inhabitable. The house survived until 1953 when the city purchased the property in order to expand the city dump.

Mayor Charles Farnsley saved the facade of the house from demolition by moving it to Thruston Park on River Road between Adams and Ohio streets. In June of 2007, the facade was moved to the entrance of historic Frankfort Avenue.

For more info: louisvilleky.com/louisville-uncovered-presents-the-heigol...



"Hail to Buchanan, now and forever"

Roy Acuff's Opryland House

In the early 1980s, after the death of his wife, Mildred, Roy Acuff, then in his 80s, moved into a small house on the Opryland grounds and continued performing daily at the Grand Ole Opry. He arrived early most days at the Opry before the shows and performed odd jobs, such as stocking soda in backstage refrigerators. Seeing the exterior of the house is part of the Grand Ole Opry tour, but anyone is able to walk up to it at any time.

Faded Tobacco wall ad - Columbia, TN

This faded ad is seen along Main St. south of the Columbia town square. The top is for Columbia Grocery Co. The rest of the faded mural is for Tobacco.
Some of the words we can make out: "New Process" "Refined" "Best for Smokers"
Bottom right: "Tag on 5c bag tells how"
Someone else was able to identify this was an R.J. Reynolds advertisement.

Fisk University's Jubilee Hall - Nashville, TN

Jubilee Hall on the campus of Fisk University in Nashville, TN, was the university's first permanent building, completed in 1876. Funds to build Jubilee Hall were raised by the Fisk Jubilee Singers in their first European singing tour in 1873.

Jubilee Hall was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974.

Memphis Cobblestone Landing

The Historic Cobblestone Landing in Memphis is one of the nation’s largest remaining, intact cobblestone landings. Built in the 1850s, it is located on Riverside Drive between Beale Street and Jefferson. The landing fueled commercial trade in Memphis until the opening of the Beale Street Landing. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 as "Memphis Landing."

Musica Statue Nashville

Musica is a statue sculpted by local artist Alan LeQuire which was unveiled in 2003. It is located in a traffic roundabout at Music Row (known as Buddy Killen Circle). It features nine nude figures dancing in a circle, while the top one holds a tambourine. Each figure is about 15 feet tall and the entire statue is 38 feet.

Upon its unveiling, it was controversial as some people didn't want nude statues in the Bible Belt. It was the scene of a famous prank on St. Patrick's Day 2010 when some locals dressed the statues in Irish garb. Other similar pranks over the years include Nashville Predator jerseys during their Stanley Cup playoff appearance and facemasks during the 2020 pandemic.

Rowing Man - Knoxville, TN

Located in downtown Knoxville, this statue was sculpted by David L. Phelps in 1988. The over-sized bronze oarsman appears to be submerged halfway into the sidewalk.

Berlin Pulpit Rock - Berlin, TN

In Marshall County, TN, a small community called Berlin grew around the Big Cave Spring. Near the entrance to that cave was this set of stacked rocks. Since it was located in front of a natural amphitheater, it made for a convenient podium, rostrum or pulpit. (Hence the name "Pulpit Rock.")

In 1844 when running for President, James K. Polk delivered a campaign speech here. Andrew Johnson also spoke here, making two U.S. Presidents that have orated from the behind the natural rostrum at the entrance to the big spring. Eventually, this spot became a popular spot for candidates over the next 80 years as another two U.S. Senators, four U.S. Congressmen, six Governors and seven judges are recorded on the marker next to the rocks.

In 1925, Marshall County wanted to give more prominence to its significant stone. The Pulpit rock was jacked up and placed onto a wagon, which was pulled by a team of four mules into Lewisburg. The Rock was placed on display on the grounds of the Marshall County Courthouse facing in the direction of the site of James K. Polk's law office on the town square. Then, the marker was created to list off all of the politicians who spoke at Berlin Springs over the years.

After sitting in the square for six decades, local historian Ralph Whitesell used his influence to have the rock returned to it's original location. This happened in 1986 as the rock was placed back at Berlin Springs as part of Gov. Alexander's "Tennessee Homecoming '86" project. You can still visit it today at the small park just off highway US431 at Old Berlin Road.

Want to know more? See this article:
freepages.school-alumni.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bethlehemc...

Isaac Hayes Burial Site - Memphis

Isaac Hayes is buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis. It's across from the entrance to the Crystal Shrine Grotto, so it's easy to find. A lot of detail went into this and I like it.

Johnny Cash's personal train station - Amqui, TN

Located in Madison, TN, L&N Railroad built this passenger station in 1910. Although the town was Madison, L&N named this station Amqui. Nobody remembers where the name Amqui came from but one popular theory is it's an Indian word that nobody remembers. The other theory is Amqui is short-hand for really fast, but they took the 'd' off the front and the 'ck' off the end.

Decades later, like most depots, Passenger service was discontinued at Amqui. Nearby resident Johnny Cash would see his local station and it inspired his song "The L&N Don't Stop Here Anymore."

Cash purchased the station in 1979 and relocated it closer to his home in Hendersonville where he used it to hold his train memorabilia. Eventually, June Carter Cash also also used it as an antique store.

Upon Johnny Cash's death in 2003, he donated the depot back to the city of Madison. Three years later, they relocated it to some donated land a mile south of the original location. Locals spent several years refurbishing the building, creating a museum and building the adjoining pavilion. As of 2010, the Amqui station is again available for all to enjoy.

For the full story:
www.amquistation.org/

The Fitzpatrick Hotel (Maybe haunted) - Washington, GA

The Fitzpatrick Hotel on the Washington, GA town square dates back to 1898. It closed in the 1950s but reopened in 2004 after thorough refurbishment. The National Register of Historic Places property features Queen Anne architecture style with fantastic details inside and out.

My wife and I loved the look of it and decided to spend the night here on a whim. After we got settled in, a family member write to tell me it is haunted. I had an opportunity to walk around and explore and photograph much of the building.

I turned these photos into a narrated slideshow which you can view on Youtube here: If you just wanted to see photos without narration:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=Outside_Tennessee%2F...

In the Narration, I tell the story of how we decided to stay here, what's different because of Social distancing, and how I learned it was haunted. I tell the popular ghost legends associated with the hotel. Then I show off our room 100 and the experience of staying here. Finally, I show off building details outside and in.

The Liberty Mule in Liberty, TN

On a bluff overlooking the highway in the small Tennessee town of Liberty, someone painted a mule over a century ago. Here is the story.

Nunahi-Duna-Dlo-Hily-I (Trail of Tears Statue)

That is the name of this statue and translates to "The Trail Where They Cried." This statue is located at the Trail of Tears Interpretive Center in Pulaski, TN. For more info on this statue, look at the accomanying marker:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=historical-markers%2...

This statue conveys emotion and can't be completely appreciated in one view, as there are four characters, each looking in a different direction.

Illinois Central Caboose - Halls, TN

With the IC tracks in the foreground. Halls is a small town in Lauderdale County.

Livesay Mill - Fiddler's Grove

The Livesay Mill is now one the many historic buildings located at Fiddler's Grove at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN. Here is the description from the Fiddler's Grove website:

Livesay Mill was built in 1879 on the Clinch River at Kyles Ford near the Tennessee Virginia State Line in Hancock County. The Grist Mill was water powered using a pair of grinding stones to grind corn for meal and wheat for flour. According to deed records, S. W. Carter and John Livesay along with other family members settled in Sneedville prior to the Civil War.

Mr. Jerry McFarland acquired the mill and donated it to Fiddlers Grove in 2005. The millhouse was built in Fiddlers Grove in 2006 and the Grist Mill was installed and became operational during the Wilson County Fair in 2007.
www.fiddlersgrove.org/facilities/historical-buildings/31-...

Smith-Matthews House

This home from 1837 is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Dr. Benjamin Franklin Smith House. It's along Columbia Pike (US 31) in Old Lynnville (a.k.a. Waco) in northern Giles County. The Brick house is listed on the register for its local significance for architecture, with styles of Mid 19th Century Revival, Exotic Revival, and Victorian: Queen Anne.

Niota, TN: the town changed it's name because of Ice Cream

The most famous place in Niota is the state's oldest train station.

Railroad Crossing at the Cream City district (Daytime) - Cookeville

The area around the Tennessee Central train depot is a well preserved historic district in Cookeville. The depot was the crown jewel of the TC system, and several manufacturing warehouses opened in the surrounding area. The most prominent was the Cream City Ice Cream plant. Cream City went out of business, but their spectacular sign is well preserved and lit on special occasions.

To see more pictures of the neon sign, Look here!

Giles County Courthouse - Pulaski, TN

The Giles County Courthouse in the center of the town square in Pulaski, TN was completed in 1909. It's a large 3 story brick structure measuring 60' x 150' with a large central cupola. The neoclassical design is marked by tall Corinthian Columns. On the inside, a balcony encircles the third floor while 16 caryatids (female faces) hold up the arched vault of the rotunda with a stained glass skylight. Inside the top of the cupola, a bell forged in 1858 strikes on the hours.

located on US 31. The entire district is on the NRHP. Their goal was to have the finest courthouse in the state and they may have succeeded.

Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission - Alto, TN

The Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission in Alto, TN was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 2017. It is located on the Old Alto Hwy (Old TN50) in Franklin County.

Here is the write-up from the TN Historic Commission:
Situated in the northeast part of Franklin County along the Old Alto Highway, the Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission was constructed in 1938. The one-story, gable roof building is constructed of rusticated and coursed “Franklin County sandstone”, which is similar to the popular Crab Orchard sandstone seen throughout the state. Stone buttresses and stained glass windows delineate the sides of the Gothic Revival chapel. Important architectural features inside include the wood ceiling supported by wood bracing, wood floors and pews, solid stone walls, and brick quoins surrounding window and door openings. The church was operated by the Paulists, who’s mission to promote their religion resulted in them being known in the early 20th century for innovative outreach ideas. At the Mission they used radio, film screening, print media, and even had a “motor chapel” – a trailer with a sleeping room in the front and an altar at the back.

O'Neal Bridge - The Shoals, AL

The O'Neal Bridge was built in 1939 to connect automobile traffic between Florence, Al on the north side to Sheffield and Muscle Shoals on the south side. The 2,071 ft. Cantilevered Warren through truss designed bridge crosses the Tennessee River. Highways US43 and US72 use the bridge that connects Lauderdale and Colbert Counties. The bridge was named in honor of Alabama's Father & Son governors Edward A. O'Neal and Emmett O'Neal.

When originally designing the bridge, engineers knew the southern side is on a bluff, and the northern side would need to be raised for the deck to be level. Dirt was excavated from the area to the west of bridge site on the north shore to form a hill, and the resulting empty space became Florence Harbor.

Also, when the bridge was originally completed, there was a pedestrian lane in the middle. The sidewalk leading to the bridge proceeded down a ramp under the bridge, which then ramped back up to an area between the lanes to the walkway. This walking lane was removed in the 80's during a lane widening project, but the access ramp is still there in the south end, although locked.

Smyrna, TN Train Depot

Here is the railroad station of the town I call home. The photo was taken in 2012 and there have been recent changes to the area, such as the far side had the roof extended for a musician stage.

The city of Smyrna has its roots to when a station was built here in 1851 and the town sprung up around it. (The line that ran from Nashville to Chattanooga placed a depot every 8 or so miles along the route.) This brick depot was built in 1873.

The historic building had lied vacant for many years, but it is starting to see a little bit of activity. Most of the town festivals are held at the depot and along Front St. Within the last 5 years, the town has worked on revitalizing the area with landscaping and a roundabout at the intersection in front of the depot. The green flag in the picture is the city's logo.

See the historical marker here:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=historical-markers%2...

All the Steam Trains in Tennessee

There are several places you can find steam trains across Tennessee and this video will list them all.

The ones you can ride:
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum in Chattanooga
Dollywood
Three Rivers Rambler in Knoxville
Eventually, the one at the Tennessee Central Railroad Museum in Nashville

The ones on display:
Collierville
Discovery Center of America in Union City
Casey Jones Village in Jackson
Maury County Park in Columbia
Lynnville Railroad Museum
Cowan Railroad Museum
Cream City Ice Cream District in Cookeville
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Little River Railroad Museum in Townsend
Elizabethton City Park

Rachel H.K. Burrow Museum - Arlington, TN

This old home / museum is located in Arlington, a suburb of Memphis.

From the Historic Marker:
Early pioneers settled in the Arlington area around 1830. A depot, called Withe Station, was established in 1856. The land was given by General Samuel Jackson Hays. In 1872 his land holdings were sold at public auction and the community became Haysville, incorporated in 1878. The name was changed to Arlington in 1883, and again incorporated in 1900. In 1905, the Arlington Bank and Trust Company was established in this building.

Denmark Presbyterian Church - Denmark, TN

More info from the local historic association:
www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com/17denmark_presbyterian_ch...

Text of the Civil War Trails marker:
This church, built by slaves in 1854, played a significant role in Madison County’s Civil War experiences. In April 1861, days after the firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, 104 local men formed a company called The Danes, later part of the 6th Tennessee Infantry (CSA). The community gathered here at the church to watch the new soldiers muster before they left for Camp Beauregard in nearby Jackson. At the ceremony, Emma Cobb presented a silk flag with the company’s name to Capt. John Ingram.

On the eve of the Battle of Britton Lane on August 31, 1862, the 20th and 30th Illinois Infantry Regiments commanded by Col. Elias S. Dennis camped in a grove of mulberry trees near the church. After the battle, Confederate Gen. Frank C. Armstrong’s cavalry brigade spent the night in Denmark on its return south. The Confederates kept their prisoners on the church’s second floor, which was a Masonic Lodge. Inscriptions believed to have been written by these Federal soldiers can still be seen along the bottoms of the walls.

By 1863, the Union army controlled much of West Tennessee. Local Confederates returning to Denmark on leave had to be careful. During one Sunday service here, a Federal patrol burst into the church and two visiting Confederates had to hide under their girlfriends’ hoop skirts to avoid capture.

Near the church is its historic cemetery, where three Confederate veterans, including Capt. Ingram, are buried. The Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The noteworthy spot where Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama all meet

The spot where Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama meet has a marker. Over the last decade, this spot has been in the news as Georgia has wanted access to the Tennessee River when the state suffers a drought.

This video includes instructions on how to get there, plus the nearby Nickajack Cave.