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Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Moye-Green Boarding House - Portland, TN

Moye-Green Boarding House - Portland, TN

The Moye-Green Boarding House is one of the earliest residential properties in Portland dating back to 1878. It is located near the the site of the L&N railroad depot, and operated as a boarding house from about 1890 to 1945. The house features decorative Folk Victorian detailing on the front porch.

The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. At the same time, the house sat vacant for many years and was subject to deterioration and decay. The house was added to the Tennessee Preservation Trust's 2013 Ten in Tenn list of endangered properties. Since then, it appears to have undergone some renovation.

Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Greenback, TN L&N Station

Greenback, TN L&N Station

The tracks are long gone but the L&N passenger & freight station from 1914 still remains. It is right in the middle of town along highway TN95 and is now used as a Farmers Market.

Monday, September 28, 2020

R&R Liquor Store neon sign - Nashville

R&R Liquor Store neon sign - Nashville

located on Jefferson St.

This Liquor store appeared in the Green Book which listed businesses which were friendly to African-American motorists during segregated times. Learn about more of these places at this link: www.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=bf72b1fbd...

Sunday, September 27, 2020

Sgt. Alvin C. York - Tennessee Military Museum

Sgt. Alvin C. York - Tennessee Military Museum

Tennesseean Sgt. York was a prominent hero from World Wat I. This display includes a painting and his uniform. The Tennessee Military Museum is a branch of the Tennessee State Museum located in War Memorial Plaza in downtown Nashville.

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Knoxville Cleaners Sign - Go Vols

Knoxville Cleaners Sign

An old sign that used to be neon, and I would assume it used to be for a different business. Now it has been repainted to demonstrate their UT pride. Seen in South Knoxville along the Chapman Highway (US441).

Friday, September 25, 2020

Christian County Courthouse - Hopkinsville, KY

Christian County Courthouse - Hopkinsville, KY

This Classical Revival style Courthouse was built in 1869. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Hopkinsville Commercial Historic District.

Thursday, September 24, 2020

Anthony & Isaac Bledsoe monument - Bledsoe's Fort Historical Park

Anthony & Isaac Bledsoe monument - Bledsoe's Fort Historical Park

Bledsoe's Station (AKA Bledsoe's Fort) was an 18th-century frontier fort located in what is now Castalian Springs, TN. The fort was built by long hunter and Sumner County pioneer Isaac Bledsoe in the early 1780s to protect Upper Cumberland settlers and migrants from hostile Native American attacks. While the fort is no longer standing, its location has been verified by archaeological excavations. The site is now part of Bledsoe's Fort Historical Park, a public park established in 1989 by Sumner County residents and Bledsoe's descendants.

The Belote Cemetery (or "Pioneer Cemetery") is located along a section of the Holston Road a few hundred yards southeast of the fort site and contains the graves of various early settlers in the Bledsoe's Lick area. The cemetery's most prominent feature is a 15-foot obelisk erected by the Bledsoe family in 1908 as a monument to Isaac and Anthony Bledsoe.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Grand Ole Opry guitar

Grand Ole Opry guitar

Outside the gates of the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, TN are two guitars for tourist photos, one acoustic and one electric.

Tuesday, September 22, 2020

Masonic Lodge - Beech Grove, TN

Masonic Lodge - Beech Grove, TN

This Masonic Lodge is Hermon Lodge #239 in Beech Grove, TN along Old US41 highway. I can't find any info on how old the building it. This building backs up to the Beech Grove Church of Christ, so I wonder if this is formerly their old building. It has dual front doors which is typically only seen at old churches where men and women sat on separate sides.

Monday, September 21, 2020

Nicholas Gotten House - Bartlett, TN

Nicholas Gotten House - Bartlett, TN

Text from Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_Gotten_House
The Nicholas Gotten House is located on 2969 Court Street in Bartlett, TN. It houses the Bartlett Museum, a local history museum operated by the Bartlett Historical Society.

The white frame structure was built by Nicholas Gotten in 1871 in the New England saltbox style. A saltbox is a wooden frame house with a long, pitched roof that slopes down to the back.

Nicholas Gotten immigrated from Germany at the age of 22 in 1854. He was a blacksmith and served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. In the years following the war, Gotton made a living as a miller and ginner. He and his wife Julia Coleman raised three children in the house.

Until the late 1970s, the Gotten House was owned by the City of Bartlett and used as the Bartlett Police Station. In the early 1980s, the house was leased by the City of Bartlett to the Bartlett Historic Society in a 50-year contract for $1 per year, to save the house from planned demolition and to refurbish the property. The structure became the seat of the Bartlett Historic Society, and since 1990 it has housed the Bartlett Museum. Exhibits on display at the museum are of relevance to local history: the collection includes photographs, written documents on the history of Bartlett, artifacts, and period furniture. The museum is open to the public every first and third Sunday of the month from 2-4 pm. Admission to the museum is free.

On March 20, 2002, the house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. After a $100,000 renovation in 2007, which included authentic new windows, doors and fixtures, the Gotten house was declared a Bartlett Historic Landmark by the Bartlett Historic Preservation Commission in 2008.

Sunday, September 20, 2020

First Baptist Church - Franklin, TN

First Baptist Church - Franklin, TN

This historic church building in downtown Franklin was built as First Baptist Church in 1849. Although the building was damaged in the Civil War, it was rebuilt, then rebuilt again in 1890 after a fire. The Baptist congregation moved away in 1988 and the building has been home to a couple of denominations since then.

Saturday, September 19, 2020

John Oliver Cabin - Cades Cove

John Oliver Cabin - Cades Cove

According to the Smoky Mountains National Park historic marker:
Among the first Euro-Americans to settle in Cades Cove, John and Lucretia Oliver arrived here in 1818. Probably by the early 1820s they had completed the 1 1/2 story cabin that you see here. Though its exact construction date is not known, it is one of the oldest structures in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Members of the Oliver family lived here for more than a century.

John Oliver Cabin - Cades Cove

John Oliver Cabin - Cades Cove

Friday, September 18, 2020

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate mural - East Nashville

Olive & Sinclair Chocolate mural - East Nashville

Olive & Sinclair Co.
Makers of Southern Artisan
Chocolate and Fine Candy
Made right here in Nashville.

Oliver & Sinclair is located in East Nashville at S. 17th St. @ Fatherland St. I'm about 90% sure this is a modern mural made to look old, which includes the addition of a window.

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Old General Hospital - Nashville (2015)

Old General Hospital - Nashville

Nashville's City Hospital opened on April 23, 1890 on Rolling Mill Hill overlooking downtown. Eventually the Hospital needed to expand and a second building (not pictured) was added in 1932. As other hospitals opened around town, this location became Nashville's General Hospital to serve underprivileged citizens. My mother-in-law worked at the newer building for many years and the original building had been abandoned for a long time. In 1998, General Hospital merged with Meharry and moved to their location.

Since 2000, the area has undergone vast redevelopment. This hospital has been converted into apartments. Many new buildings have been added to the area. The smokestack is not connected and its boiler house was built in 1927. This view was taken from across the Cumberland River.

Wednesday, September 16, 2020

Historic Beehive Brick Kiln - Decatur, AL

Historic Beehive Brick Kiln - Decatur, AL

In the early 1800s some of the finest bricks in America came from Brickyard Landing in Decatur, AL. Originally, there were several of these beehive Brick Kilns, but this is the only one not removed. Surprisingly, there was not a historic marker here, but I hear a developer is pushing to get this added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Tuesday, September 15, 2020

Wilson Central High School Wall of Honor

Wilson Central High School Wall of Honor

Wilson Central High School is located south of Lebanon where Highway TN109 meets TN840. As you pass the entrance to the school, you see the Wall of Honor. Painted on a large rock face is a U.S. Flag, the words "Wall of Honor" and "We Support Our Troops", and alumni of the school who have served or are still serving in the U.S. Military.

Also highlighted on the wall is Michael L. Stansbery who was killed in action on 7/30/2010. Learn more about Army Spc. Stansbery HERE.

Monday, September 14, 2020

The First Hermitage - Nashville, TN

The First Hermitage - Nashville, TN

Until President Andrew Jackson's final mansion was built, he lived in a two-story log cabin on his property for 15 years. After the new Hermitage was built, the original was disassembled and rebuilt into these two one-story slave quarters.

Saturday, September 12, 2020

Peach Park - Clanlton, AL - Pose with a giant peach

Peach Park - Clanlton, AL - Pose with a giant peach

Peach Park is an old-fashioned tourist attraction in Clanton, AL where US31 and I-65 meet. Peaches are usually associated with Georgia, but there are several Peach and produce markets in the area between Birmingham and Montgomery. Peach Park tries to set itself apart with things like this peach statue in a garden, a lighthouse, a caboose, a Playground set around a replica barn. My wife bought some home-made cantaloupe ice cream which she calls the best she's ever had.

Friday, September 11, 2020

World Trade Center: Sculpture of Steel - Oak Ridge, TN

World Trade Center: Sculpture of Steel - Oak Ridge, TN

World Trade Center: Sculpture of Steel is a replica of the twin towers attacked on September 11, 2001. This is 20 feet tall and made out of rusted and ragged scraps of steel which has been welded together. This was presented to the American Museum of Science and Industry in Oak Ridge, TN by Limor Steel.

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Ravenswood Mansion - Brentwood, TN

Ravenswood Mansion (Front) - Brentwood, TN

Ravenswood is the 1825 mansion of James and Emeline Wilson featuring Greek Revival and Federal Architecture. The home gets it's name from 'The Raven' Sam Houston who was the Best Man at Wilson's wedding. It was the manor house of the third largest plantation in Williamson County as it was over 1,000 acres. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

In 2010, the city of Brentwood purchased the mansion and outbuildings with 325 acres. Today, the area is open to the public as Marcella Vivrette Smith Park, named after the 1960's property owner. Preserved features of the park include the spring house, cistern and root cellar, tree-lined driveway, and spring-fed pond. The entrance to the park is along highway TN252 (aka Wilson Pike or Harpeth Turnpike) and includes a new bridge over the 1914 train tracks.

For more history:
www.ravenswoodmansion.com/history
www.brentwoodtn.gov/departments/parks-recreation/parks-tr...

Ravenswood Mansion (Rear) - Brentwood, TN

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

Large Bowling Pin - Lebanon, TN

Large Bowling Pin - Lebanon, TN

This oversized bowling pin is located at Pro Bowl West along Baddour Pkwy (US70) in Lebanon, TN.

Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Vintage Fire Engine - downtown Memphis

Vintage Fire Engine - downtown Memphis

Recently I was doing a photo walk on the streets of downtown Memphis and passed the Fire Department Headquarters (aka Fire Station 5). When I peeked in the window, I saw this vintage fire engine. While I have a few matchbox fire trucks, I couldn't tell you the make and model of them. If you can help, please leave info in the comments.

Monday, September 7, 2020

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

Railroad Crossing at the Cream City district (Night) - 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!

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Neon Auctioneer Sign - Shelbyville, TN

Neon Auctioneer Sign - Shelbyville, TN

Here's a sign I've driven by many times before I realized this was a gem of an old neon sign. I suppose it was so rusty I never noticed the upper sign. I'd love to have seen it when it was working.

The sign would be animated as the auctioneer would appear to be banging a gavel against a table. He also has a neon speech balloon with the word "SOLD!"

The sign is located in Shelbyville, along US231 (Cannon Blvd.) near Lane Pkwy.

Saturday, September 5, 2020

Cheatum Springs General Store

Cheatum Springs General Store

Located in Rural Coffee county at the corner of Cheatham Springs Road at French Brantley road