Post Card Tuesday: Sarie and Sallie are heard over WSM

Sarie and Sallie were a hillbilly comedy act of the early days of WSM.



This is the famous WSM 650 AM 50,000 Watt radio transmitter just off Interstate 65 and Concord Road south of Nashville in Brentwood, TN.

When it was constructed in 1932, it was the tallest radio tower in America. In fact, at the time, you could purchase a post card that stated its height at 878 feet and then pointed out it was 323 feet taller than the Washington Monument. This tower turned WSM into the radio blowtorch which helped much of America be able to hear the Grand Ole Opry and cement Nashville's place as the home of Country Music. WSM remains the only "clear channel" in the U.S. to still play music.

From a technical perspective, this is a dual cantilevered center guyed tower, a.k.a a diamond antenna. It was made by Blaw-Knox company of Pittsburgh who went on to make similar towers until going out of business in the 50s. This tower still is the tallest Blaw-Knox tower in the U.S. but today it is only 808 ft. tall.

Post Card Tuesday: Beersheba Springs Assembly

Here's what this look like today:



And here's the view when you turn around:



In 1833, Beersheba Cain found a mountain spring at the base of a summit along the Cumberland Plateau at the Collins River Valley. Like many other places where a spring was found, it didn't take long for the medicinal properties to be proclaims and a resort town to "Spring up."

By 1857, local businessman John Armfield had bought all the surrounding property and had built the hotel seen here. It is quite a massive building and I couldn't step back any further without falling down into the valley.

Like most spring resorts, tourists stop coming in the early 1900s and business dried up. In 1941, the Methodists bought the complex and now use it as a retreat.

Post Card Tuesday: The Bachman Twin Tunnels - Chattanooga

Here's what the tunnels look like today:



Built in 1929, the Bachman Tunnels (or Bachman Tubes) Connects Chattanooga on the west to East Ridge through Missionary Ridge. The tubes are 1,034 feet long, are the third oldest tunnels in town and carry highways US41 and US76. On the east side where this photo was taken, the city in 2001 added a roundabout in hopes of diverting Semi trucks (which easily get stuck) during times of high interstate congestion.

For the full story, read here:
www.chattanoogan.com/2003/8/17/39834/Remembering-The-Cons...

Post Card Tuesday: Fisk University Library

From the historic marker:
This neo-Gothic structure first served as the Erastus M. Cravath Memorial Library. Named for Cravath, the university's first president (1875-1900), it was designed by Nashville architect Henry Hibbs and built in 1929-30. The interior walls depict several murals by Aaron Douglas, the leading Harlem or Negro Renaissance painter and founder of the Fisk Art Department.

This building is part of the Fisk University Historic District listing on the National Register of Historic Places

Post Card Tuesday: David Crockett Cabin - Rutherford, TN

Here is what this cabin looked like 10 years ago in 2011:



After being defeated in a re-election effort for U.S. Congress in 1834, Davy Crockett decided to move out to West Tennessee. About 10 miles away from where his mom and sister were living, he built a farm in Gibson County, which would eventually be his last residence. Soon thereafter, he went to fight in the Texas battle for independence and died at the Alamo in 1836.

About halfway between the location of his farm, and where his mom and sister lived is the town of Rutherford, TN. The townspeople took the remaining logs from his last house which had fallen apart, and assembled them to make "Davy Crockett's Last house and Museum." The home is located along old US45W on the north side of town.

Post Card Tuesday: Coffee County Courthouse

Coffee County Court House - Manchester, Tenn 1-T-27

This is a Real Photo Post Card and would be at least 70 years old. The courthouse is mostly unchanged since then.

Post card Tuesday: Nashville Parthenon Interior

Interior - The Parthenon - Nashville, Tenn E-24

If you have been to the Parthenon over the last 30 years, you know it is no longer empty but now houses a replica statue of Athena. However, this post card is from the Real Photo Post Card era, and is probably at least 70 years old.

Post Card Tuesday - State Capitol - Oak Planted by Gov. McCord

The Caption reads: Plaque identified the cork oak tree planted and dedicated by the Hon. Jim McCord, Governor of Tennessee, at Arbor Day exercises on the State Capitol grounds in Nashville. The Governor planting the cork tree, Tennessee's Beautiful Capitol at Nashville.

I'm not sure if this tree or plaque is still stands on the capitol grounds. If it's there, I've never seen it.

Post Card Tuesday: Drake Motel

Quite possibly the neatest Motel sign in Nashville.

It's not in the best neighborhood anymore, on Murfreesboro Rd. Before the days of Interstates, this was in a heavily travelled area by tourists, U.S. 41 and U.S. 70S.

It's doubtful that the stars stay here anymore, at least not since River Phoenix and Sandra Bullock in the 1993 unsuccessful movie "The Thing Called Love." Back in the day, it was the place for country music stars to stay (at least that's what my Mom told me the first time she drove me past it many decades ago.).

Here's my view from 2008:

Post Card Tuesday: Tennessee State Penitentiary

This view of the State Penitentiary was from the linen era of post cards, likely from the 1930s or 40s. What are you going to say on a post card like this? Wish you were here!

Here's my view from 2010:



This interesting building was built in 1898 and was modeled after the fortress-like structure in Auburn, NY. The main building in the front and center is an administration building. The prison has 800 cells and was built for a cost of $500,000. Due to deterioration, it was closed in 1992 to coincide with the opeing of Riverbend prison.

Since it's closing, it's been a popular spot for films ranging from Ernest Goes to Jail to The Green Mile.

I've seen post cards of this place from the 1910s and 20s. It seems like an odd thing to make a post card for. What are you going to say? Wish you were here!

I've heard it's also a popular place for ghost tours. At the same time the interior is quite unsafe. I've heard reports of security keeping people from getting close to the building, bit nobody was on duty the day I was here. To the right of the prison is the Cumberland River and to the left and behind it is Briley Pkwy.

To see my other views of the outside of the prison, look here.

Post Card Tuesday: Rock Island Resort

This post card from 1969 shows a portion on the Rock Island Resort near the Great Falls Dam. Of particular interest is the Collins River Bridge in the background.



The largest truss on this bridge was originally erected in 1887-1889 as part of the Hyde’s Ferry Bridge located in Davidson County. Eugene Falconnet designed the bridge, and the Mount Vernon Bridge Company erected it. In 1917 Davidson County awarded a contract to the Nashville Bridge Company to relocate two spans from the Hyde’s Ferry Bridge and gave this span to the Nashville Bridge Company. The Nashville Bridge Company stored it until 1924 when the company erected it at this site. Arthur Dyer, president of the Nashville Bridge Company, often used this bridge as an example of the superiority of truss bridges over concrete due to their mobility.

This bridge is located near the 1916 Great Falls Dam, a major power source in the area. In 1922, That dam was raised 35 feet and the bridge which had been located here had to be replaced to accomidate the higher water level. Consequently, the Nashville Bridge Company removed the existing truss bridge from this site in 1924 and erected a new bridge using the stored truss from the Hydes Ferry Bridge.

TVA maintained responsibility for this bridge from the 1930s when they took over the nearby dam until 1982 when the road became state highway TN287. In 1986, a new two-lane bridge was completed parallel to this one and TDOT converted this one into a pedestrian bridge. From there, ownership was transferred to the TN Department of Conservation so that the bridge would be part of a nature trail at Rock Island State Park. Today, the bridge is off limits as both sides are fenced off and the park is hoping to someday raise funds to refurbish the historic bridge for future pedestrian use.

Technical details of the bridge are found in the book "Tennessee's Survey Report for Historic Highway Bridges" where this is entry #112: "Top chords and end posts are channels with lacing, and diagonals and the bottom chords are paired rectilinear eyebars. Verticals are channels with lacing except hip verticals which are paired rectilinear eyerods. Counters are single rectilinear tie rods. The bottom chords are below the floor beams, a somewhat unusual arrangement. The other spans are a 200-foot pin-connected Parker through truss, two 75-foot riveted Warren pony trusses, and three 20-foot steel I-beam approaches. The bridge has a curb-to-curb width of 15 feet and an out-to-out width of 17 feet. The substructure is concrete. Composition of the members of the 1924 trusses is typical. The Parker’s top chords and end posts are channels with lacing. Bottom chords, diagonals and counters are angles with battens. Verticals are paired angles with lacing. The Warrens’ top chords are channels, and the end posts are channels with battens. Bottom chords, verticals, and diagonals are angles with battens."

Post Card Tuesday: Monteagle Motel

This motel atop Monteagle was along US41. It was town down about 10-15 years ago. Here is my photo from 2006:

Post Card Tuesday: Opryland El Paso Station

Count me among those who wish we still had Opryland theme park instead of a large mall. As a child, the train was my favorite ride as you could get a tour of the whole park. The two stations were El Paso and Grinders Switch. I'm not sure which locomotive is pictured here, but they did operate a real steam train which was named Beatrice, as well as a diesel made to look like a steam train.

Post Card Tuesday: Sewanee Natural Bridge 1943

From Wikipedia:
Sewanee Natural Bridge in Franklin County, Tennessee, is a 25 feet (8 m) high natural sandstone arch with a span of 50 feet (15 m). It is essentially a giant sinkhole partially eroded to form a large stone bridge. A wet weather spring located behind the bridge in a rock cave probably contributed to the erosion forming the arch. It is called the Sewanee Natural Bridge as it was once owned by the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. It is a 3 acre (12,000 m²) designated state natural area.

Today, the Area is considered part of the South Cumberland State Park. You can't get to the bottom if you are afraid of heights as you have to walk over the bridge, which is about 3 ft. wide, to get to the other side where you can scale down it. To get here, you'd follow the signs off highway TN56. Here's a picture from 2010:

Post Card Tuesday - Mrs. Moore's Guest House - Murfreesboro

This house is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the East Main Street Historic District in Murfreesboro, TN. Here is a description of this house from the brochure entitled "Explore Historic Murfreesboro - A Walking Tour"

435 East Main Street
The Clardy House was built in 1898 for J. T. Rather, a former mayor of Murfreesboro. This residence is an example of Richardsonian Romanesque style, featuring three wide, rounded arches supported by squat columns on the porch. Operated as the Clardy Guest House from 1948 to 2000, it was one of the state’s oldest bed and breakfast inns.

More info from The Heritage Center of Murfreesboro and Rutherford County:
There is a story that Mr. Rather, afraid of fire, had firecrackers placed in the walls when the house was built, the idea being that any fire would set the fireworks off. It remained a private home until 1948, when Jack & Henrietta Moore converted it to a guest house. In 1954, Mr. & Mrs. Frank Clardy purchased the house at auction and continued it as a guest house.

Post Card Tuesday: Vacation Motor Hotel - Clarksville

This neon motel sign looks suspiciously like an old school Holiday Inn sign. I don't know if it once was a Holiday Inn which became independent, or they just wanted a copycat sign. The motel is still open for business along highway US41A/79 in the Providence area of Clarksville.

Post Card Tuesday: L&N Steam Locomotive

According to the post card, this photo of L&N #926 Steam Locomotive was taken in Nashville on Nov. 5, 1939.

Post Card Tuesday: Johnny Cash's One Piece at a Time Cadillac

One od Johnny Cash's most iconic songs was "One piece at a time." It's the story of an automobile assembly line worker who would take smuggle home one piece of a car every day until he was able to put together an entire car. Until his death, Cash had a museum in Hendersonville along Johnny Cash Highway (US31E). The building which used to be the museum is still there today, although today it is a real estate agency. See it on Google Street View.

Post Card Tuesday: Williamson County Courthouse

This linen-era post card shows the 1858 Williamson County Courthouse along the town square in Franklin. In the foreground is a Civil War cannon in the middle of the square which is still there today. The biggest difference between the courthouse then and today is the white paint. The paint was removed sometime in the late 70's or early 80's to reveal the original brick. The courthouse today also has a 1976 expansion behind the historic front.

Post Card Tuesday: Hughes Worm Ranch - Savannah, TN

For 2021, I am bringing back a blog feature I haven't used in a while - Postcard Tuesday, where I'll feature a vintage Tennessee post card each week.

Here is an antiquated business that we don't see any more: Worm stores. Of course, you can go to any convenience near a lake and get nightcrawlers, but near a century ago there were businesses which specialized in worms, and almost operated as tourist stops. If you view this post card full size, some of the messages are:
Thru these gates pass the best people on Earth - My friends - The Fishermen
This is not a circus, It's Hughes Worm Ranch
SEE the Unique worm ranch - World's largest

The Worm Ranch even employed ladies to dig through the dirt to capture the worms.

Worms were so important in Savannah that a local radio station had the letters WORM, and they still operate today