Clinch River Bridge - Clinton, TN

This 1939 bridge by Bethlehem Steel Co. carries highway US25W over the Clinch River in Anderson County, TN. It is believed to be the only Continuous Warren Camelback Through Truss in the state.

Update: This bridge is now scheduled for replacement and demolition by TDOT, although I don't know the timetable.

Jellico, TN Stone Marker

The city limits for Jellico, TN also happens to be the state line. Kentucky is on the other side of this marker along US25W. The stone marker has "Jellico Tenn" on both sides, as well as the date 1941. Since then, the historic marker has been added to the top. The historic marker tells you what you are entering, which is Kentucky if you're going this way or Campbell County from the other side.

Anderson County Courthouse - Clinton, TN

The courthouse was built in 1967 at a cost of just over $1.5 Million. The courthouse is located in the middle of Clinton's town square while facing Main St. (which is also US25W). There are also some older business scattered along Main St., but the central business district seems to be a few blocks over at Market St.

Clinton is also the only small town in Tennessee I've seen with parking meters. I parked to the side of the courthouse and put a quarter in the meter which bought me almost an hour. However the machine didn't seem to work as it was still blinking "expired" so I had to do my photographic business as quickly as possible.

Chapman Restaurant - Lake City, TN

Air Conditioned Private Dining Room - grAde
Seen along Main St. (US25W) in the small Anderson County town

Aeroplane Filling Station - Powell, TN

Dating back to the glory days of roadside architecture is this vintage gas station eye-catchingly shaped like a plane built by proprietors Elmer and Henry Nickle in 1930. (Here's a photo from 1931.) Powell is located north of Knoxville along US25W on the road to Clinton, TN. The gas station went out of business half a century ago and was abandoned for a while. Other businesses moved in to keep it open, such as a liquor store, a produce stand, a bait & tackle shop and finally a used car lot.

About a decade ago, locals who wanted to preserve their roadside heritage from demolition began to rally to save the plane. They created a website (now gone, I think) and sold t-shirts to raise money for the novelty architecture preservation. One thing that caught me by surprise during my visit is the exterior has shiny new sheet metal compared to other recent photos I had seen online. Also new are the windows and the light along the wing. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is also helped by the Tennessee Historic Commission

When Lake City, TN became Rocky Top, TN

The powers that be in the small Anderson County town of Lake City, TN have decided to change their name to Rocky Top, TN. The thinking is that by having the name Rocky Top, they could be a new tourist destination with museums, theme parks and gift shops galore in the town that's just a county away from Knoxville.

There's one snag in their plan: The copyright holder to the song "Rocky Top" filed an injunction to have the name not available to the city. Today, the judge in the case ruled that the copyright holders couldn't demonstrate how their copyright is being violated with a town's name change. Here's the whole story: www.wate.com/story/25633342/injunction-to-keep-lake-city-...

I expect the next time I'm driving US25W through the area that there will be a new sign for the town.

Hoskins Restaurant (Good Food) - Clinton, TN

Located along the main road through town (US25W) and across from the county courthouse. Hoskins and the Ritz Theater next door appeared to have an Art Deco storefront. Hoskins is also a Rexall Drug Store, so it looks like it started out as a soda fountain and the sign on the front of the door claims they have been voted the best burger in town.

In the News: Lake City, TN to become Rocky Top, TN

The powers that be in the small Anderson County town of Lake City, TN have decided to change their name to Rocky Top, TN. The thinking is that by having the name Rocky Top, they could be a new tourist destination with museums, theme parks and gift shops galore in the town that's just a county away from Knoxville.

There's one snag in their plan: The copyright holder to the song "Rocky Top" filed an injunction to have the name not available to the city. Yesterday, the judge in the case ruled that the copyright holders couldn't demonstrate how their copyright is being violated with a town's name change. Here's the whole story: www.wate.com/story/25633342/injunction-to-keep-lake-city-...

I expect the next time I'm driving US25W through the area that there will be a new sign for the town.

Central Rexall Drugstore neon sign - Jellico, TN

Campbell County Courthouse - Jacksboro, TN

Jacksboro became the Campbell County Seat in 1808 and the town was named after Judge John Jack who donated the land for the town. A vote was held in 1903 to relocate the county seat to the nearby larger city LaFollette, but after a year they moved back to this spot where a courthouse was built in 1885. That courthouse burned down in 1926.

This courthouse was completed later in 1926. This building was made of brick, stone, steel and concrete since the previous courthouse had burned down. It is quite an imposing two story structure when looking up at it from the lower level of main street(Old US25W/TN9). a wing was added on the left (western side) in 1964.

Along the top in middle is a relief carving of an eagle. The rest of the top is covered in metal. This metal covering was not there 15 years ago, and I suspect it's there to protect the roof, yet with a cutout showing the ornamental part.

Thacker Christmas Inn

Merry Christmas! For this hotel in Caryville, TN, it's Christmas year round. I guess. (The hotel was under renovation with a construction fence completely surrounding the place when I drove through here last fall. Maybe it will be open by now.) Because it was under construction, I drove around the place for 15 minutes until I could find an unobstructed view, which sadly was not on the sunlit side.

I'm guessing it's still going to be a mom & pop owned place and not part of a chain. It's located along old US25W but still in business since it's next to Interstate 75.

Here are a couple of comments from Flickr users who have been here:

My wife and I noticed in Oct. that they were renovating. I can remember years and years ago stopping and having dinner here, but never stayed. I am glad to see someone taking an interest in getting the place up and running again. It had fell into a pretty sad state of disrepair over the last dozen or so years.

My Grandparents and I used to go there about 2 - 3 times a year and dine in their restaurant. It was one of those special times that we'd look forward to for months, and long time still remembered fondly by me.

Random East Tennessee Dragon

Located right off Interstate 75 exit 134 in Caryville, TN, this dragon constructed of rebar and fiberglass has been attracting visitors to a fireworks store since 1986. In May of 2011, the Fireworks store caught fire and everything was a total loss, except for the dragon which still stands on a now vacant lot. (Contrary to some thought, the dragon did not breathe fire upon the store.)

According to www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/14021 as of April, the dragon is for sale. The dragon could be yours, for the right price.

Ridgeview Motel - South Clinton, TN

Air Conditioned!
This still operational independent motel with it's vintage albeit crusty neon sign is seen along highway US25W in Clinton, TN. To the right of the V in RidgeView is the NO for No Vacancy.

Jellico Motel & Restaurant

Quite the large sign and it's easily viewable from Interstate 75 and US25W in Jellico, TN not far from the KY border. Based on this post card which was probably printed in the late 60s, it used to be a Quality Courts Motel.