River Times 2011 by Contemporary Media

River Times ~ ~ A publicAtion of the Mississippi RiveR coRRidoR - tennessee

Explore the highways and byways of Tennessee’s Mississippi River Corridor

Plus: F e S t i va l S & Fa i r S

H i Sto r i c tow n S q ua r e S Fa r m e r S m a r k e t S mrct reSourceS

Facts & Folklore:

Reelfoot Lake

~ Inside:

t H e c i v i l wa r t r a i l Dy e r S b u r g r i v e r c e n t e r D r . p e t e r b r ow n wilDliFe collection v i c to r i a n v i l l ag e

S u p p l e m e n t t o M e M p h i s m a g a z i n e • w w w. M s r i v e r t n .o r g

Make historic Helena, Arkansas your rest stop along Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s avian highway

THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER FLYWAY www.audubon.org

Helena is an ideal escape for outdoor enthusiasts looking to experience the Mississippi Riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s majesty. Visit our scenic boardwalk at the Helena River Park. Use our 60-foot public boat ramp. Learn from our outdoor birding and nature exhibits. Canoe to nearby Buck Island.Visit St. Francis National Forest. See how Helena, National Audubon Society and other partners are working together to re-connect our river town to the Mississippi River.

www.VisitHelenaAR.com

Prothonotary Warbler photo by Bill Stripling

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River Times ~ ~ 2011~2012

ExplorE thE h i g h w ay s

a n d b y w ay s o f tEnnEssEEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mississippi

rivEr rEgion

~ Table of ConTenTs

4 Welcome

18 The Civil War Trail

5 Map & MRCT Updates

22 Festivals & Fairs

A Letter from the Mississippi River Corridor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tennessee

Along the trail: Civil War destinations and a list of trail markers

A region map and list of MRCT accomplishments and projects in production

There's an abundance of festivals and fairs to choose from along the Corridor

6 Reelfoot Lake

24 Historic Town Squares

We celebrate 200 years with Facts and Folklore

8 Victorian Village

Where fortunes and neighborhoods were built

10 Farmers Markets

A list of farmers markets and local farm tours

12 Dyersburg River

Center and Park

A look at the community front porches for Tipton, Lauderdale, and Dyer Counties

26 Photographer Bios

Amie Vanderford, Jeffrey Jacobs, Alan Peeler

28 Partners, Supporters,

and Sponsors

30 Resources A list of helpful websites

A preview to the project

16 Dr. Peter Brown

The Dyersburg State Community College Ornithology and Fauna Collection

Photograph by Amie Vanderford Photography www.amie.org

RiveR Times magazine, a publication of the mississippi River Corridor - Tennessee is published by Contemporary media, inc., 460 Tennessee street, memphis, Tn 38103. all rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part of any of the materials contained herein without the express written permission of Contemporary media is prohibited. Project Writer: Richard J. alley, art Director: murry Keith

River Times is a publication of

CoVer: Photograph by Glenn Cox

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Welcome

~ ~ Welcome Back

to the

2nd

edition of

July 2011

R iveR times

Once again, it is with much celebration and optimism that we invite you to explore and learn about the wonderful people, assets, historical treasures and natural resources of this very unique Corridor and multi-state region in Tennessee. It is our pride and joy…… The Mississippi River Corridor – Tennessee, Inc. (MRCT) began its efforts to showcase the incredible assets and natural amenities along the western coast of Tennessee in 2001. The initial concept began with a small “grass roots” collection of individuals that believed in a unified Corridor vision that could provide a better quality of life and additional economic prosperity for the many communities that live along our greatest natural asset – the awesome Mississippi River! The MRCT has since grown into a dynamic economic and community development nonprofit organization and we thank you! In this issue of River Times, we will shine a focused spotlight on some of the region’s most inter-

Jeff Huffman Chairman – MRCT County Executive Tipton County

River Times 2011-2 0 1 2

Diana Threadgill Executive Director Glenn Cox Director

esting characters and unusual locations. We’ll visit Reelfoot Lake and revisit its history to learn how it became an extension to the soul of the Mississippi River. While an act of God created the catastrophe that shaped the region geographically, man-made catastrophes shaped our river region politically and spiritually. Therefore, we’ll also examine the Civil War battles along the river. Even as the earthquakes of 1811 reshaped the waterways, and the tragedies of the 1860s saw them running red, the benefits of the river’s nutrients have helped grow a world of cultural and gastronomic delights in locally owned and operated family farms and civic farmers markets. The Mississippi River Corridor is a vein of culture reaching back generations. It is a land ripe for exploration and play, and within an easy day’s drive of several Mid-South cities. We invite you to make plans soon to drive it, hike it, bike it or paddle it to know more of your land, what made it and what it brings to us all. And remember, you’ll be on River Time so leave the schedule back home…..

Featured MRCT Projects & Accomplishments Investments in Your Future pRojects in pRoduction:

Dyersburg River Center, Park and Blueway (water trail) Reelfoot Lake Trail, Boardwalks and Bridges (8) miles • Land Resource and Recreation Plan – Lauderdale County • Shelby County Trail Plan – MRT route revisions and Harahan Bridge • Over 5 Million Dollars in pending grant requests for Corridor assets • •

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accomplishments: • Pilot Award – 2010/11 – The MRCT received the Pilot Award from the Mississippi River Parkway Commission for the State of Tennessee. This is the highest honor given to one of the ten Mississippi River States for the most accomplishments in the previous year. • FHWA National Scenic Byway Designation for the Great River Road - TN – The MRCT was awarded this Federal designation for Tennessee’s segment of the ten-state Great River Road along the Mississippi River. The Tennessee Tourism - Great River Road Trail will be launched in 2011. • Environmental Systems Enhancement Plan – The MRCT created this master plan with the University of Memphis’ Regional Economic Development Center. Funded through a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation, the plan objectives are to enhance Corridor amenities and natural assets, improve the overall quality of life in the six MRCT counties, create additional economic development opportunities and more closely connect the Mississippi River to the people of the region and the world. • EPA Emerging Technologies Grant – The MRCT was awarded a two-year $2 Million dollar Emerging Technologies Grant from the EPA. The purpose of this emerging technology is to reduce the particulate emissions from marine diesel engines and final testing results showed a successful reduction of approximately 40% in particulate matter, which is equal to the removal of approximately 200 tractor trailer engines from an interstate highway. That’s better air and water quality for everyone. • Gather at the River Conference – The MRCT served as the fiscal agent and a major sponsor for this unique, two-day faith-based Conference dedicated to the Mississippi River and its restoration as a sacred trust. Over 1,000 attended the Conference in September 2010 - Memphis.

Map by Nate Ferguson

• Great River Birding Trail Tennessee (Map/Brochure) - This MRCT partner publication was produced with support from the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), the Audubon Society and regional birding consultants in 2010. • Whistle Stop Bus Tour – MRCT hosted, through funding support from a National Scenic Byway grant, a two-day bus tour of the six counties comprising the Corridor. Its purpose was to expose visitors to the natural and built assets of the Corridor, and provide an experience that can be replicated through tours tailored to recruit various audiences throughout the year.

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e g e n d h a s i t t h at e c u m s e h the Native American chief of the Shawnee in Ohio, visited nearby native nations and handed out bundles of sticks, directing his fellow chiefs to discard one at each new moon. Once the sticks were gone, and on the following new moon, he warned them, a great sign would come.

Reelfoot L ake T Facts&Folklore

~ ~ ~ ~ by R i c h a R d J. a l l e y ~

Photograph by Amie Vanderford Photography www.amie.org

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hat sign occurred on February 7, 1812, when the New Madrid fault fully awoke to create one of the largest and most powerful earthquakes ever felt in the northern hemisphere. The quake shuddered up from deep within and its effects were registered as far away as Venezuela and north to Quebec. New Madrid, Missouri, was destroyed. Eyewitnesses claimed that the Mississippi River appeared to boil and flow backwards for 24 hours; a trick only Mother Nature could pull, mere mortals having much more difficulty harnessing that quick-moving and slippery serpent. The land-altering quake that bent and shaped the geography of the area was the culmination of a series of smaller earthquakes that began 200 years ago, in 1811, and finally caused the Mississippi to spill from its banks at the nearby Kentucky Bend. It also shook out a 13,000-acre bowl that would become Reelfoot Lake, filled with water from the riverâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s backflow. The site of the original old forest lay at the bottom like a preserved Atlantis of cypress trees. Boasting more than 20 miles of shoreline, Reelfoot Lake is home

to nearly 250 species of birds including golden eagles, osprey and nesting pairs of the American Bald Eagle; the potential sight of one soaring over the water brings bird enthusiasts from far and wide to the area. Fishermen come for the multitude of fish varieties that inhabit this lake and its ecosystem of trees below the water’s surface. There are several easy-to-moderate hiking trails along the shoreline and throughout the wetlands where one might catch a glimpse of deer, opossum or snakes. The painted canvas of water, like glass reflecting towering cypress back into itself as the sunset colors it all pink and purple, is worth the trip alone. Tiptonville is defined both economically and spatially by Reelfoot Lake. The hamlet’s western border is the levee holding back the Mississippi River and its eastern is the lake itself. “It is extremely crucial to us,” Danny Cook, mayor of Tiptonville, says of Reelfoot, adding that important revenue dollars "are brought into Lake and Obion counties through Reelfoot Lake and tourism. It is by far one of the greatest tourism aspects of West Tennessee and we’re so fortunate to have it right here next to us. I cannot imagine Tiptonville existing without the tourism aspect of Reelfoot Lake.” The area, originally home to such inhabitants as deer and waterfowl, and the Chickasaw Indians, was added to the state of Tennessee in 1818 after Andrew Jackson and Isaac Shelby purchased sixmillion acres from the Native Americans for the price of $15,000 per year for 20 years; quite a deal at only five-cents per acre. The “Jackson Purchase” included all land west of the Tennessee River to the Mississippi River, and north from the Mississippi and Alabama lines up to the Ohio River. The lake, with its towering cypress trees and their knobby knees reaching up through the bayous thick with lush and flowering undergrowth, gar and toads is a fairytale land and practically begs for more legend. The name is taken from that of a

Chickasaw Indian chief born with a deformed foot whose people called him Kalopin, meaning Reelfoot, due to the rolling motion of his gait. The chief fell in love with the daughter of a nearby Choctaw chief, but was forbidden to wed. Reelfoot sought the guidance of the Great Spirit who threatened the chief and his people with a rocking of the earth and waters that would swallow him and all of his people if he disobeyed and stole Laughing Eyes, the Choctaw Princess. Reelfoot, blinded and driven by love, stole her away. During the ensuing marriage festival, the earth began to shake and roll and the Great Spirit caused the river waters to change course into Reelfoot’s country. At the bottom of this glass-surfaced lake, among the trees and rocks there, lay Chief Reelfoot, his people and his love. Reelfoot Lake offers something for everyone – natural beauty, wildlife, sport, peace and serenity, history and a bit of magic. It’s more than likely only a matter of hours away from your home, and yet more different than any place you will ever experience. “It is the crown jewel of Tiptonville, I think, without a doubt,” Mayor Cook said of the lake. It’s a jewel all in West Tennessee can take pride in, and marvel at, as well.

“Reelfoot Lake offers something for everyone – natural beauty, wildlife, sport, peace and serenity, history and a bit of magic.”

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They

came To build Their

fortunes, and in the process built a neighborhood of grandeur and opulence to rival all others. Amos Woodruff was a successful carriage-maker who moved to Memphis in 1845 and built a home 25 years later befitting a man who would oversee two banks, a railroad, hotel and insurance company. The first event held in the French Victorian home was Amosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter Mollieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wedding. The house still plays host to those wishing to wed in the style of 19th century splendor.

Victorian Village

~ by R i c h a R d J. a l l e y ~

Woodruff-Fontaine House

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he neighborhood surrounding the building now known as the Woodruff-Fontaine House is Victorian Village, an area that, over the years, has fallen into disrepair and neglect. In 2006, concerned citizens came together and eventually organized themselves into the nonprofit Victorian Village Inc., “a group of stakeholders in the neighborhood including some of the very few homeowners,” said the group’s administrator, Nora Tucker. “We came together and there was an ideal master plan … to redevelop this neighborhood.” The individuals, institutions and business owners are united in their efforts to address the concerns of historical preservation, community development and neighborhood master planning in an effort to protect the valuable asset of history. The mission, according to the group’s website, is to create an active neighborhood with families out walking the dog, playing in the parks, supporting the medical district, and creating a strong economy, towards an end of saving the historic properties by making them the center of activity. It would be the center of activity in a geographic area of six square blocks bordered by Poplar Ave., Madison Ave., Manassas and Danny Thomas Blvd. It’s a neighborhood within a thriving and world-renown medical center, and a vibrant area of commerce, civic institutions and private homes. In addition to the grand houses, several churches call the district home as well, including the beautifully ornate St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral, the headquarters for the James Lee House West Tennessee Episcopal Diocese and Collins Chapel C.M.E., the oldest African-American congregation in Memphis. Restaurants, too, dot the neighborhood. Local favorites include the Trolley Stop Market, Neely’s Barbecue and Mollie Fontaine Lounge, which makes its home in one of the Victorian beauties on Adams, a fun and entertaining way to get a glimpse of an interior. One can walk along Adams Ave. and envision neighbors congregating along the wide porch of the Mallory-Neely House, built in 1852. The Italianate villa containing 25 rooms is currently closed to tours, as are most of the other homes. The Victorian Village Ambassadors, however, an initiative of Victorian Village Inc. offers historical street tours of twelve buildings Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Victorian

Village Homes, businesses & churches of interest: Woodruff-Fontaine House c. 1870 680 Adams Ave. (901)526-1469 woodruff-fontaine.com Mallory-Neely House c. 1852 652 Adams Ave. Lee House c. 1841 690 Adams Ave. Mollie Fontaine Taylor House c. 1886 679 Adams Ave. (901) 524-1886 molliefontainelounge.com St. Mary’s Cathedral c. 1898 692 Poplar Ave. (901) 527-6121 stmarysmemphis.org Collins Chapel C.M.E. Church c. 1865 676 Washington Ave. (901) 525-2872 collinschapelchurch.org

James Lee House photo: Justin Fox Burks

“One can walk along Adams Ave. and envision neighbors congregating along the wide porch of the Mallory-Neely House, built in 1852.” “They answer people’s questions that just happen along or are coming to Woodruff-Fontaine,” said Nora Tucker, administrator for Victorian Village Inc. “It’s amazing how many tourists somehow find their way to Adams Ave., because it’s not a main through-street. They pull up and get out with their camera and start snapping pictures.” Learn more about Victorian Village and Victorian Village Inc. at originalmemphis.org and victorianvillageinc.org.

Mollie Fontaine Taylor House

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The

s u p e r m a r k e T s w e k n ow To day ,

with their wide aisles and endless supply of products within easy reach and ready to be plucked off the shelves and dumped into a cart, have displaced the smaller, neighborhood markets of the past. The idea of the supermarket, in fact, was first conceived in Memphis by Clarence Saunders, founder of Piggly Wiggly in 1916.

Farmers Markets

& Local Farm Tours 10

River Times 201 1 - 2 0 1 2

Around the world, however, and increasingly around our country, smaller markets are coming back in the form of farmers markets. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that “as of mid-2010, there were 6,132 farmers markets operating throughout the U.S. This is a 16 percent increase from 2009.” The markets are largely produce, or locally-made products by artisans, and may not be operating daily, but weekly or bi-weekly. The simple act of selling and buying has morphed into an event where neighbors and friends go to congregate, discuss ingredients for favorite meals, hear live music and get to know those who grow and farm around them. Farmers markets are places where the very person who grew the tomato or the strawberry, or harvested the honey, can pluck the very best from a table and hand it to the consumer. It is one of the oldest forms of direct marketing available to farmers and help, more than anything else, to develop loyalty among consumers. “Most of those customers buy something,” says Steve Guttery, director of downtown development for the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce. “Since we are slowly being added to their Saturday morning ritual, they don't just come for the social visit, they buy.” The Mississippi River Corridor is as fertile as any other piece of land in the country and farmers have taken advantage of it while also taking care of it. Tomatoes, pumpkins, melons, greens, onions and blueberries can be found by the bushel in weekly farmers markets throughout the region. Many of it is grown organically and with an eye towards a small footprint within the environment. Even beef, raised and fed on organic grasses, is available through Neola Farms, a 375-acre operation in Tipton County. Michael and Charlene Lenagar raise 100% Angus cattle and grow Bt corn, genetically modified to resist pests, so no pesticide is used. Predatory insects control pests around the feedlot and barn. Their beef is sold at the Memphis Farmers Market and in restaurants throughout the region.

The farmers market in Dyersburg has been operating steadily for five years, growing exponentially as a series of tents to a permanent pavilion on the banks of the Forked Deer River. “As we enter our fifth season, the Main Street Dyersburg Farmers Market averages 12-15 growers each Saturday and Tuesday,” Guttery said, adding that “during our peak period last year, we had as many as 29 growers. During the sweet corn season, our numbers reach upwards of 500 customers a day.” Farmers markets offer the opportunity to learn about the region, its method of sustenance, its growing seasons and people in a unique way. If you have more interest in your grower than what can be shared across a table of squash, there are some farms that welcome visitors and offer tours. Whether buying, selling or touring, there is no better way to spend a weekend than in the company of those who know the land better than anyone else.

Shelby County: Agricenter International Farmers Market 7777 Walnut Grove Road, Memphis 38120 (901) 757-7790 or (901) 757-7777 agricenter.org Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m.6:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; closed Sunday Arlington Open Air Market 12016 Walker Street, ste. 101, Arlington 38002 (901) 871-9098 Friday & Saturday from 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Memphis Farmers Market 545 S. Main St., Memphis 38103 (901) 575-0592 or daytime (901) 575-0540 memphisfarmersmarket. org Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. South Memphis Farmers Market 1400 Mississippi Boulevard, Memphis 38106 (901) 946-9675 somefm.org Thursdays, 12 noon to 6 p.m. (July - September)

Dyer County: Dyersburg Food Fair 100 McGaughey St., Dyersburg 38024 (731) 286-7821 tcampbe6@tennessee.edu Open on random days, some weeks farmers will sell locally grown goods seven days per week. Dyersburg Food Fair II 602 Highway 51 Bypass N, Dyersburg 38024 (731) 286-7821 tcampbe6@tennessee.edu Open on random days, some weeks farmers will sell locally grown goods seven days per week.

Main Street Farmers Market of Dyersburg 335 Clark Ave., Dyersburg 38024 (731) 285-3433 facebook.com/group. php?gid=119877659959

Tipton County: Court Square Farmers Market 111 North Main, Covington 38019 (901) 476-9727 johnstonlee@comcast.net

Lauderdale County: Ripley Farmers Market Downtown Ripley (731) 635-0008 ripleyfarmersmarket.com Tuesday-Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m. to noon

~ F arm T ours ~ Lake County: Donaldson Family Farm Hwy. 78 North, Tiptonville 38079 (731) 253-8028 amy@donaldsonfarms. com Just minutes from Reelfoot Lake and certified organic by Quality Certification Service. Farm tours and ecological tours; meeting and banquet facilities available. Reelfoot Lake Sportsman's Resort 2540 St. Rt. 213, Tiptonville 38079 (731) 253-6581 sportsmansresort@reelfootlake. com Duck or goose hunting packages available

Lauderdale County: Pumpkins, Pines, & Ponds 1800 Hurricane Hill Rd., Ripley 38063 (731) 635-5050 or (731)635-1995 tnfarmfun.com

Pick your own and on farm sales; watermelons, beans, corn, eggplants, okra, peas, peppers, potatoes, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes

Obion County: Flippen Fruit Farm & Hillbilly Barn 3734 West Shawtown Road, Troy 38260 (731) 538-2933 flippenhillbillybarn.com Flippen's Fruit Farm is known for its famous fried pies and orchard. Shirley Farm's Pumpkin Barn 2557 South Bluff Rd, Obion 38240 (731) 264-5316 or (731) 442-0254 Monday – Sunday 9am – Dark Wholesale, retail and on farm sales; pumpkins

Tipton County: Fletcher Farm 8343 Munford Giltedge Road, Burlison 38015 (901) 476-9257 Retail, pick your own, on farm sales; corn maze, hay rides, pumpkins, and farm and school tours; strawberries, beans, corn, okra, peas, peppers, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes.

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~ ~

Dyersburg

River ~

Center&Park ~ by R i c h a R d J. a l l e y ~

I n 1 7 8 5 , e x p l o r e r H e n ry rutHerford fIrst entered northwest Tennessee along a river the Native American Chickasaws called the Okeena. Rutherford and his men would later rename it Forked Deer River after the variety of deer inhabiting the land.

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aterways are uniquely important to cities and their population in ways of commerce, vista and recreation. Dyersburg is the only city in the Corridor, other than Memphis, located directly on a river and the underutilization of the Forked Deer River is expected to be remedied by summer’s end. The Dyersburg River Park is a collaboration of the Mississippi River Corridor – TN, Dyersburg Downtown Development Association/Main Street, the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, Dyer County Government, the City of Dyersburg and a local philanthropic family. The river park will contain a floating canoe and kayak port, restroom and shower facility, a walking trail to the dock and blueway, or water trail. Its entrance will be adjacent to the Main Street Farmers Market of Dyersburg on Clark Ave., already a popular civic meeting place. Jim Stark is an area naturalist, adventurer and member of the MRCT Advisory Board. He says the Center will offer a clean and comfortable destination for paddling excursions of the upper Forked Deer and a departure point for more ambitious adventures on the lower river, and the Mississippi. “It improves access, but the most important thing is it allows paddlers to arrive at a takeout point that is clean and convenient and within an easy walk of restaurants and supplies. North and east of Dyersburg on the Forked Deer River, there are three good places to get on the river and now there will be a uniquely attractive destination as well.” “We’re not a destination,” says Steve

Guttery, director of Downtown Development for the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, though he’s quick to add, “yet.” And with the prior master plans for the Main Street project, which included the Farmers Market and also includes tying Court Square to the river, with linkages to the new river park, things are well on their way. “We want to have festivals that go two blocks long, at least,” Guttery says, “not just around the square, but from the square to the river and we’re directing our streetscape project to connect the two.” Once at the river, a visitor will be welcomed to repurposed buildings and green space that was formerly the city’s public works department. The 17-acre park area will be made up of the centerpiece farmers market building and land leased from the city on either side of the river. A former shell of a building, which once housed only refuse and snakes, will become the MRCT Dyersburg River Center, a place to rent canoes, and hold classes, discussions and community meetings. “It’s a nasty little dilapidated building that came within

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about three minutes of being razed, but the Mississippi River Corridor decided they wanted that building, they saw something we didn’t see,” Guttery said. That building will become an indoor/outdoor classroom that the community of Dyersburg, 18,000 strong, can call its own and will be the pride of the park overlooking the river. “The Forked Deer River is a great river for the novice,” Stark says. “It’s a pleasurable three- or four-hour trip that you get from being in the boat and being in cool water in the middle of summertime – just paddling, playing or watching wildlife.” “Dyer County is defined by rivers,” Stark adds, with the Obion to the north, Forked Deer to the south and the Mississippi to the west. With so much water, the potential for recreation is endless, yet both Stark and Guttery maintain that it is the educational aspect of the River Center facility that is paramount. The River Center and docks are expected to be completed by summer’s end. The master plan will take longer, yet it’s a vision to look forward to. It’s a plan, not only about recreation and commerce, but building a healthier lifestyle for the people of Dyer County and its visitors; a lifestyle that involves more walking, fresh, locally grown foods and canoeing or kayaking. We may never know what Henry Rutherford envisioned on the banks of the Forked Deer River over 200 years ago, but if these interested parties have their way, the vision from the banks will be as grand and accessible as anyone ever could have imagined. The MRCT would like to express their sincere appreciation to The Walton Family Foundation, the TDEC Recreational Trails Program, USDA Rural Business Opportunity grant, the National Park Service, Dyer County, the City of Dyersburg, the Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce, the MRCT Dyer County Task Force Committee members and in particular, John Lannom, Steve Guttery, Alison Bullock and Jim Stark, for their financial and in-kind contributions that have made this important Corridor project a reality.

R iver Times 201 1 - 2 0 1 2

’’

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Photograph (above) by David Hayes

‘‘

Once at the river, a visitor will be welcomed to repurposed buildings and green space that was formerly the city’s public works department. The 17-acre park area will be made up of the centerpiece farmers market building and land leased from the city on either side of the river. A former shell of a building, which once housed only refuse and snakes, will become the MRCT Dyersburg River Center, a place to rent canoes, hold classes, discussions and community meetings. 15

Dr. Peter Brown

~ ~ ~

& the Dyersburg State Community College Ornithology & Fauna Collection

“Dyer County is on one of the world’s great migratory flyways, so you’ve already got something that’s world class.”

~ by R i c h a R d J. a l l e y ~

River Times 201 1 - 2 0 1 2

Photographs from the Glen Criswell Collection

Dr. Peter B r o w n ’ s expertise of record is in American History. His secondary expertise, however, lies in the recreational art of bird watching. His fancy with ornithology first took flight in New England, of all places, while a graduate student at Boston University when he was able to tag along with a biology professor on springtime field trips to bird watch.

‘‘I

got interested in it that way and ever since then I’ve had that interest,” Brown said. “I got my first pair of binoculars and my first bird book and I would go out bird watching.” He moved to Dyer County in 1989 as chief academic officer for Dyersburg State Community College and found himself at the crossroads of migration, a place where he could hike and satiate his curiosity for, particularly, shore birds, which he says “are the real stars in migration because they’re the birds that don’t stay here and you only have a chance every one or two weeks to see them.” Shore birds include waders such as sandpipers, plovers and dowitchers; birds that nest primarily in the arctic or Canada but use the area around Dyer, Lake and Obion counties as their flyway on the journey through the Mississippi Valley to and from Central and South America. After retirement in 2006, Brown nurtured his interest in birding and several years ago put together the brochure “Birds of Dyer County.” In his research, he contacted three local birders – Glen Criswell, Ken Leggett and Ken Webster – and discovered a great wealth of field notes and photographs that, not only documented where and when birds were sighted, but revealed a comprehensive record going back 40 years. The information was invaluable to Brown’s research and a treasure for Dyer County. It’s information that encompasses, not only birds natural to the area and those migrating through, but, in the case of Criswell’s data, also contained more than a thousand photographs of indigenous wildflowers. “I was taken aback,” Brown said of the vividly colored, and sheer quantity of photos Criswell presented. “I said, ‘I think they’re worth preserving … we need to figure out a way to preserve these and save them.’” The best way to do this was to scan them into digital format and Brown

knew that only the college had the equipment and the technical expertise to get the project done. Brown went to the president, Karen Bowyer, for help, “and she was very gracious in saying okay.” All the photographic slides belonging to Criswell, Leggett and Webster are labeled as to common name, scientific name, when the photo was taken and where. The purpose of the project, which has taken a year to complete, is to preserve the data accumulated by local bird and natural enthusiasts and create a website accessible to students and faculty and anyone else interested in birds or wildflowers. As a result, Brown hopes to “promote Dyer County as a place of natural beauty and natural history. We’re on one of the world’s great migratory flyways, so you’ve already got something that’s world class.” “The data is an amazing collection of information about bird abundance, occurrence, and arrival and departure dates for the northwest Tennessee region over 40 years,” said Scott Somershoe, state ornithologist for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency. “The information in the data records is an invaluable resource to assess dynamics of changes in bird populations in the area over the decades. Although much of the data needs to be mined out of the records, the potential for interesting analysis remains very high now that these records are preserved in multiple forms and available.” Bird watching has seen a renaissance over the past few years, a pastime that holds the fascination of novices and scientists alike. “It is the fastest growing recreational activity in the United States,” Brown said. Information on indigenous species is now more available than ever thanks to a few local naturalists and Dr. Peter Brown, who said of Criswell, Leggett and Webster, “These three individuals have made an outstanding contribution to improving our awareness and appreciation of the natural history of Dyer County and West Tennessee.”

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“This

c o u n T ry wa s i n To i T s a d o l e s c e n c e

at the time of the Civil War. It really was; it hadn’t formulated itself really as an adult nation, and the Civil War did that. Like all traumatic experiences that you might have had in your adolescence, it stays with you the rest of your life, certainly in your subconscious, most likely in your conscience, too.” Shelby Foote, author of The Civil War: A Narrative and battlefield sage, as told to C-SPAN in 1994 as part of its Booknotes series.

The

CivilWar Trail

~ by R i c h a R d J. a l l e y ~

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~ A l o n g t h e Tr a i l . . . CIVIL WAR

DESTINATIONS Confederate Monument & Cemetery Union City, TN Summer and Edwards Streets - 36 25’ 13” N - 89 2’ 50” W Island #10 Union City North of Tiptonville – Lake County (Border of Tennessee and Kentucky at the Mississippi River) Dyer County Court Square and Courthouse Dyersburg

Dyer County Court Square

Randolph and Fort Wright (west of Covington, Tipton County) Hwy. 59 to Randolph Road Latitude 35.516, Longitude 89.889

there in 1864 would become what historian David J. Eicher called “one of the bleakest, saddest events of American military history.” While the Mississippi River Corridor boasts outdoor activities such as fishing, canoeing and hiking, it’s the history, which seems to sprout up from all over the rich, Delta soil, that draws many people who enjoy a bit of education and nostalgia with their mountain biking and fresh air. If planning a trip along the trail during the Civil War’s Sesquicentennial, heed Foote’s advice: “In visiting battlefields, it’s very important that you go at the same time of year, if possible on the very anniversary of the battle, because the place is so different other times of year … you get that thing and you get the weather, you get the soil and you get the coloration of things; get the true feel of it.” To that end, there are nearly 200 Civil War sites throughout the state for visiting, including many in West Tennessee such as Fort Pillow, Island No. 10 outside of Tiptonville, Dyersburg, sites throughout Memphis and several in each county of the river Corridor. “It’s a really great opportunity to bring in visitors, especially during the Sesquicentennial when there is a lot of heightened interest in the Civil War,” Holder said, noting that the statewide map of the trails has become the most requested brochure. “It’s a really powerful way for communities to enhance their sense of identity, their sense of place, to be able to tell their history and just have a real sense of what happened where they are.”

Covington Court Square Covington, TN 200 West Washington Street 38019

Elmwood Cemetery Memphis 824 South Dudley Street – Memphis – 38104 (901) 7743212

Fort Pickering Crump Park – Metal Museum Drive Confederate Park Downtown Memphis 51 North Front St. – Memphis 38103

Elmwood Cemetery

Davies Manor Plantation 9336 Davieshire Drive – Bartlett, TN 38133 (901) 386-0715

Confederate Park Memphis

Hunt Phelan Home Memphis 355 Beale Street – Memphis – 38103

Confederate Park photo: Thomas R. Machnitzki

here is no shortage of information, writings or pontification on the Civil War. Just go to the local library or Google the war and find yourself inundated by volumes, books and papers, articles and copious links. If your wish is to learn the politics of war, then these references are a good place to start. However, if we wish to really know the war, to understand the terrain and the sense of coming over a ridge to stare down upon what was a field of battle, a hell where so many thousands fought and died, we must go there. If the country was an adolescent, as Mr. Foote said, then Tennessee itself was a mere toddler, having achieved statehood only 65 years before seceding from the Union in 1861. Tennessee is the only state in the country that has been designated in its entirety by Congress as a National Heritage Area. Laura Holder is the federal liaison to the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area, and said that being awarded such a designation is a strategy of networking with smaller communities in an effort to develop projects of heritage tourism, economic development, education and, in the case of the Civil War Trail, interpretation. “Tennessee has such a unique story – the story in West Tennessee is very different from what happened in Middle Tennessee and different from what happened in East Tennessee – so they really needed the whole state to tell the whole story of how much it impacted our state,” Holder said. By the end of 1864, with the exception of a few isolated skirmishes, the war on the Tennessee front had ended. The state’s army, commanded by General John Bell Hood, was in tatters and the Fourth Tennessee Regiment, which had numbered almost a thousand men could muster only a few dozen. They had fought at Shiloh, marched with Bragg into Kentucky and returned to the Battle of Murfreesboro. West Tennessee itself had no shortage of skirmishes. Memphis was seized after a naval battle in the Mississippi River just offshore from the Chickasaw Bluffs. The Battle of Fort Pillow and subsequent massacre

Hunt Phelan Home

Davies Manor Plantation

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Tiptonville (Lake County) ISLAND No. 10 Defending the Mississippi After the surrenders of Forts Henry and Donelson in February 1862, Confederate Gens. Leonidas Polk and John P. McCown strengthened Island No. 10 with fortifications, gun crews, heavy artillery, and ammunition. Strategically located at the upper part of a double curve of the Mississippi River, the fortification island posed a major obstacle to the Union task force heading south. After shelling the Confederates out of their fortifications in nearby New Madrid, Missouri, Union Gen. John Pope turned his attention to Island No. 10 in March. (Marker on Hwy. 22 at Tiptonville)

C I V I L WA R

TRAIL M a~ rk ers

Henning (Lauderdale County) FoRT PILLoW Controversy on the Mississippi Fort Pillow was built by Brigadier General Gideon Johnson Pillow in 1861 and abandoned in June of 1862 when strongholds to the north were captured by Union troops. It was occupied in September by Federal troops and became a base to control guerilla activity in the area. On April 12, 1864, Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest attacked the fort and overwhelmed the defenders. Half of the garrison was killed in the assault, including two-thirds of the 250 black artillerymen, many after they had already surrendered. (3122 Park Rd., Henning 38041)

FoRT PICkERINg Protecting Memphis In June 1861, Confederate supporters in Memphis erected earthworks to protect the city here at Fort Pickering, the site of a frontier-era fortified trading post. Capt. William Pickett and his company of sappers and miners supervised the slave and free black laborers who built the stronghold. Local volunteers mounted artillery and built ammunition magazines on the two Indian mounds within the fort. (President’s Island, Memphis)

Union City (Obion County)

TWIN DEFENSES Forts Randolph and Wright The village of Randolph played a significant early role in the Confederate defense of the Mississippi River. Here in April 1861 the state built training camps for the Provisional Army of Tennessee that Gov. Isham G. Harris had established. As part of Tennessee’s new military alliance with the Confederate States of America, officials also authorized the construction of two forts (Randolph and Wright) on either side of the Hatchie River. (Randolph Road, west of Covington)

UNkNoWN SoLDIER MoNUMENT An Early Memorial This 1869 memorial to unknown Confederate dead is one of the oldest Civil War monuments in Tennessee and is a rare example of Reconstruction-era memorialization. The monument’s location within a cemetery reflects the mourning element common to the first Civil War monuments in the South. After the end of the war, local women raised funds to disinter the bodies of Confederate soldiers from throughout the county and rebury them here. (919 Summer St, Union City)

Memphis (Shelby County)

Dyersburg (Dyer County)

Covington (Tipton County)

HUNT-PHELAN HoUSE Wartime Headquarters Before and during the Civil War, the HuntPhelan Home welcomed politicians and highranking military men of every stripe. Both Jefferson Davis and Andrew Johnson visited here, and in 1861, Gen. Leonidas Polk stayed in the house while he organized the Provisional Army of Tennessee. As the war progressed, the owner, Col. William R. Hunt, served as superintendent of the Confederate ordnance works at Columbus, Mississippi. After the war, an early Freedman’s Bureau school educated newly emancipated slaves in an out-building on the property. Today, the building houses a bed & breakfast. (533 Beale Street, Memphis 38103)

ELMWooD CEMETERy Notable Inhabitants Established in 1852, this cemetery is the final resting place of the most colorful inhabitants of Memphis, including many who were significant during the Civil War and Reconstruction. They include Tennessee Governor Isham G Harris, who led Tennessee out of the Union in 1861; Confederate General Gideon J. Pillow, namesake of Fort Pillow upriver; African-American millionaire Robert Church, Sr., who survived an attack during the Memphis Riot of 1866; and Shelby Foote, a renowned historian of the war. (So. Dudley St., Memphis)

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The Mississippi River Corridor would like to express our great appreciation to the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development for their Marketing Partnership Program that enabled the MRCT to place ten Civil War Trail markers throughout our river counties in the Corridor. For more Civil War site locations visit: www.civilwartrails.org, www. tncivilwar.org, www.TNvacation.com

DyER CoUNTy IN THE WAR A Scoured Countryside At least fifteen Confederate companies were formed in Dyer County, including Capt. Otho F. Strahl’s Co. K, 4th Tennessee Infantry and Capt. Tyree H. Bell’s Co. B, 12th Tennessee Infantry. Both men rose to the rank of brigadier general. Strahl was one of six Confederate generals to die at the Battle of Franklin in 1864. He is buried in Dyersburg’s Old City Cemetery on East Court Street. Bell served under Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and participated in the postwar Dyer County Aid Society to help former soldiers and their families. (1 Veterans Square, Dyersburg)

The Premier Outdoor Nature Festival Along the Lower Mississippi River

HUMMINGBIRD MIGRATION CELEBRATION

September 9-11, 2011 Holly Springs, Mississippi

• Hummingbird Banding • Live Animal Shows • Nature Products and Art Market • Garden and Antebellum Home Tours • Native Plant Sale • Guided Nature Walks and Wagon Rides • Special Guest: Doug Tallamy, Author of “Bringing Nature Home”

Call 662-252-1155 strawberryplains.audubon.org

Ruby-throated Hummingbird photo by Bill Stripling

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There

is no end To The e n T e rTa i n m e n T va l u e of wandering, of

Festivals

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&Fairs July 8~9 Ripley Tomato Festival Ripley City Park A two (2) day celebration paying honor to our area tomato growers. www.lauderdalecountytn. org/living_tomato

September 2011 5 ~ 10 Dyer County Fair Dyer County Fairgrounds James Rice Blvd., (731) 285-0072 Winner of the Best Fair in Tennessee award in 2009, the Dyer County Fair is educational and fun for the entire family. www.dyercofair.com

10 ~ 24 Obion County Cornfest Whether you like vintage cars, wonderful food, beauty pageants, singing karaoke or having fun at a bed race or carnival, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll find something to enjoy at the Obion County Cornfest. www.obioncountycornfest.org

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Celebrate Munford Downtown Munford (Tipton & College Sts.) (901) 837-5972 Four stages featuring live music and performers, children's area, car show, art & photography exhibit, food and craft vendors.

Cooper Young Festival Cooper Street @ Young Avenue in Midtown Memphis Over 100,000 guests will enjoy a mix of art, music and crafts presented by over 400 artisans. www.cooper youngfestival. com

24 Covingtonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Annual Heritage Day Covington Court Square Features a kid's corner, arts & crafts, antiques, the Art Alley, folk art demonstrators, Civil War Encampment, the popular re-enactment of the "High Noon" Bank Robbery of 1872, and more.

meandering down highways and little-traveled paths to see what lies around the next bend. One is liable to encounter wildlife, scenery to take the breath away, museums, shops and restaurants, and friendly neighbors. But if you need more purpose in your perambulating, if you require a destination at the end of the road and seek fun, music or games for all ages, then, for you, the region offers no end to outdoor festivals and fairs. Be sure the scenery, food and friendly faces will be waiting. Here are but a few in the many and varied festivals available this year.

30 ~ Oct. 2

15 ~ 16

Reelfoot Arts & Crafts Festival Exhibitors come from many states to show their crafts and sell their wares with over 300 different vendors anticipated in 2011. www.reelfootartsandcrafts.com

Reelfoot Lake Waterfowl Festival Samburg (731) 536-0266 reelfoottourism.com Duck calling championship, sporting collectible show and more.

30 ~ Oct. 2

Repair Days Weekend and Auction National Ornamental Metal Museum, Memphis (901) 543-5310 Metalsmiths from across the country on hand to solder, sharpen, remove dents, re-tin copper cookware and repair garden furniture and statuaries. metalmuseum.org

October 2011 13 ~ 15 Cotton Fest Former Dyersburg Army Airbase, Halls (731) 836-7400 A return to life in rural 1940s; cotton picking contest, karaoke contest, southern food, games & rides, children's farm parade and antique tractor show.

22 ~ 23 RiverArtsFest South Main Arts District Each fall RiverArtsFest hosts hundreds of nationally renowned artisans and thousands of Mid-Southerners to celebrate the fine arts during a two-day outdoor festival that is free and open to the public. See, hear, feel and taste art in all its forms. www.Riverartsfestmemphis.org

Harahan

Coppock parks, abruptly halts at Martyrs Park. A new project, however, will extend that walkway 400 yards more and meet up with a pedestrian boardwalk that bridges the river and will offer what might be the best vista of the water and city skyline seen from two feet or the saddle of a bicycle. Connecting to The Harahan Bridge is one component in a larger MRCT Shelby County Trail Plan which is being funded by the Hyde Family Foundations, and will eventually help span the water and provide pedestrian access to West Memphis and beyond. “The Mississippi River Corridor is working on getting up to Shelby Forest and to Fort Pillow, and connecting as many areas as possible,” said Greg Maxted, executive director of the Harahan Bridge Project. The 4,932-ft. bridge was opened in 1916 and offered two rails of train traffic and two 14-ft. wide, cantilevered roadways on either side. The roadways were used for traffic until 1949 when the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge was built. A significant detail is that the roadways were sold by the previous operating railroad to Memphis and Crittenden County, AR, in 1917. The discovery of these deeds “was the key to the project for us,” Maxted said. “When we went to the railroad to discuss it with them, we weren’t asking them for permission, we were asking them for cooperation, which is a different discussion.” The Union Pacific Railroad is on board, as are more than 30 local organizations, including the Mississippi River Corridor-TN, all citing benefits for the region including improved health and quality of life, increased tourism, economic growth and better access to the river and surrounding natural areas. Because of these dedicated groups, and sooner rather than later, the Harahan Bridge may be the best place to view the river and meet with our neighbors to the west. — Richard J. Alley

Bridge Project

Illustration by Chase Percer/O.T. Marshall Architects

he river walk in downtown MeMphis is a stroll with unparalleled views of the Mississippi River. At nearly five miles long, it is but a portion of a much larger system of trails throughout the Mississippi River Corridor and further even to the river’s headwaters in Minnesota. The trail in Memphis, heading south from Mud Island along Riverside Drive and Front St., and through Tom Lee and Ashburn-

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Historic Town Squares

~ ~

Town

~ by RichaRd J. a l l e y ~

s q ua r e s a r e o u r c o m m u n i T i e s ’ f ro n T p o rc h e s

that pour into the living rooms of quaint shops, theaters and restaurants. They are where neighbors meet, history is told and festivals are enjoyed. The Mississippi River Corridor is a system of trailways and blueways, but also of communities that have worked to revive these porches, and their pride, in some of the most interesting and vibrant town squares anywhere.

TipTon CounTy ~ Covington

History is alive and well on the Covington Town Square with a monument to Confederate soldiers from the area and a MRCT Civil War Trail Marker. The red brick courthouse keeps watch over a revitalized square of shops, restaurants and entertainment as diverse as Buckaroo Hatters, Old Town Hall and Café, the Ruffin Theater and Marlo’s Down Under.

Dyer CounTy ~ Dyersburg Dyersburg Town Square

L a u D e r Da L e CounTy ~ Ripley Ripley began its downtown revitalization in 2008, centered around one of the most unique courthouses in the Corridor – a 1930s-era, Art Deco structure built by the Works Progress Administration. The town square now has many festivals, restaurants and shops within a colorful palette to complement the county courthouse’s red and yellow façade and manicured grounds.

Ripley Town Square

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Photograph top, John Guider, center & bottom, Richard Alley

The colonial revival courthouse is the belle of the Dyersburg Town Square and has become the perfect centerpiece around which to stage festivals and outdoor concerts. Only a few blocks from the Forked Deer River, the location, the history and the food at such restaurants as Cozy Kitchen, Alvino’s Pizza or Foster’s, to name only a few, make this town square a compelling and must-see place to visit.

Tipton County Courthouse

Tennessee Canoeing and Paddling Laws * Must have an approved, wearable life jacket for each person readily accessible. * Anyone under 13 years old must wear a life jacket at all times. * Must exhibit a white light or lantern after sunset or during times of restricted visibility. WEAR YOUR LIFE JACKET! â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 85% of drowning victims in boating accidents were not wearing a life jacket. www.tnwildlife.org www.wearittennessee.com

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Photographer Bios

~ ~ ~ Amie VAnderford

Amie Vanderford first took up a camera for the same reason most of us do, to document the world around her for posterity and to share her experiences with others. The difference was that, as the daughter in an Air Force family, her experiences were in Germany, Spain and England. Those beginnings turned into a hobby that has become career as she continues to document her world, share the wonders of the Earth and the goodness of people everywhere. “I have a passion for photographing things that can affect people,” she says. Through travels of her own, and her work with the Mississippi River Corridor-TN, she has explored the Mississippi River and connecting tributaries to record its beauty, its majesty and its awesome power Her photographs of the flood of 2011 are breathtaking and otherworldly, surreal and frightening to a people so utterly dependent and so easily affected by nature’s course and on man’s levees for safety. “There’s something special about the river … seeing the river, just how powerful it is and how big it is, and how many lives it affects,” she says. “It’s just an awesome thing that’s right in our backyard. The mighty river puts you in perspective.” See more of Amie’s photos at amie.org.

~ AlAn

~ Jeffrey

Amie Vanderford - Photograph taken in Tipton County

Jeffrey Jacobs - Lauderdale County Courthouse

Alan Peeler - The Delta Queen

Peeler

Alan Peeler’s photographs of the last voyage of the Delta Queen riverboat were taken in October of 2008, yet the filters used, the lighting and the subject matter itself give the photographs a centuries-old feel. A photographer since 1972, the 59-year-old Peeler specializes now in fashion advertising and architecture photography and sees little difference in photographing a custom-built home and a multideck paddlewheel boat on the Mississippi River. “It’s like shooting anything else, just get the right exposure and composition.”

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J Ac o b s

“I don’t photograph what’s there, I photograph my interpretation of what’s there,” says architectural photographer Jeffrey Jacobs. “I want people to feel the experience of being there and not just see what’s there.” To look at Jeffrey’s photographs of structures such as the Art Deco courthouse in Ripley is to get a sense of standing on the very grounds at dusk and gazing up at the details and textures of the brick and ornamentation there. His work has taken him all over, beginning in 1978 with school in Atlanta and ending in Memphis, his home-base of operations. Time in the motion picture industry helped him develop his lighting techniques. Jeffrey’s vision and artistry on these canvases of buildings and houses are shared throughout the world in clients’ offices, books and magazines. His beginning, however, was more personal. “I had an assignment when I was in school … and just happened to be in midtown Atlanta at the right time of day. I looked up at Colony Square and the light was just right and it made me tingle inside, and I’ve been pursuing that tingle ever since.” To fall into one of Jeffrey’s photo landscapes, whether it’s a rural county courthouse or bustling Main Street, is the privilege of feeling that tingle ourselves. See more of Jeffrey’s work at jeffreyjacobsphoto.com.

The tricks of the trade have worked for him for cityscapes of Memphis, his home town, and the river at its western edge, including snowy scenes off of Mud Island that give the moment a dreamlike quality with trees covered in bright white against a backdrop of steel gray water. Peeler has written that he believes “in the poetry of motion and life. It could be a whisp of hair on a beautiful face in a warm breeze or the movement of a leaf as it falls in Autumn.” These images could all be instances caught on a sun-dappled bank of the Mississippi River, or in the glint off of the brass detailing of a riverboat setting off for her last journey downstream. See more of Alan’s work at myartspace.com.

State Parks in the Corridor For more information and reservations go to: www.tn.gov/environment/parks/

Fort Pillow Henning, TN 731-738-5581 Meeman-Shelby Millington, TN 901-876-5215 Reelfoot Lake Tiptonville, TN 731-253-8003 T.O. Fuller Memphis, TN 901-543-7581

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Current Partners, Supporters & Sponsors

Aerobic Cruiser Hybrid Cycles American Land Conservancy Askew Nixon Ferguson Architects Center for Historic Preservation (MTSU) Chambers of Commerce (7) West Tennessee Corridor Counties Community Foundation of Greater Memphis County Governments: Shelby, Tipton, Dyer, Lauderdale, Lake and Obion Discovery Park of America Ducks Unlimited Dyersburg State Community College FHWA National Scenic Byways First Citizens Bank Friends of the Mississippi River Corridor - TN Graphic Systems Inc. Hyde Family Foundations Lower Mississippi Conservation Committee The McKnight Foundation Magnetic SEO Memphis Area Association of Governments Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau Memphis Heritage Inc. Memphis Regional Design Center Memphis Riverfront Development Corporation Mississippi River Network Mississippi River Parkway Commission Mississippi River Trail Inc. MRCT Board of Directors & Advisory Council (6 counties) National Audubon Society The Nature Conservancy Pickering Firm, Inc. Rhodes College Ritchie Smith Associates, ASLA Shelby County Conservation Board Shelby Park Conservancy State of Tennessee Conservation Commission State of Tennessee – Governor’s Office Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area Tennessee Concrete Association Tennessee Conservation League Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) Tennessee Historical Commission Tennessee Land Trust Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation Tennessee Valley Authority Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) Thompson & Company United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) The University of Memphis The University of Tennessee at Martin US Army Corps of Engineers U.S. Department of the Interior – National Park Service U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Walton Family Foundation West Tennessee River Basin Authority Wolf River Conservancy

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Board of Directors Jeff Huffman – Chairman Margaret Shoemake – Treasurer John Threadgill – Secretary Norfleet Anthony, Jr. Regena Bearden Jim Bondurant Rosemary Bridges Peter Brown Ed Carter Taylor Gray Lee Hinson John Lannom Joe Royer John Sheahan Dorchelle Spence Carroll Van West Kathleen Williams Fred Wortman, Jr.

Advisory Council Members Lee Askew Alison Bullock Harriet Cannon Tim Churchill Michael Collins Randy Cook Craig Fitzhugh Cheryl Goudie Jack Grubaugh John Guider Steve Guttery David Hayes Andy Hays Randy Hedgepath Laura Holder

Marty Marbry Pamela Marshall Greg Maxted Marcia Mills Pam Monjar Mark Norris Jane Polansky Bob Richards Jim Stark Bill Waters Greg Wathen Denise Watts

Staff Members Diana Threadgill – Executive Director Glenn Cox –Director For more information on how to donate or volunteer for the MRCT please contact: Diana Threadgill, Executive Director (901) 278-8459, dianathreadgill@comcast.net or Glenn Cox, Director (901) 628-3527, wglenncox@comcast.net msrivertn.org

The Wolf River Conservancy –

More than a million people live within our watershed. That’s more than a million reasons to join us today. Learn more at www.wolfriver.org or call 901.452.6500.

Don’t miss the

25th outdoors inC.

the annual date is the 2nd sunday – november 13, 2011 mississippi river Greenbelt park – mud island, memphis This event is the longest running Cyclocross Race in the United States and attracts bicycle racers from all across the nation!

CyCloCross Championships!

For information or registration contact: www.OutdoorsInc.com

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Resources

~ ~ Conservation

Tennessee Dept. of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) http://www.state.tn.us/environment/ Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency http://www.state.tn.us/twra/ Tennessee’s Watchable Wildlife http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/ Tennessee Wildlife Federation http://www.tnwf.org/tnwf/ Tennessee Clean Water Network http://www.tcwn.org/ The Conservation Fund http://www.conservationfund.org/ Tennessee Environmental Council http://www.tectn.org/ Tennessee Parks & Greenways Foundation http://www.tenngreen.org/ American Rivers Organization http://www.americanrivers.org/ Sierra Club http://www.sierraclub.org/ Sierra Club – Chickasaw Group http://tennessee.sierraclub.org/chickasaw/ Land Trust for Tennessee http://www.landtrusttn.org/ Wolf River Conservancy http://www.wolfriver.org/ National Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/ Audubon Great River Birding Trail http://www.greatriverbirding.org/index2.php Ducks Unlimited http://www.ducks.org/ The Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/ Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation http://www.tnfarmbureau.org/ Park Friends, Inc. http://www.parkfriends.net/index.htm Shelby Farms Park Conservancy http://www.shelbyfarmspark.org/sfpc/front Greater Memphis Greenline, Inc. http://www.greatermemphisgreenline.org/ Greening Greater Memphis http://www.greeninggreatermemphis.org/

Economic Development Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development http://www.tnecd.gov/ Tennessee Department of Transportation http://www.tdot.state.tn.us/ Tennessee Department of Tourist Development http://www.state.tn.us/tourdev/ Main Street, Union City (Obion County) http://www.obioncountytennessee.com/ Obion County Joint Economic Development Council http://www.obioncounty.org/ Reelfoot Chamber of Commerce (Lake County) http://www.reelfootareachamber.com/ Dyersburg/Dyer County Chamber of Commerce http://www.dyerchamber.com/ Covington/Tipton County Chamber of Commerce http://www.covington-tiptoncochamber.com/ South Tipton County Chamber of Commerce http://www.southtipton.com/ Lauderdale Chamber/Economic and Community Development http://www.lauderdalecountytn.org/ Bartlett Area Chamber (Shelby County) http://www.bartlettchamber.org/

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Greater Memphis Chamber (Shelby County) http://www.memphischamber.com/ Millington Chamber of Commerce (Shelby County) http://www.millingtonchamber.com/ Memphis Cook Convention Center http://www.memphisconvention.com/

Recreational Mississippi River http://www.greatriver.com/ Local and National Weather http://www.srh.noaa.gov/meg/ Mississippi River Trail (Bicycling) http://mississippirivertrail.org/ The Great River Road in Tennessee http://www.experiencemississippiriver.com/ tennessee-along.cfm Discover Tennessee Trails & Byways (Driving) http://tntrailsandbyways.com/ Wolf River Conservancy http://www.wolfriver.org/ Mud Island RiverPark and Museum (Memphis) http://www.mudisland.com/ Meeman-Shelby Forest State Park http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/ MeemanShelby/ Tennessee Vacation – West Region http://www.tnvacation.com/west/ Fort Pillow State Historic Park http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/ FortPillow/ Tennessee Trails Association http://www.tennesseetrails.org/index.php Reelfoot Lake State Park http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/ ReelfootLake/ Wolf River Nature Area in Germantown http://germantown-tn.gov/wrna.html T.O. Fuller State Park http://www.tennessee.gov/environment/parks/ TOFuller/ American Hiking Society http://www.americanhiking.org/ Memphis Convention & Visitors Bureau http://www.memphistravel.com/ Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency for Hunters http://www.state.tn.us/twra/wildlife.html V&E Greenline in Midtown Memphis http://www.vegreenline.org/wcreek.htm Tennessee Landforms (Information) http://www.cs.utk.edu/~dunigan/landforms/ The Tennessee Ornithological Society (Birding) http://www.tnbirds.org/ Memphis Hightailers Bicycling Club http://www.memphishightailers.com/ Memphis Runners Track Club http://www.memphisrunners.com/ Mid-South Trails Association (Mountain Biking) http://www.midsouthtrails.com/midsouthtrails/ index.html

Historical and Cultural Amenities Chucalissa Museum and Archeological Site http://www.memphis.edu/chucalissa/ Civil War Trails http://www.civilwartrails.org/ Tennessee Historical Commission http://www.state.tn.us/environment/hist/ MTSU Center for Historic Preservation http://www.mtsuhistpres.org/ Mississippi River Museum at Mud Island River Park http://www.mudisland.com/ The Cotton Museum at the Memphis Cotton Exchange http://www.memphiscottonmuseum.org/ The National Ornamental Metal Museum http://www.metalmuseum.org/ Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area http://www.tncivilwar.org/

Center for Southern Folklore (Downtown Memphis) http://www.southernfolklore.com/ Sun Studio http://www.sunstudio.com/ The Tennessee Historical Society http://www.tennesseehistory.org/ Memphis Heritage http://www.memphisheritage.org/cms/ The Peabody Hotel Memphis http://www.peabodymemphis.com/ West Tennessee Historical Society http://www.wths.tn.org/ Alex Haley House and Museum http://tennessee.gov/environment/hist/stateown/ alexhale.shtml Center for the Study of Southern Culture http://www.olemiss.edu/depts/south/index.html The Tennessee Century Farms Program http://frank.mtsu.edu/~histpres/initiatives/ centuryfarms.html Fire Museum of Memphis http://www.firemuseum.com/ Memphis Rock n Soul Museum http://www.memphisrocknsoul.org/default. aspx?http=404 Stax Museum of American Soul Music http://www.soulsvilleusa.com/ National Civil Rights Museum http://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/home.htm The Veterans’ Museum (Halls) http://www.dyaab.us/

Health and Wellness Healthy Memphis Common Table http://www.healthymemphis.org/ Tennessee on the Move http://www.americaonthemove.org/affiliates. asp?affiliateid=5 School Health Issues http://www.tennessee.gov/tccy/adv0510.pdf American Heart Association http://www.americanheart.org Center for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/

Education Mississippi River http://www.greatriver.com/ Tennessee’s Watchable Wildlife http://www.tnwatchablewildlife.org/ Snakes of Tennessee http://www.tennsnakes.org/ Native Plants in Tennessee http://www.tnps.org/ Atlas of Amphibians in Tennessee http://www.apsu.edu/amatlas/ Common Tennessee Trees http://www.utextension.utk.edu/publications/ pbfiles/PB1756.pdf Tennessee Wildlife Federation http://www.tnwf.org/tnwf/ American Eagle Foundation http://www.eagles.org/ National Fish and Wildlife Foundation http://www.nfwf.org/AM/Template. cfm?Section=Home TWRA Outdoor Information & Education http://www.state.tn.us/twra/infoed.html Lower Mississippi River Profile http://www.worldwildlife.org/wildworld/profiles/ g200/g146.html www.tnvacation.com www.memphistravel.com www.memphisriverboats.net www.connectwithtn.com

River Times ~ ~ A publication of the Mississippi River Corridor Tennessee

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MRCT’s Shelby COUNTy TRail PlaN: Creative partnerships for success! MRCT is pleased To announCe the launch of its shelby County Trail planning project to evaluate Mississippi River Trail’s existing bike route through shelby County and available alternatives for providing pedestrians and bicyclists with access to arkansas’ ever-expanding network of greenways via the Harahan Bridge. With support from the Hyde Family Foundations, MRCT is partnering with the Memphis Regional design Center and university of Memphis Graduate division of City and Regional planning to evaluate existing trail condition; strategies for enhancing its use, appearance, and economic benefit; and alternatives for increasing its connectivity to both arkansas and Mississippi’s trail systems. The first phase of the planning project will focus on inspecting and documenting existing trail conditions using advanced Geographic information system (Gis) Mapping Technologies to identify low-cost improvements designed to increase the number of people using the trail. The second

to present a preliminary draft of the shelby Trail plan to interested County residents and officials early this fall. This draft will contain: a consensus recommendation regarding the Trail’s ultimate route through the County, opportunities for improving and expanding pedestrian and bike-related facilities, possibilities for local trail spurs that highlight the city and county’s most important natural, historical and cultural assets. For example, a number of south Memphis leaders are currently investigating a possible local trail spur that would take hikers and riders to High Records, sTaX Museum of american soul Music, Rev. al Green’s Church, as well as the childhood homes of aretha Franklin, david porter, and Booker T. Jones of Booker T. and the M.G.’s. “By mobilizing the community organizing, physical planning, and economic and community development expertise of our partnership with the Memphis Regional design Center and the university of Memphis, MRCT hopes to transform the shelby County segment of the Mississippi River Trail into a “must see” experience for all those living and working in the Mid-south”, stated MRCT’s executive director, diana Threadgill.

phase of the project will engage a wide range of local stakeholders in a series of discussions of the trail’s current and potential economic, recreational, and community-building benefits. The hopes and visions that local residents, institutional leaders, and municipal officials have for the shelby County segment of the trail will be elicited by means of one-on-one meetings, focus groups, web-based chat groups, and community meetings carried out by staff from MRCT’s newly-established trail planning partnership.

Photographs by Joe Royer

project planners from MRCT, MRdC and the u of M, expect

msri v e r t n . o r g

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