Discover Grainger County 2017

Horse Gentler z z

Pete Wolfe: A Lifetime of Speed Godwin House: Historic home near Rutledge had small role in Civil War

z z z z

Local Farms to Families National Kennel Club 25th Anniversary: Grainger County Tomato Festival Charlie Daniels: Free Concert at Grainger County Tomato Festival

Wendy Leedy: breathing life back into the historic structures z z

Charles the Pig

RUTLEDGE • BEAN STATION • BLAINE • THORN HILL • WASHBURN• CENTRAL POINT • LIBERTY HILL • BUFFALO • POWDER SPRINGS • RICHLAND

Mike Branch:

DISCOVER

Grainger County Tennessee

VOLUME 3 — 2017

2 Discover Grainger County • 2017

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Discover Grainger County is published by Hawkins County Publishers, Inc. P.O. Box 100 | Rogersville, TN 37857 www.therogersvillereview.com 423-272-7422 MANAGEMENT Tommy Campbell Editor & Publisher EDITORIAL Jim Beller Discover Grainger County Contributor Bill Jones Discover Grainger County Contributor Randy Ball Discover Grainger County Contributor ADVERTISING Abby Swearingen Marketing Consultant Brenda Weems Marketing Consultant Christy Alvis Marketing Consultant Freda Turbyfill Creative Services/Production Advertising rates and information available upon request.

Story suggestions, inquiries should be made to tommy.campbell@therogersvillereview.com

DISCOVER

Grainger County Tennessee

Discover Grainger County 2017 is a single-copy supplement to The Rogersville Review. Additional copies may be purchased at the Review office for $2 each, plus postage if mailing is needed. Call our office at 423-272-7422 or email us at subscriptions@therogersvillereview.com for orders and delivery.

Copyright: 2017, Discover Grainger County 2017, Hawkins County Publishers, Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission of the newspaper’s management. Reproduction of advertising and design work is strictly prohibited due to the use of licensed art services and agency agreements.

inside

08 Pete Wolfe: Mike Branch: 15 28 Godwin House

A Lifetime of Speed

Horse Gentler

Historic home near Rutledge had small role in Civil War

38

Local Farms to Families

42 National Kennel Club

Kennel Club keeps dog records, not dogs

49 25th Anniversary Grainger County Tomato Festival

... great fun for everyone!

53

Charlie Daniels:

Country boy, poet, fiddle player, legendary recording star ... and proud American Patriot

56

Wendy Leedy:

breathing life back into the historic structures

60

Charles the Pig Survivor of the Great Smoky Mountain fire of Nov. 2016

4 Discover Grainger County • 2017 Clinch River

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GraingerTennessee County DISCOVER

— Photo by Jim Beller

6 Discover Grainger County • 2017 View from the William Bean Gap Overlook on U.S. Highway 25E. — Photo by Jim Beller

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8 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Pete Wolfe: A Lifetime of Speed

BEAN STATION -- In a small garage building near Bean Station, Pete Wolfe still works on high-performance cars.

This unassuming man has spent a lifetime devoted to speed and has a wealth of stories about his days in the racing community.

Pete first started drag racing at 15, and spent the next 12 years racing mostly 1950’s Chevys. One of his favorites was a 1957 Chevy that won many races at Rogersville, Maryville and Harriman.

During the drag racing years, Pete honed his skills on his way to becoming a first-rate mechanic. He built up the engine in the 57 Chevy to 435 horsepower.

Pete then began racing on dirt tracks, where he really found his true calling as a driver. He spent much of the 1960s and 70s racing all over the area, including Appalachian Speedway in Kingsport, Sportsman Speedway in Johnson City, Smoky Mountain Raceway in Maryville, Newport Speedway, Tazewell Speedway, Atomic Speedway, Bulls Gap Speedway, 411 and Speedway near Kodak. He also ventured into Virginia and West Virginia. His greatest success came at Davy Crockett Speedway near Rogersville.

Pete saw a lot of changes in racing during his career.

“When I started out, we raced for $50 to win,” he said. “Later on, we could win $1,100 to $1,200 on a good weekend.”

In those days, Pete would race sometimes on Friday night, Saturday night and Sunday afternoons. To travel and compete took a lot of money and energy. He says he was fortunate to have some good sponsors and some good friends to help during these times.

Continued on page 11

Pete Wolfe in his garage in May, 2017.

— Photo by Randy Ball

Discover Grainger County • 2017 9

10 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Pete in the dirt track days with his Camaro.

Pete early in his career as a drag racer with his 1957 Chevy.

Pete first started drag racing at 15, and spent the next 12 years racing mostly 1950’s Chevys.

One of his favorites was a 1957 Chevy that won many races at Rogersville, Maryville and Harriman.

Discover Grainger County • 2017 11

Above, Pete Wolfe’s garage near Bean Station.

A high performance big-block Chevy engine Pete is currently building.

— Photos by Randy Ball

From page 8

One driver he became friends with was Morristown’s Paul Gose, a dirt track legend in his number 32 Ford with a flathead engine. Gose and Pete became friends and “helped each other a lot” according to Pete.

In Pete’s dirt track career, some of his favorite cars included a Corvair, a Camaro and a Nova. He became known as an ace mechanic, especially on six-cylinder GM racing engines.

He was an innovator, which wasn’t always embraced by his competition.

“The rule was, you had to run a two-barrel carb ... I made a

two-barrel by cutting a four-barrel into,” he said.

After a win at Davy Crockett Speedway, another driver filed a protest over the carb, but Pete’s win was upheld.

Another secret Pete revealed was that he was using parts from a Pontiac overhead cam engine, which he discovered gave him a horsepower advantage.

“Nobody knew what I was doing,” he said with a grin.

In his best season, Pete won about 35 races and the championship at Davy Crockett Speedway. That season he drove a Chevy Nova. He had a lot of sponsorship that season, including Continued on page 12

12 Discover Grainger County • 2017

A rare photo of Pete’s Corvair race car made in 1974 shortly before it was destroyed in a crash at Davy Crockett Raceway in Rogersville.

that lapped the field in one race at Atomic Speedway.

He built a six-cylinder engine for Brogie Broyles’ Falcon that Rod Long, the Hot Rod Barn, NAPA and Jerry’s Automotive. ran second in a V8 race.

Among the most interesting race cars Pete built was a 1967 Pete was also friends with the famous Utsman family of Corvair. He said the car was given to him and he decided to racers. transform it into a race car. It was powered by a 268 CI sixStill very active as a mechanic, Pete has used the same garage cylinder. He once blew a hole in the side of the engine but was building throughout his career. He does some general repair work able to patch it and continue running the car. but racing is still in his The Corvair was blood. later destroyed in a big He is building a pile-up at Davy Crockett 496 cubic inch big block Speedway that included Chevy motor and is the cars of Donnie Talley passing along the Wolfe and Bill Moore. The family racing legacy by frame of the Corvair was helping his nephew, broken in two and the car Tracy Wolfe, who won caught on fire. After the the championship at 411 Corvair’s demise, Pete Speedway last season. built the Nova.

Pete laments the cost “I had a good time of modern racing, where racing; I tried to help engines can cost $20,000 Pete’s nephew Tracy Wolfe in action. anybody I could,” Pete and an outfitted trailer said, reflecting on his long and colorful racing career. can cost $28,000 or more ... a far cry from the days when he first Neighbors Steve and James Wells hung around the garage as began racing. teenagers, becoming part of Pete’s pit crew.

A visit to Pete’s garage is in some way a step back in time.

“Pete was always good to kids,” James said.

Pete is an old-school do-it-all mechanic who had his moments as Pete had lots of other help, too. In addition to Gose, a driver. He has an extensive racing memorabilia collection and Johnny Frazier helped with labor and finances. As far as driving, loves to talk about racing and cars.

Pete said he eventually just “got tired of it” and added that his His contribution to the sport he loves is dwarfed only by his family wanted him to stop driving, anyway. dedication to it.

As a mechanic, Pete crossed paths with several legends of the sport. He proudly tells of buying an engine from Fireball Roberts in 1961.

By Randy Ball He once built an engine for dirt-track great H.E. Vineyard Discover Grainger County Contributor From page 11

Discover Grainger County • 2017 13

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14 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Mike Branch

Discover Grainger County • 2017 15

Mike Branch:

Horse Gentler

BLAINE -- In some circles, he is affectionately called “The Horse Whisperer”, a title given to him in recognition and deep respect for his uncanny ability to quickly and gently tame the wildest of ponies with touch and the spoken word, much as did actor Robert Redford in the movie by the same name.

But Mike Branch, of the Flying B Ranch, near Blaine, prefers to be known as a “Horse Gentler”.

Sitting in an immaculately clean barn, a gentle spring breeze ruffled the horses’ manes, birds chirped from nests overhead in the rafters as Mike spoke passionately about his love of horses, of the outdoors, his family, friends, and of the blessings that God has so abundantly bestowed upon him, his family, and his business.

“I don’t whisper to them but we sure do talk!” he said.

Mike’s love for horses actually didn’t develop into a fullblown passion until he was out of school.

“Dad was in the military and we travelled and travelled and travelled, lived overseas and all over America, and by the time I got out of high school I had already been to 14 different schools,” he said. “We never had a place for horses.”

It wasn’t until he was an adult and had a place to call his own that Mike acquired his first horse.

“Things just seemed to work for me,” he said. “As I began to fool with horses, I began to get a feel for them and one thing just kept leading to another.”

Continued on page 16

16 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Mike saddling up. — Photo by Tommy Campbell From page 15

In 1971, protection of the wild horses -- descendants of animals who were brought to the New World by explorers and settlers more than 500 years ago -- was turned over to the Bureau of Land Management.

Mustang herds that still roam the west can double or even triple in size every three to four years and to manage the sizes of the herds -- to avoid sickness, overgrazing and possible starvation during the winter months -- the U.S. Government began rounding up numbers of the horses and finding adoptive homes for them.

“They are living descendants of America’s past,” he says.

The animals immediately proved their value and their versatility as pack animals, four-legged transportation for one, and in teams to pull wagons loaded with settlers headed for the wild, wild west.

In the Old West, a person’s horse was considered so valuable that if someone were convicted of horse thievery, he would probably be hanged from the nearest tree limb, or shot, as the horse was considered absolutely essential to its owner’s survival.

Eventually, when the BLM hosted a mustang adoption in nearby Knoxville, Mike brought home one himself and “gentled” the horse that he rides on the rolling hills of his ranch in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains in Grainger County.

“I am working with some mustangs now but that’s not all

that I do,” Mike pointed out. “I am more of a horseman.”

A good friend of Mike’s who has a TV show on Channel 10 invites frequently invites him to be on the show as a guest.

“Every time he introduces me, he introduces me as ‘THE Horse Whisperer’. And I’ve told him that I don’t want people to get the wrong idea, that I think I’m anybody special. I don’t have any special gifts, really I don’t.”

But his Head Wrangler, Tommy Honeycutt, is quick to disagree.

“Don’t listen to him!” he said with a grin and wave of his hand. “Let me tell you the real story! Sometimes we get horses in here that are disturbed or just kinda wild, and he will spend a couple of hours or a day or two with them and it will make your mouth drop open in awe at the difference. He HAS to be a Horse Whisperer! I’m telling you, I’ve seen a lot of people work with a lot of horses but I have never seen anybody, nobody, that has the touch with them like he does.”

Mike said that, whatever abilities he has are because of God’s grace.

“I sit up there on my porch, and when I am out here riding and I thank Him daily for whatever it is that I am blessed with,” Mike said. “I get to be outside all day enjoying this beautiful county. We get to see all the seasons change, and the wildflowers that come at different times of the year. In my book, those are blessings.”

Discover Grainger County • 2017 17

Mike demonstrates how he uses the pole to train the horse to walk in a consistent circle. — Photo by Tommy Campbell Often, Mike and Tommy will opt for motorized ATV’s over their four-legged grain-fueled transportation and ride the miles of trails that criss-cross the mountains and valleys around Blaine.

“What got me started training horses for the public was that I had adopted a wild mustang and trained it myself, then somebody else wanted one broken, and somebody else, and eventually the Bureau of Land Management asked me to do some demonstrations at their wild horse and burro adoptions and tell folks how we begin the gentling process,” he said.

Eventually a call from a prominent horseman in Canada who invited Mike to come to an event they were hosting north of the border.

“The next year I got invited to go over to England and visit some of their wild horse and pony centers,” he added. “That kinda blew my mind because I didn’t think they had any wild horses left in England.”

While on one of his visits there, he actually had a chance to meet some of Britain’s Royal Family ... Prince Phillip’s wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Sophia, Countess of Essex.

“That was kinda cool,” he said grinning, recalling the preliminaries that led up to the introduction.

“Before she came out, they sent stewards out to give me about a 10 minute etiquette course because they are really big on formality, and I don’t know, I guess I kinda worried them, with me being a cowboy and all!” he deadpanned. “I guess I passed the

test because nobody complained that I had insulted the Countess!

Not that anyone is any better than anybody else, but it made me realize just how much we have left etiquette out of our society today, the social graces, and showing people the courtesy and respect that they deserve.

While there, Mike enjoyed seeing some breeds of ponies that are native to England and Scotland.

“There are some groups working to keep them wild, but just like we have to do here in America, they round up so many every year, bring them in, gentle them, and find homes for them,” he said. “I actually ended up going back to England for several years.”

Later, he and Tommy -- who had met on the job when both worked for Roadway Express -- turned in their 18-wheelers for horsepower of a different sort.

“We both worked for Roadway Express for going on 25 years,” he said. “This is what we do all the time now. People bring us horses from Memphis, North Carolina, Georgia. All over. Our base started out here and just seems to keep growing.”

Mike is regularly sought after to attend and demonstrate his “gentling” methods at some of the biggest equine events in the country. He also is sponsored by some of America’s largest equine suppliers, manufacturers and distributors.

“My wife, Lisa, and I will sit on the porch up there (their Continued on page 19

18 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Above, Tommy Honeycutt, Head Wrangler; Mike Branch, and Graylin Nocus, Intern. — Photos by Tommy Campbell

Tommy Honeycutt smiles for the camera as he, Mike, and Graylin give the horses a light workout on a warm spring morning.

The first step in “gentling” a horse — Mike strongly opposes the use of the word “breaking” — is to develop partnerships with the animal.

Discover Grainger County • 2017 19

Graylin Nocus, Intern — Photos by Tommy Campbell From page 17

home, high on a hill overlooking the barns and pastures below) at the end of the day taking our supper or evening coffee, and we are so blessed,” he says. “God has filled our cups to overflowing and we are grateful.”

Tommy said that he and Mike were talking a while back about the fact that Mike turned 60 this year and still had so many goals that he wanted to accomplish.

“He was telling me that he had had such a good year, and I think its because he never loses sight of what’s really important,” Tommy said. “He has such a giving heart.”

The key, Mike believes, is prayer.

“Lisa and I pray about our business here,” he said. “We pray for the right horses to come in, and the right people, too.”

And those prayers have been answered.

“I’ve never seen anybody come in here showing out, cursing, drunk, that kind of thing,” Tommy said. “And I think that their praying about everything is what makes the difference.”

Mike also had praise for his head wrangler, as well as for his intern, Graylin Nocus, who comes over several times a week to ride and learn from him.

“Tommy and I mesh well together and Graylin has just been an awesome gift to us,” Mike said.

The first step in “gentling” a horse -- he strongly opposes the use of the word “breaking” -- is to develop partnerships with the animal.

“I wrote a book on starting colts under saddle, and I asked myself, what is it that you want to get across to people?” he said.

The answer lies in the motto to that book, “Leadership Through

the Eyes of a Horseman”: Leadership through trust; Partnership through leadership; Trust, partnership and leadership through love, understanding and communication.

“All six of those key words are the keys to everything when it comes to horses and people for that matter,” he said. “For one thing, I don’t have to be a dominant, iron-fisted, cruel, 1920’s-style boss to the horses.”

Which may sound a bit odd coming from a man who is also a third degree Black Belt martial arts student.

“They asked me to judge ‘Dancing for the Horses’ this year, there were some really nice dances, but one thing I notice is that one person has to lead the dance, to bring everything in sync.

That’s kind of the way it is when I am working with the horses. I try to lead them into the dance.

“The horse elects you as the leader because he has developed a trust in you, and he figures that out because you demonstrate a love for the species, and then through understanding or empathy, a love for the individual horse,” Mike said. “And then you have to communicate all of that, and communication is such a lost art today, no matter if its horses or people. Horses don’t speak English, but they certainly understand everything you do, and they are quite intelligent and intuitive and react accordingly.”

That is especially true when it comes to wild mustangs that have had little to no interaction with human beings.

“At first, wild mustangs are quite fearful of humans,” Mike explained. “You have to understand, they have been living on their own since birth, on the wide open range, fending for Continued on page 21

20 Discover Grainger County • 2017 From page 20

From page 19

themselves, pretty much going where they please. Man came in, rounded them up, herded them into steel cages, hauled them thousands of miles from their native range, poked a bunch of shot needles in their hides and put brands on their necks. You can understand why they would be scared stiff and distrustful of us human-beings!”

Mike says that because of his work with the BLM he has even received hate mail from people who oppose the roundup and adoption of mustangs.

“But since the wild herd doubles in size every three or four years, there is only so much food and range available for the mustangs,” he said. “They have to round up some and let people adopt them, otherwise they would overgraze the land and the herds would begin to suffer from malnutrition and sickness. A lot of them would die horrible deaths from starvation in those bitterly cold prairie and mountain winters.”

Mike believes the key word in “gentling” a horse is “partner”.

“We have lost one of the definitions of the word ‘partner’,” he said.

A few years ago, he and his wife took a trip up the Eastern Seaboard to visit lighthouses and old fishing villages. “’Partner’ is an old nautical term,” he pointed out. “It’s a wooden framework built onto the deck of a ship around the hold for a mast, and it keeps those mighty winds from ripping a ship apart. I had never even heard of the word in that context. You hear about the sails, the masts, but you never hear about the ‘partner’. Its just there saying, ‘whatever this ship goes through, man, I’m just here doing my job’.”

And that, he said, brings up another key word that could describe a partner, “humility”.

“That’s true partnership and that’s what we develop with these horses,” he said. “When I think about these horses, they are so willing to give to us, whether it’s in work or play, and I just seek to have empathy and understanding with them on an individual basis. I think that’s part of the reason we have done so well.”

The men train horses every morning and then turn their attention to private lessons in the afternoon.

He also travels the state and nation doing horsemanship clinics, as well as smaller, more personalized classes.

“We just had three TV commercials shot here on the ranch from sponsors that help to support our work,” he said.

Mike said that just being quiet and listening to the horse is some of the best advice he could give to anyone who wants to “gentle” a horse “That horse can’t speak to tell you that he feels rotten today, or that something hurts, so that’s where you have to pay very, very close attention to their body language.” he said. “Get to know your horse and let him/her get to know you.”

It was indeed that one-on-one kinship between horse and man that saved the lives of many cowboys in the Old West.

“If the horseman is observant, he can look at a horse and tell if he’s happy or comfortable,” Mike said. “That works with our human brothers and sisters, too! Maybe somebody just needs a pat on the back, a smile, and to hear that you love ‘em. Any act of kindness goes a long way ... with people and horses!”

Graylin, from nearby Knox County, said her mom grew up on farm in Indiana.

Discover Grainger County • 2017 21

“She had been around horses all her life, and I had grown up with horses, and when we moved to Tennessee, I got a couple,” she explained.

After eight years in 4-H, Graylin said she began watching videos on becoming more involved than just walking her horses or going on trail rides.

“My mom finally said that we had to find someone to give me some lessons because she thought it was too dangerous for me to try to learn on my own,” she said. “She didn’t want me to get hurt and we had heard Mike’s name a lot from my neighbors who had been working with him.”

About that time, one of those neighbors called and said that Mike was coming out that day and invited Graylin to drop over and get acquainted.

After a few lessons, Mike invited Graylin to come and work a few days a week at his ranch.

“I’ve been coming here since last July and I love it,” she said.

“I have learned so much from Mike and Tommy.”

Karma, Mike’s mustang, was herself a wild horse once.

“She was adopted by a woman in Oregon and was later sold to a woman in North Carolina who I was friends with,” Mike said.

The woman sent the horse to him for training and came that fall to take her home. For whatever reason, the woman never rode the horse again.

“Every time I talked to her she jokingly said she was going to leave the horse to me in her will,” Mike said. “Then one day, she called me up and said, ‘Mike, how would you like to have Karma without me having to die?’ I said yeah, heck yeah! So I got her and would take Karma all over the country and it made her real happy.”

The woman has since passed on, but her memory lives on through Karma.

Even though she was not there on the day of the interview, Mike was quick to give his wife, Lisa, much credit for “keeping us organized”.

“She is a classy lady, she runs medical offices but yet you’ll find her out here on the lawn tractor, mowing, keeping all of our books. She probably works harder than I do!” he said.

And, at the end of a long day of working the horses and teaching others how to improve their own horsemanship skills, Mike’s favorite room in his house is the front porch.

“Just look at God’s hand at work,” he said, sitting in his rocker, gazing out over the green valley below, at Tommy and Graylin riding their horses in the distance, and at the peaks of the nearby Great Smoky Mountains.

“Yes, sir,” he said, pushing back his hat. “This is as good as it gets.”

For more information on Mike, his books, and his horsemanship classes, readers may visit www.mikebranch.us.

By Tommy Campbell

Editor & Publisher

22 Discover Grainger County • 2017

“

If the horseman is observant, he can look at a horse and tell if he’s happy or comfortable. That works with our human brothers and sisters, too! Maybe somebody just needs a pat on the back, a smile, and to hear that you love ‘em. Any act of kindness goes a long way ... with people and horses!”

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Discover Grainger County • 2017 23

Mike watches from his favorite room — the porch — while Graylin and Tommy ride in the distance. — Photos by Tommy Campbell

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Godwin House Historic home near Rutledge had small role in Civil War

With estimates as high as 750,000 casualties, the American Civil War is said to have touched every citizen in the country at some point during its devastating four years.

As a border state, Tennessee was second only to Virginia in battles fought, and despite a century and a half’s passing since the war’s end, historic reminders have withstood that time and still dot the landscape to this day.

One such remnant is the Godwin House in Grainger County. Located just off Highway 11W on the old Lee Highway near Rutledge, the nearly 200-year-old, two-story home remains standing in remarkably good condition.

“The house was built in 1836. There’s a stone in the chimney that tells you that,” says Grainger County Historian Ken Coffey.

“It was used as headquarters for (Union) General (Milo Smith) Hascall during the Civil War.” Toni Engstrom, Grainger County Historical Society, presented a description of Hascall’s military career leading up to the Battle of Bean’s Station.

“In 1846, Hascall entered West Point, graduating with General Phil Sheridan, General Harry W. Slocum and General Cook. In 1861, General Hascall enlisted as a private in a threemonths company, an Indiana regiment. He was appointed Captain and aide-de-camp on General Thomas A. Morris’ staff.

He organized and trained six regiments in Camp Morton,” Engstrom said.

“He was present at the first engagement of the war after

Photo by Jim Beller

Sumter where the first Confederate flag was captured at Philippi. He was in the first battle of Bull Run and received the first flag of truce from General Robert E. Lee. He was appointed Colonel to the 17th Indiana volunteers on July 1, 1861.

In December 1861 he was ordered to Louisville, Kentucky and placed in Young Milo S. Hascall command of the 17th - Courtesy of Civil War Daily Gazette Indiana, 6th Ohio, 43rd Ohio, & 15th Indiana regiments, assigned to the Division commanded by General William Nelson,” Engstrom continued.

“He was later transferred to the command of a brigade in General T.J. Wood’s division which participated in the capture of Nashville February 24, 1862 and advanced on to Shiloh April 6, 1862. In 1862, at the Battle of Shiloh at the close of the engagement, Col. Hascall, received the first flag of truce from General Beauregard,” Engstrom said.

“He was commissioned brigadier general of volunteers on

April 25, 1862 and led a brigade in the Tennessee Campaign. He was in command of a brigade on the extreme left when the engagement at Stone River, commenced December 31, 1862. His division commander, T.J. Wood, was wounded early that morning, leaving Milo in charge of the full battle,” she stated.

Brigadier General Milo S. Hascall “By 10 a.m. of that - Courtesy of Hoosier State Chronicles day, Hascall was in command of all the troops left fighting and saved the day and the army from utter rout and ruin. He was then sent to Indianapolis to return deserters from Ohio, Indiana and Illinois. He was transferred to the Army of Ohio at the request of General Burnside, and commanded a division in that army until after the fall of Atlanta.”

The Tennessee Civil War Trails marker “Battle of Bean’s Station: Opportunity Lost” describes the two-day fight.

“Confederate Gen. James Longstreet abandoned his siege Continued on page 30

30 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Above, the date 1836 is written on a stone of the chimney.

— Courtesy of Toni Engstrom

Shutter hangers — Courtesy of Toni Engstrom From page 29 of Knoxville early in December 1863 and withdrew northeast with Union Gen. John Parke following distantly. Parke sent Gen. James Shackleford ahead to harry Longstreet, who camped with his main force at Rogersville, where he took command of all upper East Tennessee Confederates. When Shackelford camped near Bean’s Station north of the Holston River, Longstreet decided to turn and destroy the Union force. Before you is the battle site, partly covered by Cherokee Lake in 1940; some earthworks remain.

“On December 14, Longstreet’s infantry pushed the Federals into Bean’s Station while his cavalry swept around their northern and southern flanks to block any retreat. Federal artillery fired on the Confederates in front of Bean’s Station Tavern, and Confederate guns replied. Hundreds of rounds were exchanged.

After repelling several assaults, Federal troops retreated toward Rutledge. Longstreet learned that his cavalry commander, Gen. William T. Martin, had not delayed the main Federal force.

Gen. William E. “Grumble” Jones held Bean’s Station Gap, but resourceful Federals escaped west through the hills.

“Longstreet’s commanders balked at an all-out pursuit, citing meager supplies and their men’s weariness. As Union reinforcements arrived, the Confederates marched toward Russellville and went into winter quarters. Longstreet won at Bean’s Station, but failed to destroy the Union cavalry.”

The following is an account from the Civil War Daily Gazette: December 14, 1863 Through the crisp and early morning hours, Union General James Shackelford expected to find Confederate cavalry massing before him.

But it was not so. At his cavalry headquarters near Bean’s Station, Tennessee, he received reports that the enemy troops he had briefly skirmished with the day previous had fallen back two or three miles.

“The patrols on the roads to the river saw nor heard nothing of the enemy,” he wrote to General John Parke, who commanded Federal

Discover Grainger County • 2017 31

Hascall’s map — Courtesy of Civil War Daily Gazette infantry, a few miles south in Rutledge.

It had been several days since both armies ceased their movements.

James Longstreet, who commanded the Confederates in question, took an account of all he could, considering everything from the weather, the lack of shoes, and the results of an unexpected victory, before deciding to turn back south, march down the road from Rogersville toward Rutledge. His first strike was to be upon Shackelford’s position at Bean’s Station.

His men had slept little, being without tents under the deluge of a cold and bitter rain. They rose early, dripping and unable to dry, and were on the road near dawn. It became a sixteen mile forced march. Many of the men were barefooted, and many fell out, unable to keep pace with their comrades. But still they marched, and near 2pm arrived muddy and worn near Bean’s Station.

The road from Rogersville to Rutledge ran northeast to southwest, and to the north, Clinch Mountain loomed. To the south was Big Ridge, and beyond it rolled the Holston River. A small road ran from the water across the mountain. Where it met the road between Rogersville and Rutledge was Bean’s Station. The valley village consisted of a couple of dozen buildings, including a hotel and a church.

From this town, Shackelford sent word of Longstreet’s arrival to General Parke.

“I am thoroughly satisfied that Longstreet’s command is in our front,” he wrote, “and I think his cavalry is moving down the river.”

That was precisely what was happening. While the Confederate infantry marched along the main road, the cavalry, commanded by William Martin, moved along the southern bank of the Holston. He was to cross the river and get behind Shackelford’s Federals, cutting

off their retreat toward Rutledge. Additionally, another brigade of Rebel cavalry, led by William Jones, advanced along the foot of Clinch Mountain with the same objective. In all, 12,000 Rebels were about to surround 5,000 Federal cavalrymen.

But Shackelford’s troopers were well organized, and some were armed with Spencer repeating rifles. Arrayed between Clinch Mountain and Big Ridge, he placed his troops, anchoring them to a hill east of the town, while his artillery boomed behind them.

The forward Rebel elements, under General Archibald Gracie pitched into the battle as their own artillery unlimbered. First they fell upon the Federal pickets, and then the skirmish line, and then a battery. E. Porter Alexander, Longstreet’s chief of artillery, advanced a gun in support of Gracie’s Brigade. “I… saw Gen. Gracie get a ball through his forearm,” he recorded. “It seemed to be quite a painful wound and there was a chill and a numbness in the air which suggested that even light blows would hurt on such a day.” Alexander placed the rest of his guns and played upon his Federal counterparts.

With screams they threw themselves forward, waving their hats and yelling, until Shackleford’s lead brigade emptied their rifles into their ranks. Throwing themselves now to the ground south of the road, they were pinned – held captive between the deadly bullets and their own terror. But soon both were overcome and the Rebels were on their feet, advancing with a sternness fierce to behold, and the Union brigade began to melt.

More Confederates joined, holding the ground to the right and across the road. The Yankee shells fell among their number and again they were forced to the ground. And with a shout they were up, Continued on page 32

32 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Images of the Godwin House interior. — Courtesy of Toni Engstrom

From page 31 crossing nearly a mile of open space, the other end of which held the enemy. And the town was now on fire.

Seeing the smoke, Longstreet could understand that Shackelford was burning the buildings so the Rebels could not use them for shelter.

He need only push a bit more. Two Confederate brigades had thus far been engaged, and Longstreet called for all of Bushrod Johnson’s Division to be cast into the battle. This was done and the Federals retreated, though slowly. Inching themselves from one end of the small town to the other, they gave ground. When they fell back beyond the hotel, the Confederates set a small part of it ablaze. But here the Federals halted and would move no farther, turning the hotel into a fortress.

In support of Johnson’s Division, Longstreet dispatched that of Lafayette McLaws’. One brigade, under James Kershaw, was sent toward the Federal left, anchored upon a hill north of town. With only two regiments, this was done, and now there was an opportunity to break the entire line. From the hill, Kershaw pushed to the right and down upon the immovable Federals near the hotel.

But daylight was failing, and the battle was nearing its end.

Though Kershaw attacked, the Federals would not give. More reinforcements were called from McLaws’ Division to attack the Federal right. In the darkening, the troops never reached the hotel.

Instead, Confederate artillery punched holes in the brick and wooden walls, as the rest of the Federal infantry retreated, leaving a small band of Yankees inside. A strange and unexpected sortie undertaken by Michigan Cavalry stormed toward the hotel, throwing confusion into the Rebel ranks and allowing the Federals trapped inside to escape.

With the Federals in retreat, this seemed all in all a Confederate victory. But it was not the victory James Longstreet had in mind.

Originally, his plan had been for his own cavalry to cut off the Federal escape route. Both Martin and Jones failed. The former, due to Federal cavalry at a ford across the Holston. The latter, in part because he captured a wagon train, though mostly it went unexplained.

In the end, Longstreet held Bean’s Station and the Federals were in chaotic retreat to Rutledge. But it was not the end. General Parke, commanding the Union infantry at Rutledge, ordered a division to be sent forward in the hopes that it would support Shackelford’s troopers. “The fight will probably be renewed tomorrow,” wrote Parke to department commander General John Foster in Knoxville. “If this division of infantry cannot hold them in check, I will fall back on the road to Knoxville.” A little while later, he wrote again, urging Foster to throw forward some of the troops in the city to Blaine’s Crossroads, which Parke was beginning to see as a sort of last stand.

Shackelford’s retreating cavalry met the advancing division, under Milo Hascall, around 2:30am. Together, they occupied a position three miles from Bean’s Station and five from Rutledge. Once established, they called upon Parke to send the entire Ninth Corps.

This, he did. If the Rebels advanced again the following day, the Federals would be ready.

Records list 290 soldiers killed, 1,243 wounded, and 455 missing. As many as a quarter of the Union soldiers who died were killed inside the tavern, according to www.beanstationtn.com.

Having lost 900 of the 1,600 casualties, the Yankees retreated back toward Knoxville, with Hascall taking up residence at the Godwin house on the Godwin family farm.

“Union troops fell back and they set up defense at basically Continued on page 33

Discover Grainger County • 2017 33

The Godwin Murray Home. Home of William T. Murry. The Murray farm was at least 200 acres, some of which is now flooded by Cherokee Lake. The Murray girls in the picture are, left to right, Aurelia Rutha and Willie May. Standing by chair is Dianna Gill, the oldest daughter. Mattie and Sarah Cobb, in darker dress with long hair.

Standing in doorway is Mr. Stevens, a friend of Wm. T. Murray. They were in the war together and after the war, Mr. Murray gave him a home.

The persons in the photos at right are unidentified.

— Courtesy of Toni Engstrom

From page 32 where Bowen Road is. Somewhere around where Grainger Church is, was where they set up. That was known as the Bowen Community,” Coffey said.

“The Godwin House was General Hascall’s headquarters. He and Shackelford and Parke had met there to set up his defense in front of the house. This would have been the second day after they had fought at Bean Station,” Coffey said.

“When it got daylight, he moved it on up to where the Grainger Church is now because they could see the valley.

Down there where he first set it up, they couldn’t see the soldiers coming. General Hascall was basically in charge of the Union Army there the second day,” Coffey said.

(The Civil War Daily Gazette described the second day.)

December 15, 1863 Following the victory at Bean’s Station the day previous, Confederate General James Longstreet had high hopes, but some bad news. Micah Jenkins, led the Rebel column south, and three miles beyond the little village, with several buildings still smoldering from the wreckage of battle, his division came upon the Federals. He had

been thrown toward the Federals by Longstreet with the hopes that he would coordinate with the wayward Rebel Cavalry under William Martin.

The Federals were near the Godwin farm and had established a fine defensive position. No longer were they mere cavalry, but had been joined by elements of the Ninth Corps. With his 2,500 troops, Jenkins had little desire to confront what he believed to be 6,000 Yankees.

And so he found his own defensive position and dispatched scouts to reconnoiter the ground.

It was around that time that Longstreet came up to tell him that Martin’s Cavalry had not crossed as expected. Jenkins commanded John Bell Hood’s Division while its namesake recovered from yet another wound. With him, he had but three of his five brigades. Jerome Robertson’s and Evander Law’s Brigades had been kept back as a sort of ghost reserve, but mostly to guard the wagons. Longstreet had promised that both Robertson and Law would shortly arrive, but he had made similar promises the day before.

Union General John Parke, who was in charge of the Federal column that pursued the Confederates after their retreat from Knoxville, had thrown forward a division of infantry from the Ninth Continued on page 35

34 Discover Grainger County • 2017

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From page 33 Corps the previous day. Early in the morning, they met the retreating Union Cavalry, whipped from Bean’s Station, and established a line of defense at the Godwin Farm. Still more infantry were on their way.

The entire Ninth Corps, was either on the march or held in readiness, while the Fourth Corps, still in Knoxville, was alerted as well.

Commanding the Union line was Milo Hascall, who Parke had ordered to fall back if the enemy should attack. He had clearly decided that Bean’s Station wasn’t worth the blood, and that Godwin’s farm mattered little as a tactical position. Parke had been based out of Rutledge, but instead chose to defend Blaine’s Crossroads, a village fifteen miles outside of Knoxville. There was little need to bring on a pitched battle if he could not emerge victorious.

Listening to the reports of his scouts, Jenkins concluded that if he had Robertson and Law, he could attack the enemy’s right flank. With Longstreet’s blessing, Jenkins decided to see for himself. Before he left, Longstreet promised that Robertson and Law would be present. And with hope in his eyes, General Jenkins rode off.

He saw for himself that the Union right was weak, and on the trek back to headquarters, his head was filled with dreams and visions. He would order his old brigade forward, with Law’s Brigade in support.

Along with the other three, including Robertson’s “pressing concertedly the enemy’s front and left flank,” his old boys would hit the Union right and send them running for Knoxville.

Believing now that Robertson and Law had already arrived, he sent orders for his old brigade to step off. But when he returned to headquarters, Longstreet met him with the news that neither had arrived. The attack was denied.

The day was one of light skirmishing. No pitched battle evolved.

Reports of a line of Union infantry swapping places with the cavalry sent chatter up and down the Rebel lines, but little came of it.

Longstreet added to the confusion by telling Jenkins that the Federals had brought up both the Ninth Corps, as well as the Twenty-Third (both of which comprised the Army of the Ohio).

“I was induced to believe that they had brought their full force to the field,” Jenkins reported, “and no other troops being within supporting distance, was reluctantly obliged to recall Jenkins’ brigade and give up my intention of attacking with this division alone.”

For a time, it seemed like something might develop as wayward Confederate cavalry under William Martin finally crossed the Holston River and appeared on the Federal right. “A high hill was gained,” recalled Martin, “from which my artillery could enfilade the enemy’s breastworks. With great labor the guns were placed in position and rapidly and effectively served.”

Martin dismounted an entire division and demonstrated upon

Discover Grainger County • 2017 35

the right flank of the Federal line. But disappointment soon won the day. “My guns were in sight of, and only 400 or 500 yard from, our infantry skirmishers, who it was expected would attack in front,” he continued. Martin hoped that his demonstration would convince Jenkins to launch some kind of frontal attack – something which was already written off as impossible, though Martin could not know.

“My fire was continued for one and a half hours,” Martin reported, “and the enemy began to retire, but was able to detach a large force to hold my men in check, as he was not pressed in front.” Martin was critical of Jenkins for not doing anything at all to take advantage of his arrival or the retreating of the Union line.

General Jenkins seemed oblivious to it and did nothing to coordinate with the bombardment, even though both Robertson and Law had by now wondered into camp. “With concert of action,” concluded Martin, “great damage could have been done the enemy on this day.” No movement was made, and so Martin stayed his position.

The Union troops retired with very little opposition. By dawn the following day, they reached Rutledge and General Parke. Following a brief halt, they would make their way to Blaine’s Crossroads.

Here, Parke was certain Photo by Jim Beller he could hold if attacked.

But the next few days would bring rain and weariness to the Confederate troops. Jenkins would follow, but would be dogged by Union cavalry and bad roads. In all, it would be fruitless.

Writing to General Grant, John Foster, convinced that Longstreet had been reinforced from Virginia, promised to “take up the most advantageous position and accept battle.” Grant replied: “Drive him as far to the east as possible.”

“They skirmished basically all day that second day until about dark and they retreated to Rutledge,” Coffey said. “Not a lot of fighting went on and they eventually retreated to Blaine’s Crossroads. That was basically the end of it. Longstreet goes to Russellville and camps out.”

The Knoxville Campaign ended following the battle of Bean’s Station. The Godwin House reverted to being a residence, which it remained for several years.

Distant echoes of war long dissipated, today the Godwin House stands vacant, but in good condition, maintained and cared for by family members living on the surrounding farmland.

While fleeting, its Civil War role and legacy are nevertheless permanently etched in American history.

By Jim Beller

Discover Grainger County Contributor

36 Discover Grainger County • 2017

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Grainger County Register of Deeds State of Tennessee

Rick Diamond

Rick.Diamond@Titlesearcher.com Cell: 865-599-3827 Business: 865-838-3523 Fax: 865-828-4300

P.O. Box 174 Rutledge, TN 37861

Grainger County Tennessee

Rena Greer

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8095 Rutledge Pike, Suite 100 P.O. Box 126 Rutledge, TN 37861

Fax: 865.828.4284 Email: graingercomayor@frontiernet.net

on Main Downtown Morristown, TN | 42 423.581.0600 • 162 W. Broadway, Jefferson City, TN | 865.471.7848

38 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Local Farms to Families ... a “virtual farm market,” with many vendors based in Grainger County, is now serving customers from Knoxville to Rogersville who desire wholesome foods direct from the farm or producer.

Allen and Kimberly Keiter

“

There are no membership fees to participate and the organization’s growers, makers, bakers, roasters and raisers are working to provide the freshest prepared and finished goods possible,” said Kimberly Keiter, one of the organizers of Farms to Families and co-owner, with her husband, Allen, of 4 Corners Ranch in Washburn. “Our focus is on ‘clean’, ‘real’, and ‘holistic’ food and household goods. We want to thank our customers for giving us the opportunity to provide their farm market favorites closer to home.”

She noted that those interested in learning more about the Local Farms to Families virtual farm market should turn to the organization’s webpage at www.LocalFarmsToFamilies.com.

Customers also can learn more at the Local Farms to Families page on Facebook, she said.

Keiter said there is no membership fee for using the virtual farm market.

In addition, she said: • Local Farms to Families’ order cycles run two times monthly and delivery days are first and third Wednesdays of each month; • ‘Close to home delivery’ service requires minimum $35 order; • Patrons may pay securely with PayPal (credit cards are also accepted through this service without an account). COD and SNAP/EBT are also payment options. A note about accepting EBT: the patron must be purchasing qualifying goods to use their EBT card. Restrictions apply. Inquire for details. Persons may contact the vendors directly at farmstofamiliesdelivery@ gmail.com to process your order using your SNAP/EBT or to make arrangement for COD.

Farms to Families, at the time of this writing in May, has nine pickup locations available in the greater Knoxville area, and delivery is available in certain areas. To see if delivery is available in your area, email farmstofamiliesdelivery@gmail.com.

“We do offer special delivery on a case by case basis, and patrons should use the Alternate Arrangements option to connect with Vendors to set that up,” she said. “For instance, Rogersville is not on our route, but we have a vendor there who’s willing to bring deliveries back to her home area. Some of us have clients in Greene, Grainger and Hamblen counties also, and we

Discover Grainger County • 2017 39

encourage the Alternate Arrangements option to coordinate these deliveries.”

Keiter said Local Farms to Families expects to add Morristown and Maryville to their regular drop route, which at the time extended from Kodak to Farragut along the I-40 corridor and included Sevierville and Seymour.

4 Corners Ranch background

“We originate from Pennsylvania (Allen) and Ohio (Kimberly) and we moved to East Tennessee in 2010 because of it’s beautiful scenery and temperate seasons,” Kimberly Keiter said. “We began our Longhorn Beef business in 2014 with the primary goal of offering a naturally lean, healthier alternative to traditional beef products.”

Allen brings his years on the family farm experience to the table, while Kimberly’s background is in the communications and business management.

Their two sons, Sean and Joey, meanwhile, are city boys turned cowboys and they are involved in all aspects of the business, including the Farmers’ Markets and herd/property management at the ranch.

The beef cattle at 4 Corners Ranch are solely grass and hay fed.

“Simply put, there is nothing in our beef that God did not intend!” Kimberly said. “We do not just sell beef. “We feed families! We take this responsibility very seriously and share our farm/home with all who have the desire to learn more. “Many beef producers raise their cattle on grass, but finish with grain (typically the last 90 - 120 days prior to process).

Our beef is solely grass-and-hay fed and finished.”

Keiter said longhorn beef has many benefits. Among them: • Longhorn beef is naturally 95-percent lean, yielding a higher net cooked weight; • Longhorn beef is higher in CLA, a cancer fighting agent that is not produced in the human body; • The meat is naturally higher in Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin B6, B3 & B12, Vitamin K, Selenium, Iron, Choline, Lycopene and others.

By Bill Jones

Discover Grainger County Contributor

40 Discover Grainger County • 2017 n

Bales Farms: Pastured Chicken

Farm to Families Vendors

Vendors working with the Farms to Families virtual market include: 4 Corners Ranch

Grass-fed and finished Longhorn Beef and pastured chicken eggs.

Grassy Creek Soap Company

Simple ingredients, simply soap.

Emmy’s Gourmet Canine Creations

Made from scratch, preservative-free, gourmet canine treats.

Pygmy Harbor

JEM Farm

Goat milk soaps, lotions and locally manufactured colloidal silver.

Mama C’s Gluten Free Goodies

From Ageratum to Zinnias, more than 100 species including flowers, foliage, seed pods and herbs.

Bread of Life

Guzzle Hollow Gardens Local raw honey and pure maple syrup.

Pasture-raised, no-GMO, no-soy chicken, pork, rabbit and goat.

Gluten free breads, cookies, cupcakes, and more.

Homemade breads, frozen from fresh soup, fresh-squeezed juices and more.

Goshen Valley Farm

Pasture-raised, no-GMO duck and duck eggs.

City House Roasters

Organic coffee, locally roasted, blended and packaged.

Olde Virden’s Red Hot Sprinkle

Hot pepper seasoning, paleo-friendly, grown, harvested and created in Gatlinburg.

Reclaiming your Roots

Locally grown and crafted herbal products.

The Farmstead at Wears Valley Ranch

Pastured chickens, chicken eggs, grass-fed and finished lamb.

Sevier Blumen

Olde Virden’s Red Hot Sprinkle n

Discover Grainger County • 2017 41 n

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City House Roasters

Pure Tennessee Maple Syrup n

Zi Olive

Grassy Creek Soap Company n

n

n

Pygmy Harbor

Bread of Life

Visit www.LocalFarms ToFamilies.com n

Emma’s Gourmet Canine Creations n

42 Discover Grainger County • 2017

National Kennel Club

Kennel Club keeps dog records, not dogs

People may not expect to find the National Kennel Club headquarters in little Blaine, Tenn., but there it is, right next to the Food City shopping center on Highway 11W. Then again, people don’t really know what to expect to find at the National Kennel Club.

Is the nice, big building a dog-lover’s, Noah’s Ark-like paradise, filled with all types of breeds of dogs?

Nope. Leave your dog toys at home.

“Most people have no idea what we do,” said Del Morgan, owner and president of the National Kennel Club. “Basically what we do is keep records.”

“Ninety-nine percent of our customers we never see. It comes in the mail, unless I go to the hunts or the shows. We have people stop by that want us to check their dogs. I say, ‘Guys, guys, guys… we register them, we don’t operate on

them,’” Morgan said.

Like the United Kennel Club (UKC) and American Kennel Club (AKC), the NKC tracks pure-bred canines and keeps track of their pedigree.

“We’re like the AKC. We’re an all-breed registry. We register dogs in every state and 40 countries. Basically, we are a data company. We do litters’ registrations, transfers and things like that. We are a full-service registration company for pure-bred dogs,” said Morgan.

“Say you’ve got a pure-breed dog,” Morgan said. “We’re just one of the options that you have to register it.

“How people find out about us is, say someone has a litter and they sell the puppy and they transfer the dog into their name.

They send in proof of ownership and we enter them into the database in our computers and send them out a certificate with

Discover Grainger County • 2017 43

— Photos by Jim Beller

www.nationalkennelclub.com Email: contactus@nationalkennelclub.com

People love to brag about their dogs.

The National Kennel Club does it for them officially. their name on it,” he said.

“What we do is basically help the breeders keep their lineage straight. It helps sells the dogs and shows that the owners are trying to do right. We’re not in the breeding part but we recognize new breeds as they come along. All we do is keep their records,” Morgan said.

“If someone wants to know about their German Shepherd, we keep up to six generations then we go from there and go on back to see that they’re all German Shepherds,” Morgan said.

“We’ve probably got millions of dogs in our database.”

Since 1969 the National Kennel Club (NKC) has operated to help dog owners register any purebred dog. According to its website, “the NKC has been fair and impartial to all breeders, dog owners, and the various breeds. With the NKC rare breeds may be shown with equal status as well as the major breeds.”

Each breed has a certain set of standards.

“Different organizations will have different standards for the hunting dogs,” Morgan said. “When you get into the Poodles or Yorkies, all of those are pretty standard. The NKC was the first to ever recognize the Jack Russells. The AKC calls them ‘Parsons Terriers.’ We register the American Bulldog in 48 different countries. They’re absolutely beautiful dogs,” Morgan said.

“We can’t adopt standards. Normally how that happens is like the guy who founded the American Bulldog in the 1960s – he’s on our board – will line breed until they get a set of standards that they want and then that’s what they shoot for,” he said.

“But every dog in the world has been crossed with something at one time to get the set of standards. Typically, a lot of those are already set. We just adapt them. Some of the new breeds I Continued on page 44

44 Discover Grainger County • 2017

The NKC maintains records of dogs’ pedigree, so breeders can optimize mates, such as Sterling Shumaker, pictured above from pup to present. — Photo courtesy of Central Carolina Squirrel Club From page 43

The NKC holds field trials, including squirrel hunt competitions do have a little bit of room on that, but that’s based on board where dogs earn points for exhibiting proper hunting traits. approval and breeders’ approval. I don’t just arbitrarily do that Cedar Creek Rage, a Kemmer Cur, shown here treeing a squirrel, myself,” said Morgan. is an NKC Grand Squirrel Champion, NKC Grand Tree Champion, “One of the fastest-growing things in the world are called and NKC Bench Champion. — Photo courtesy of sqdog.com designer dogs or hybrid registry, the cross-bred dogs like the Labradoodle (a cross between a Labrador Retriever and Standard, Miniature or Toy Poodle). They get more money for those than anything,” Morgan said.

The NKC doesn’t just register dogs.

“We do the Yorkies and Poodles and that type of dog, but we also do field trials,” Morgan said. “The fun part is the hunts and that type of stuff and bird dog events.”

The NKC licenses all-breed dog shows, events for coon dogs, beagles, squirrel dogs, bird dogs, fox dogs, licensed dog kennels, show judges, and other dog related events.

“We hold all types of field trials – beagle events, squirrel dogs, coon dogs, all-breed shows,” Morgan said. “Let’s say you’ve got a club in Kentucky and they want to run beagles. The NKC has certain guidelines. It’s called the American Rabbit Hound Association, which we own.

“So they will form a club – we’ve got something like 2,000 clubs across the country. A group of guys will get together and go by our by-laws. They have to have a president, vice president, and a secretary. It’s run like a small company. Then they’ll advertise the hunt,” he said.

“Local hunts will be anywhere from 20 to as many as 300 entries. That means 300 people show up to enter their dogs to run it. They’ll just go out and they’ll have guides and judges at all the The NKC registers American Bulldogs in 48 different countries, events,” Morgan said. including NKC Supreme Grand Champion, Buckner’s Rowdy.

“Squirrel dogs, coon dogs – all of them have a judge and a — Photo courtesy of bucknerbulldogs.com guide who will take the cast out – a cast is normally four dogs.

They take them out and the judge watches them and they get points for treeing a squirrel or running a rabbit or something like that. It’s just the neatest thing.

“People love it. Just like people who love to fish or play ball, these guys love to hunt. We kill no animals. It’s based on a point system, except for the bird dogs and they’re farm-raised birds. The people shoot the birds, but they take them and eat them. Bird dogs are absolutely wonderful animals. They’ll stand there and point for 20 minutes until the owner tells them to stop. It’s just amazing,” he said.

“As far as the beagle events and the others, we don’t kill anything they hunt. It’s all awarding points,” Morgan said.

“They award the winners and send all the data in to us. We register it in our computer. Once a dog becomes a champion, we send the papers and advertise it. It’s all based on the point system.

It’s bragging rights, basically,” Morgan said.

“Let’s say you’re going to do a bird dog event. The dog would have to be registered with us. Then you’d have to go by the NKC rules on that hunt. You’d send all the data back to us and we’d keep the points and stuff.

“It’s like everything else. Your dogs wins a world hunt – like at our beagle events in Indiana this year we had 850-something entries, the largest beagle event that’s ever been held – your puppies go from $200 to $2,000,” Morgan said.

“We’ll hold three or four thousand events per year. I only to the big ones, the nationals, about eight or 10 a year, because I could be gone every weekend if I wanted,” he said.

“It’s interesting. I get to travel all over the world. Ninetynine percent of the people who raise dogs are great people. You’ll get some who are in it for the money. Our policy is if you have a couple of complaints and they’re unanswered or unjustified or unfixable – because anybody can make a mistake – but if you don’t fix them, we just refuse to do business with you,” Morgan said.

NKC’s General Purpose:

• To improve breeding of purebred dogs of all breeds establishing a stud file of all dogs registered with NKC, by encouragement to breeders to use only the best conformation and temperament in their breeding program.

• To promote competition in various fields of dogoriented activities in a friendly sporting atmosphere.

• To better canine life by making owners aware of the new ideas in dog care.

• To encourage registration of all purebred dogs so that ancestry and traits both desirable and undesirable can be identified.

• To encourage dog owners to learn better methods of care, feeding, and training of dogs.

• To promote enjoyment of leisure time in association with dogs and dog activities.

• To promote conservation of our natural resources through combined efforts by dog clubs.

Discover Grainger County • 2017 45

The NKC was the first to ever recognize Jack Russell Terriers. It was about time, thought Taz and his dad, McMurphy. — Photo

by Jim Beller “Ninety-nine percent of it is great. Like everything else, you get people who try to cheat, but I get to meet a lot of great people. I don’t hunt or anything at them because that would put a lot of pressure on the judge to have the president of the NKC competing. I just go and meet people. I’ve heard some crazy stories and met a lot of great people,” Morgan said.

People love to brag about their dogs. The National Kennel Club does it for them officially.

By Jim Beller

Discover Grainger County Contributor

• By restocking game birds and animals where unwise acts have reduced their numbers below desired levels.

• Protection of animals against poachers and greedy hunters.

• Stimulate hunting for pleasure and champion points instead of hides of animals.

• Educate the public to respect and appreciate the efforts of the state game and fish commissions.

134 Rutledge Pike / P.O. Box 331 Blaine, TN 37709

865-932-9680 Fax: 865-932-2572

Email: contactus@nationalkennelclub.com

www.nationalkennelclub.com

46 Discover Grainger County • 2017

2017

Series

SURGOINSVILLE 10 MILER Saturday, February 25, 8:00am Surgoinsville Middle School

SFTC Long Distance Series SFTC King & Queen Competition RRCA Tennessee State 10 Mile Championship

BAYS MOUNTAIN MARATHON Saturday, March 11, 8:00am 26.2 mile trail race Bays Mountain Park – Kingsport Trail Runner Trophy Series SFTC Long Distance Series SFTC Trail Series Competition

LAUREL RUN ASCENT

Saturday, April 15, 8:00am 11 mile trail race Laurel Run Park – Church Hill Trail Runner Trophy Series SFTC Long Distance Series SFTC Trail Series Competition SFTC King & Queen Competition

AMIS MILL 10K

Saturday, June 3, 8:00am Amis Mill Eatery – Rogersville SFTC King & Queen Competition

THE RIVER MILE

Tuesday, June 6, 6:00pm Laurel Run Park – Church Hill SFTC Kids’ Festival of Miles SFTC Mile Series Competition SFTC King & Queen Competition

SFTC Race of the Year Awards: 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015

WOLF RUN

Tuesday, July 18, 6:00pm 7 mile trail race Bays Mountain Park – Kingsport Kingsport Fun Fest Event Trail Runner Trophy Series SFTC Trail Series Competition SFTC King & Queen Competition

BAYS MOUNTAIN TRAIL RACE Saturday, September 23, 8:00am 15 mile trail race Bays Mountain Park – Kingsport Trail Runner Trophy Series SFTC Long Distance Series SFTC Trail Series Competition SFTC King & Queen Competition

CROOKED RIVER HALF MARATHON Sunday, October 15, 3:00pm The Lodge at Crooked River AP Carter Highway – Virginia SFTC Long Distance Series SFTC King & Queen Competition

For information, contact…

Race Director Mark Skelton 423.272.4812 (office)

markskelton@markskelton.com www.MarkSkeltonLawOffice.com SFTC Shirt of the Year Awards: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016

www.RunTriCities.org

16

SKELTON LAW RACING

CELEBRATING 16 YEARS

Law Office of Mark A. Skelton Serving East Tennessee Since 1983

Consumer Bankruptcy • Social Security Disability Divorce & Family Law • Estate Planning & Probate

Discover Grainger County • 2017 47

National Kennel Club, Inc® An All-Breed Registry Since 1964

Since 1964 the National Kennel Club (NKC) has operated to help dog owners register any purebred dog. The NKC has been fair and impartial to all breeders, dog owners, and the various breeds they represent. With the NKC rare breeds may be shown with equal status as well as the major breeds.

The NKC licenses all-breed dog shows, events for Coon Dogs, Beagles, Squirrel Dogs, Bird dogs, Fox dogs, Licensed Dog Kennels, Show Judges, and other dog related-events.

134 Rutledge Pike P.O. Box 331 Blaine, TN 37709

865-932-9680 Fax: 865-932-2572

Email: contactus @nationalkennelclub.com

The Frame House

Custom Picture Framing & Gallery

Directions:

Wendy Leedy • Artist & CPF

Hwy. 11W or Hwy. 25 to Lakeshore Rd. (SR 375S) Turn onto Lakeshore Rd., go 3 miles Turn right on Rocky Springs Rd. - 1/4 mile on left 4048 Rocky Springs Rd. Bean Station, TN 37708 Hours: Tuesday - Thursday10-5 Friday 10-6 Saturday 10-2 Closed Sunday & Monday

865-993-2952

www.wendyleedyart.com

The Shoppes

www.nationalkennelclub.com

at the Common Market

Antiques • Home Furnishings • Accessories Gifts • Arts & Crafts • Amish Food Products 920 Hwy. 11W, Bean Station, TN 37708

865-935-0444

www.facebook.com/TheShoppesAtTheCommonMarket?fref=ts

STEVE LONGMIRE

Tennessee Homegrown Tomatoes Field, Greenhouse and Canning Tomatoes

Voted Grainger County’s Favorite Farm for the Last Five Years!

Homegrown

GRAINGER COUNTY

Onions • Beans • Okra • Cucumbers Squash • Pumpkins Red & Green Bell Peppers Strawberries • Cantaloupes Watermelons Vegetables & Bedding Plants Hanging Baskets Mums • Fall Decorations

TOMATOES

865-828-8316

Open: Mon.-Sat.: 8am - 6pm Sunday: 1-5 pm

Located on Cherokee Lake Lakeshore Drive (SR-375) Highway 92 to SR-375, 3.5 Miles on Right

www.tnhomegrowntomatoes.com

48 Discover Grainger County • 2017

www.graingercounty

Discover Grainger County • 2017 49

25th Anniversary Grainger County Tomato Festival July 28, 29, & 30

7480 Rutledge Pike • Rutledge Tn 37861 Friday 28: Noon to 8pm • Saturday 29: 9am to 6pm Sunday 30: Noon to 5pm

Local Craftsmen, Artists, Authors & Musicians Living History • Music • Dance Food Vendors • 5K Run Children’s Area

g n ! i k r a P e e r F ree Admission!

F

F

t r ! e c n o C e re

ytomatofestival.com

50 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Friday, July 28

Saturday, July 29 Main Stage

11th Annual

Grainger County Opry

FREE ADMISSION Concession • Door Prizes

A donation of non-perishable food items or school supplies for local food banks is greatly appreciated!

9am - 10am................ The Mason Dixon Boys 10:15am -11:15am..... Mary Kutter 11:30am -12:30pm..... Sarah Helper 1pm - 2pm.................. Snake Holler 2:15pm - 3:15pm........ Shannon McNeal 3:30pm - 4:30pm........ N20 5pm - 6pm.................. Reggie Coleman

Gospel Stage

The Gospel Strings Brookfield Drive Masterpiece

Dance Stage (Stage 3)

10am........................... Rose Center Line Dancers 10:30am..................... Motown Cloggers 11am........................... Cumberland Gap Line Dancers 11:30am..................... Broken Spur Line Dancers 12pm........................... Dancers Unlimited 12:30am..................... Jefferson City Line Dancers 1pm............................. Pine Mountain Line Dancers 1:30pm........................ Harlan County Cloggers 2pm............................. Tennessee Foothill Cloggers 2:30pm........................ Tennessee Foothill Cloggers

...................................(Mississippi Squirrel) 3pm............................. Steppin’ Out Line Dancers ​

July 28 • 6:30pm Rutledge Middle School Hwy. 11W, Rutledge, TN

Shelby Duke Tommy White Mark Livesay Flora Brown Jesse Watson Ambra Collins Gospel Strings Madeline Hurst

Performers

Southern Bells Steadfast Grass Alexis Patterson Christin Greenlee Logan McGinnis & Friends “Minnie Pearl” Jodie Roach Special Guest “Flashback”

Saturday, July 29 at 4pm (Following Tribute Quartet)

! e e r F s It’ Tribute Free Parking • Free Admission Quartet grainger county tomato festival

www.graingercountytomatofestival.com

Opening for The McKameys

Saturday, July 29 at 4pm

Discover Grainger County • 2017 51

Saturday, July 29

Sunday, July 30

Old Time Country Church Sunday, July 30 • 9:30am

Main Stage God’s Ways Old Time Singing Music Shane Pierce Preaching

oncert!

C e e Fr

Saturday, July 29 at 7pm

Rutledge Middle School Football Field

The Charlie Daniels Band with an opening performance by

The Morrison Brothers Band Admission is FREE! Really, Really, Ripe Tomatoes!

Sat., July 29 at 10am Sun., July 30 at 2pm Behind Vo-Tech Building 5-548-2384 Contact Lisa Cabbage, 86 for more information!

An offering will be taken for the Rutledge Hands of Christ Food Bank, providing emergency for anyone in need.

Main Stage

10am........................... Rose Center Line Dancers 12pm - 1pm................ Keith Lambert 1:15pm - 2:15pm........ Homer Hart 2:30pm - 3:30pm........ Brandon Fulson 3:45pm - 5pm............. Shelby Duke

Gospel Stage

Spiritual Baptist Church

Dance Stage (Stage 3) 1pm............................. Deb McCarter (free style dancer) 1:30pm........................ Lakeway Twirlers 2:30pm........................ Tennessee Valley Cloggers

www.charliedaniels.com

Discover Grainger County • 2017 53

CHARLIE DANIELS:

Country boy, poet, fiddle player, legendary recording star ... and proud American Patriot MT. JULIET -- He has been described as a “National Treasure” ... an all-around Southern Boy with a healthy dose of Wild West cowboy and rebel thrown in for good measure.

And with a musical career spanning six decades, and with more than 20 million albums sold worldwide, legendary country music entertainer Charlie Daniels truly is an American icon.

“I can’t complain,” Charlie told the Review said during a recent interview. “I’ve got nothing to complain about. I’m a happy man. I am blessed far more than I deserve.”

Having turned 81 last October, the Wilmington, North Carolina native said that he is continually grateful to God for his health, and to his legions of fans for still “hanging in there with me” after all these years.

“Life’s good, you know? I’m doing something tonight that I never thought I’d have a chance to do,” he chuckled. “I am doing a show with somebody that’s older than I am ... Willie Nelson!”

Thanks to Steve Longmire, of Tennessee Homegrown Tomatoes, fans in this area can see The Charlie Daniels Band perform in person at the 25th annual Grainger Co. Tomato Festival in Rutledge on Saturday, July 29.

The free concert will be held at the football field adjacent to Rutledge Middle School from 7-10 p.m. and will also feature opening act Walker McGuire.

“We are really looking forward to being at the Tomato Festival, ‘cause ain’t nobody that loves homegrown ‘maters more than me!” he said.

In spite of a whirlwind of changes that the music business has undergone since his early days, Charlie Daniels has stuck to his values, doing the music he loves and that, quite obviously, his fans do, too.

“We try to do what we know,” Charlie said. “When you first start out, you often try to emulate somebody else’s stuff that you hear on the radio, and I kinda fell into that for a while. But I decided on about the fifth album I made that I was going to do my music my way. That album was called ‘Fire on the Mountain’ and it was the turning point for me. Whatever comes out of my mouth now is me, it’s who I am.”

In addition to celebrating his 81st birthday, last October brought several other milestones into Charlie’s life, not the least

of which was being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.

That same month, Charlie hosted his star-studded Volunteer Jam -- held around the time of his birthday each year and always to raise money for some worthwhile charity, most notably wounded veterans or other causes that benefit the U.S. Armed Forces -- featuring such artists as Luke Bryan, Kid Rock, Travis Tritt, Chris Stapleton, and Larry the Cable Guy. “Being on stage with all of those guys was such an honor,” Charlie said. “What a night! We had a great time.”

Charlie’s 2016 Volunteer Jam raised funds for The Journey Home Project, a non-profit veterans assistance organization which he co-founded.

It was after he was elected to the CMHOF that Charlie began to make plans to complete his official memoir.

“Never Look at the Empty Seats” (W Publishing Group/ Thomas Nelson) is scheduled for an Oct. 24, 2017 release date and speaks about the singer’s rise from the post-Depression era to becoming a Grammy-award winning and iconic member of the American music community.

“I’ve been writing this thing for years and just couldn’t find a place to stop it, because things just kept happening in my life and career that I felt like people would be interested in reading about,” Charlie said. “I just couldn’t find a place to pause it.

That is, until I found out I was going to being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame and I thought, man, what a great place to hit the ‘pause’ button, just stop it right here, name this blessing and stop writing for a while.”

But with that said, the jovial, down-to-earth, fiddle player extraordinaire who calls Mt. Juliet, Tennessee home, said he has no plans to quit anytime soon ... or even slow down, for that matter.

“If anything, I’m more fired up and determined than I’ve ever been,” he said. “I went home that night when I was inducted into the Hall of Fame and started back writing to get from that place to where it all began. And there it was, after all those years, I had finally found a place to end the book.”

The book will focus on the positives in his life, Charlie said, Continued on page 54

54 Discover Grainger County • 2017

The free show with The Charlie Daniels Band and opening act Walker McGuire will begin at 7 p.m. on Sat., July 29 at Rutledge Middle School Football Field.

Concert-goers should bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

Charlie Daniels’ book, “Never Look at the Empty Seats” is scheduled to release in Oct. 2017.

From page 53 in addition to containing many rare, never-before-seen photos and some sage advice from a seasoned pro to those “youngsters” interested in getting into the music business as a career.

“Quite a bit is known about my public life but there is so much more I’ve wanted to share with my fans about my early years, my faith, my struggles and the unique people and events that have had such an impact on who I am and what I do for a living,” he said.

The book, however, is not his first.

In 2003 he published, “It Ain’t No Rag, It’s a Flag”, a spinoff from his 2001 song of the same title, written in response to the cowardly 9/11 attacks on America, in which he unloaded a double-barrel of patriotism and red, white and blue pride on flag burners, and the liberal, left-wing, anti-war, anti-America crowd.

While basically a “country” entertainer, Charlie’s music runs the spectrum from ‘Southern Rock’ to bluegrass to gospel.

His peers, in a respectful way, say that Charlie has had more hit records than a southern hound dog has fleas. His multiple Grammy, CMA, ACM, BMI, GMA Dove and CCMA awards

speak to the truth of that statement.

Several of his albums and singles have been certified multiplatinum, included his toe-tapping “platinum” #1 fiddle hit, “The Devil Went Down To Georgia.”

Among his other now-classic hit singles are “The South’s Gonna Do It Again”, “Uneasy Rider”, “Long-Haired Country Boy”, “Summer of 68”, “In America”, “The Legend of Wooley Swamp”, “Simple Man”, and “Mister DJ”.

Charlie’s latest CD, “Night Hawk”, is a tribute to the life of a working cowboy.

“I’ve been working to pick up enough tunes to do that album for the past 15-20 years,” he said. “I have great admiration and respect for those guys, both back through history and today.”

An outspoken flag-waving unapologetic American Patriot, Charlie makes no excuses for his unwavering support of the men and women of the United States’ Armed Forces.

“I love America, I love the Lord, and I love what America is supposed to be,” he said. “But I am very, very concerned about our country right now. I don’t claim to be a Democrat or Republican because I vote for the person, not the party. I feel like

Discover Grainger County • 2017 55

Charlie visiting troops in the Middle East. we have become so party-oriented that they have forgotten about ‘we the people’. They’re so busy trying to make their parties look good that ‘we the people’ don’t matter anymore. What is going on in Washington right now is disgusting. They wanted a special prosecutor, now you got him! Go back to work and let’s fix the roads! Do your jobs and stop wasting the taxpayers’ time and money!”

In addition to his music, Charlie regularly writes his hardhitting, conservative- and faith-based “Soapbox” articles that are featured on his website, www.charliedaniels.com.

“Conservatives and people of faith are so much in the minority now that the liberal left is working in overdrive to dismiss them, to shut them up and shut them down,” he said. “Of course, I think some people are starting to catch on, but some people are just like lug nuts, they ain’t ever going to catch on.

People have been telling me for 40 years that global warming is going to ruin the country, that New York Harbor was going to flood Manhattan, and they even predicted a date! Well, here it is 40 years later and New York Harbor ain’t flooded, Manhattan is still there, so what’s the big deal? I want our roads fixed. I want to see our military as strong as it can be. I’m scared for my kids. But no, they’ve got to go around trying to make both sides look bad.

If I had my way we’d fire every damn one of them and start over again!”

Charlie believes that both parties are just as guilty of stirring

the pot of political discord.

“They are focusing on all of this mess that don’t amount to a hill of beans,” he said. “We should be able to look at England, France and Germany and see what ‘open door policies’ have done to them. Certainly, not everyone is bad but it don’t take but just a few bad ones to destroy a country. Europe has allowed that openborder policy to let in these radicals who have now radicalized a whole new generation of young people, and its coming home to roost.”

Charlie ended the interview with the classic lines that he always uses to close his Soap Box articles: “Pray for our troops. God bless America!”

The free show with The Charlie Daniels Band and opening act Walker McGuire will begin at 7 p.m. on Sat., July 29.

Concert-goers should bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on.

For more information on the Charlie Daniels Band visit www.charliedaniels.com.

For more information on the Tomato Festival visit www.graingercountytomatofestival.com.

By Tommy Campbell

Editor & Publisher

56 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Smith’s Drugs

The cover of the 2018 Grainger County Calendar of Historic Places features Smith’s Drugs.

The calendar is a project of the Grainger County Historic Society.

Wendy Leedy:

breathing life back into the historic structures

L

Local artist Wendy Leedy has once again captured part of Grainger County’s history with a calendar for the Grainger County Historical Society.

“The calendar is a fund raising project of the Grainger County Historic Society,” Leedy said.

“We did one in 2016 and we skipped last year, said Leedy, the owner of The Frame House, located at 4048 Rocky Springs Road in Bean Station.

“It’s 12 new images and I drew them all. They’re from all over the areas of the county, from this side of the mountain and across the mountain,” she said.

“Smith’s Drug Store is on the cover. We’ve got one of the round barn that’s over at Powder Springs,” she said.

“We’re doing the brick house at Highland Springs that was

used by one of the generals during the Civil War. I’ve done one of the old courthouse and a couple of the old churches in the area,” Leedy said.

“One of the pages is Nance’s Ferry. The interesting thing about that is that it was constructed years and years and years ago and it crossed the Holston River down at Blaine and it was in operation until the mid-1970s. It cost something like 25 or 50 cents,” she said.

“There are several images that are drawn this year that are on the National Registry – the Nance House, Henderson Chapel and Highland Springs. And they’re still standing,” Leedy said.

Also depicted are the Dotson School and Crosby Homeplace.

Each month’s illustration is a detailed pencil drawing and

Discover Grainger County • 2017 57

Caleb Crosby Homeplace

Caleb Crosby Homeplace: Built by Caleb Crosby circa 1830, the original structure was the brick house on the left.

The wooden addition was added by Thomas D. Crosby over seventy years later. The structure also served as a stopping place for the Morristown Cumberland Gap train also known as the Peavine Railroad.

The original site is now under the waters of Cherokee Lake near the Grainger -Hamblen County line. includes information about the historic structure.

“One unique feature is that there is also a map on the calendar indicating where these places are or were located in the county,” Leedy said.

The artist enjoys breathing life back into the historic structures.

“I love going and finding these old homes and walking around,” she said. “Every time I had to do a calendar drawing, if the place was still standing, I’d try to go to it and just walk around. It’s amazing the aura that you absorb when you go with the right attitude. When I do a building, it’s like bringing it back to life.”

Henderson Memorial Methodist Church

The Henderson Memorial Methodist Church was built in 1848 using materials from Grainger County’s first courthouse on land donated by heirs of Dr. Joseph Hoffmeister. The Henderson Memorial Chapel AME Zion Church in Rutledge is currently on the National Register of Historic Places.

Calendars will sell for $10.

“The calendars will be sold at my booth inside the elementary school at the Tomato Festival (July 28-30) as well as at the booth of the Grainger County Historic Society,” Leedy said.

Don’t wait too long to buy your own piece of Grainger County history. The first calendar sold out in no time.

Historic places illustrations and information courtesy of Wendy Leedy

By Jim Beller

Discover Grainger County Contributor

Round Barn at Powder Springs The Round barn at Powder Springs was on the north side of Clinch Mountain. It was built by Bill White for Archibald Mullins, the great-great-grandfather of the wife of James Acuff.

58 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Clinchdale Clinchdale: This home and over 4,000 acres belonged to Senator John K. Shields (1856 - 1934). Senator Shields served in Congress from 1913 to 1925. The home-site is currently covered by the waters of Cherokee Lake.

Historic places illustrations and information courtesy of Wendy Leedy

Dodson’s School

Discover Grainger County • 2017 59

Highland Springs Highland Springs was built by Jeremiah Jarnagin ffin 1824 for his daughter, Mahala, when she married William Williamson. Their daughter married into the Akans family in 1850. The property remains in the Akans family and is currently owned and maintained by George and Pat Akans.

Nance’s Ferry Nance’s Ferry crossed the Holston River between Blaine and New Market. It began operation during the 1790’s and was handed down through seven generations of the Nance family. The ferry was made of cypress and pine bolted to steel gunwales. When the river was high, the ferry crossed in under two minutes carried by the current. If the river was low, the ferry was pulled across by an overhead cable system. Wilson Nance operated the ferry for 50 cents a ride well into the 1970’s.

60 Discover Grainger County • 2017

Tomato Festival attendees will have the chance to meet Charles the Pig firsthand and purchase his book and other items.

Charles the Pig

RUTLEDGE – Charles the Pig is coming to the Tomato Festival.

“He’s a survivor of the Smoky Mountain fire,” said Grainger County artist Wendy Leedy. “I’m going to do a drawing of him and just give the family the prints. Maybe it will help them get their house built.”

Last year on Monday, Nov. 28, a wildfire exploded near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Sevier County resident, Rob Holmes, described his family’s situation on Facebook.

“We were trapped at our house Monday night. The weather turned for the worst and literally all HELL broke loose,” Holmes said.

“The trees snapped and the power lines dangled over our driveway. We could not get the cars out and the smoke was so bad, our 18-month-old son, Wyatt, was having a hard time breathing,” he said.

“Power company said we had fire around us and to get out how ever we could. So we left with the clothes we were wearing and put a blanky around Wyatt’s face (and) we headed out in the wind and smoke,” Holmes said.

“We made it to our neighbor’s house (and) we loaded four dogs , one cat, Wyatt and four adults (into their car) and we headed out,” he said.

“It seemed like we were driving through hell.

The spur was engulfed with fire. After dodging fires trying to get to Smoky Mountain Shakes-N-Dawgs where my mother was, we couldn’t get there. So we all met in a hotel,” Holmes said.

In their last-second escape in their neighbor’s car, the Holmes were unable to bring along their pet pig, Charles.

“My daughter, Andrea, cried all night, feeling guilty for leaving Charles,” Holmes said.

“He is a family member,” Leedy said. “He was not for food.

The family was able to get out, but they couldn’t get back to get Charles. He buried himself as best he could in the dirt and the fire went over the top of him.”

“The next day my neighbor, Tim, called me and said he was sorry, there was nothing left of our home,” Holmes said. “But Charles the Pig was alive.”

Holmes made it back to his home the following day.

“I couldn’t believe my eyes. Charles had burrowed in the mud to survive. The Lord let us keep Charles. How else could he survived 800+ degree temperatures? The alloy rims were melted off the car!” Holmes said.

“I heard the Sevier County fairgrounds were helping care for farm animals, so we brought Charles there.

He was not well when I brought him. He wouldn’t eat and was dehydrated with some burns. Dr. (George) Cline came to the rescue from Parkway Animal Clinic,” Holmes said.

Vets and volunteers cared for animals injured and displaced by the fires.

For the rest of November and into December, fire raged down the mountains toward Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, burning close to 18,000 acres, killing at least 14 people and destroying some 2,500 structures before flames were finally extinguished in mid-December.

Eventually, Charles was taken to University of Tennessee Veterinary Medical Center, where he made an amazing recovery and an anonymous donor paid for all of Charles’ medical bills.

Discover Grainger County • 2017 61

To help pay for all the things his family lost in the fire, Rob, a longtime artist, and his wife, Amy, wrote a children’s book called, “The Miraculous Story of Charles the Pig,” the story of his survival and resilience, how he stayed alive during the fire and his arduous recovery at UT Veterinary Medical Center.

Charles the Pig even has his own Facebook page, where the book is available.

Tomato Festival attendees will have the chance to meet Charles the Pig firsthand and purchase his book and other items.

“They’ll be selling his little children’s book and I’ll be doing his prints,” Leedy said. “They’ve got little stuffed animals, too.

Charles has recovered and is doing well. He’ll be on the porch at the elementary school.”

“We lost everything materialistic,” Holmes said. “But we had what was most important: OUR LIVES!” Including that of their beloved Charles the Pig, whose story is now helping restore normalcy to those lives.

By Jim Beller

Discover Grainger County Contributor

facebook.com/charlesthepig

DISCOVER

62 Discover Grainger County • 2017

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