McFarlin to Write Book

Who knew? Shannon McFarlin has been contracted by the Tennessee River Resort Act (TRRA) board to write the first comprehensive history of Camp Tyson. Interested individuals may contact Shannon at 731-642-3372 or send her an e-mail at mcfarlin0@gmail.com.

Duck River Temple Mounds

Who knew? "In Tennessee there are four large and several smaller (Indian) mounds surrounding a large plaza called Duck River Temple Mounds near Hurricane Mills. A central mound flanked by 13 smaller mounds is called Mound Bottom near Kingston Springs. The earliest site in the state is called Obion Mounds near Parios and is also situated around a central plaza." Source – Sacred Places in North America by Brad Olsen, page 355.

White Christmas

Who knew that shortly after WTPR-AM went on the air in 1947, the annual White Christmas program at Lee School began to be broadcast “live”? The entire student body would gather in the cavernous hall and sing into a large microphone. Excitement and temperature was high and some student usually fainted. Source – Ray Harding

Helicopter Political Stunt

Who knew that in on August 2, 1954, an aircraft landed on the Court Square? Pat Sutton, a candidate for the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, landed a helicopter on Washington Street in front of The Toggery. A big crowd gathered; most came to see the helicopter. He lost to Estes Kefauver. Source PI archives and Ray Harding (I was there)

Gene Richardson Linked to Beethoven

Who knew that when Gene Richardson’s piano students perform in their May 19 recital, their technique can be attributed in part to Beethoven? The unbroken line of teachers goes from Richardson to May Corum, to George Proctor of Boston, to Leschetizky of Austria, and to Czerny, who was a student of Ludwig van Beethoven in Austria. Source - Gene Richardson. Submitted by Ray Harding

Pre-microwave Wonder

Who knew that in the early 1950s an Electrical Exposition was held under a tent just west of the A.C. Jackson home on Highway 54? Billed as a “wonder of tomorrow”, a hand-held device was aimed at an egg in a skillet. As the crowd watched, the egg was cooked in the open with little heating of the skillet. It would be 20 years before microwave ovens became practical. Source - recollections of Ray Harding

Dr. Robert Adams in a Vanderbilt Commercial

Who Knew? Dr. Robert Adams of Paris is in a Vanderbilt heart commercial currently running on Nashville television stations. Who knew? (Source - Rick Conger)