I remember being a child, attending Disney World and staying in the 'Dixie Land' hotel complex. Millions of visitors flocked to this facility when it was unveiled in 1992. It's Antebellum South theme was warm with manicured gardens, mint julips and southern charm. It was even equipped with it's own steam boat. The facility boasted a full size fictional newspaper and like with all of Disney's great parks, had a backstory rich with culture and history including the sounds of a jazz band playing in the streets. Over time, the questionable way Disney presented our nation's past has been poked and prodded. Statues being removed, and history being forgotten. Did you know about the history of this park? While it was enjoyed by all for almost a decade, it came under fire for its connection to it's confederate roots. The property even boasted a building which was designed to be a cotton mill. It was all tasteful, however, it was soon absorbed by the growing Disney portion known as Port Orleans. Dixie would fade into the darkness by 2002, never to been seen again. Slowly, over the years everything Dixie has been removed. With the newest addition to the list being Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede, now shortened to just Dolly Parton's Stampede. The Dixie Stampede Dinner Show is a staple in Branson, Orlando and Pigeon Forge and made a fun night for visitors in town. It was often voted the most fun place to eat in the smokies. I was able to attend this performance, and while it was not the most educational dinner, it touched on the connection that the native americans had to the Appalachian mountains which has been almost completely cut out of everything in this area. Both sides of the arena would split, half would be the north and the other half the south. Now, while we may not be proud of some of our American past, we are certainly not able to censor what parts of it we keep and which to remove. Removing the name, and changing the themes will not make the situations better, or educate people for any higher purpose, so why remove the names? Those who do not remember their past, and their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. What do you remember from your childhood which was also censored?
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Tennessee Ancestry Certificate Program
Do you have deep Tennessee Roots? Join us in recognizing the contributions of your Tennessee settler ancestors (before 1880.) The Tennessee Genealogical Society will provide an attractive certificate, suitable for framing, with the prime ancestor's name, date and place of settlement, to each person whose application meets program qualifications. We invite you to place your ancestor(s) in this roll of honor. Certificates are issued for one of five settlement periods: Colonial -- prior to 1 June 1796 Territorial -- prior to 15 June 1836 Antebellum -- prior to 6 May 1861 Civil War -- 1861-1865 or applied for TN Confederate War Pension Nineteenth Century -- prior to 31 Dec 1900 Click here --> Certificate Instructions for the application form and instructions. The cost of a Certificate is $20. Beginning January 1, 2018, the cost will be $30. Please print and complete the Certificate Application form and send it, along with your payment, to our office: Tennessee Genealogical Society PO Box 381824 Germantown, TN 38183-1824 OR Save the file to your computer and e-mail it to [email protected] AND Pay on-line at our store TNGS Store Questions: [email protected] HISTORY of the Certificate Program The Tennessee Ancestry Certificate Program was initiated during the 1986 Tennessee Homecoming Celebration. Under the program developed by Amelia (Pike) Eddlemon and Lincoln Johnson, certificates of ancestry are issued to persons providing documentary proof (family charts or computer printouts are not considered sufficient proof) that their ancestors resided in the area that is now Tennessee at any time from the first settlement in 1769 through the year 1880. Applications for the certificates have come from thousands of persons across the country and overseas -- all of them proud to proclaim their Tennessee ancestry. Click Here For More Information "The Road to Nowhere"In the 1930s and 1940s, Swain County gave up the majority of its private land to the Federal Government for the creation of Fontana Lake and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Fontana Lake is actually a reservoir for Fontana Dam, which was built as a TVA project during World War II to produce electricity for ALCOA aluminum plants in Tennessee as well as for Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Manhattan Project. Hundreds of people were forced to leave the small Smoky Mountain communities that had been their homes for generations. With the creation of the Park, their homes were gone, and so was Old Highway 288 the road to those communities. The old road was buried beneath the deep waters of Fontana Lake. Fontana Dam Facts and History
The Federal government promised to replace Highway 288 with a new road. Lakeview Drive was to have stretched along the north shore of Fontana Lake, from Bryson City to Fontana, 30 miles to the west. And, of special importance to those displaced residents, it was to have provided access to the old family cemeteries where generations of ancestors remained behind. But Lakeview Drive fell victim to an environmental issue and construction was stopped, with the road ending at a tunnel, about six miles into the park. The environmental issue was eventually resolved, but the roadwork was never resumed. And Swain County's citizens gave the unfinished Lakeview Drive its popular, unofficial name "The Road To Nowhere." On weekends throughout the summer, the Park Service still ferries groups of Swain County residents across Fontana Lake to visit their old family cemeteries for Decoration Days and family reunions. The legal issue of whether to build the road was finally resolved in February, 2010 when the US Department of Interior signed a settlement agreement to pay Swain County $52 million in lieu of building the road. Congressman Heath Shuler, a Bryson City native, was the driving force in bringing the settlement to fruition. The people were moved, the water rose, and by the 1970s — thirty years after the original agreement was made — only a small portion of the road was built. This small section, still there today, is about seven miles long and ends abruptly at a quarter-mile tunnel in the middle of the park, in the middle of nowhere. With no road, a consolation prize of $52 million was agreed to be paid to Swain County. As of today only $12 million has been paid, and the county has filed a lawsuit for the remainder of the promised money. It’s no wonder one landowner has maintained his now-iconic sign: “Welcome to the Road to Nowhere – A broken Promise! 1943 - ? →” Just beyond the tunnel if you do get a chance to make the journey are some awesome hiking trails like Lakeview Drive Trail, Whiteoak Branch Trail, Forney Creek Trail, Goldmine Loop, and Tunnel Bypass Trail. Cox's Mill in Jefferson County, Tennessee, United States. Around 1792 this land was settled by William Cox and a grist mill was ran here. The building was constructed from 1798-1803 by Cox, a Revolutionary War soldier. The mill is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Mill Creek would of been what the area was called back then. Right nearby is Mill Creek Spring. Research also has shown that a post office was ran here from 1848 to 1901. This was a merchant mill that played a part in the westward expansion through Eastern Tennessee prior to the discovery and development of the Cumberland Gap. The brick mill building was converted to a studio by Stewart Worden. In 2011, it is currently owned by Lou Mogavero. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, 1983. When visiting in 2016 we had met a familiar face from our travels in East Tennessee funny thing was we had run into this man earlier in the day at Glenmore Mansion in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Our new friend knew we were serious about history, and it seemed Cox's Mill was getting some upgrades added to it while it's owners were out of state. Randy I believe his name was, Randy the mystery man let us in for a all access tour of the site. He showed us the entire process how the mill would have worked and where the water had come from. He led us through the different levels of the mill, for interesting to see how one can make a historical place like a mill and incorporate a personal studio inside. Top 5 things Panda and I want, is to own a historic place that we can preserve and take care of ourselves and keep the legacy going. So very cool to see the possibilities.. whether it be a old home, factory, mill or hospital. Important thing is this community cares about it's local history and they are doing their part. Is your community doing their part to raise awareness about historic structures in your area that need attention? If you know a historic building that needs to be saved in your community, drop us a line at [email protected] and or DM on Instagram Mikethehikingguide. The historical marker reads as the following, A Revolutionary War veteran wounded at the Battle of King's Mountain on October 1, 1780, William Cox Sr. built Cox Mill, a grist mill, on this site about 1792. He was an "Overmountain Man" living in Watauga in 1775. As a delegate from Washington County to the constitutional convention at Jonesborough in 1784, he voted for the formation of the State of Franklin. He was appointed Jefferson County Magistrate by Governor William Blount in 1792 and by Governor John Sevier in 1796. Cox Mill was in continuous operation for over 150 years and also served as a post office from 1848 to 1901. We shape our buildings; thereafter, our buildings shape us Winston Churchill #hikedontwalk #coxmill #jeffcounty #jeffersoncity #jeffco #easttennessee #historicplaces #millsprings #patriot #historicarchaeology #mikethehikingguide #blogdaily #adventure 1240 Fielden's Store Rd
Jefferson City , TN USA 37760 Samuel McSpadden Revolutionary War Veteran. He enlisted from Rockbridge County VA. He served under Capt. Campbell’s Company of Col. Dickerson’s Virginia Regiment and later in Capt. McDowell’s Company of Col. Donley’s Regiment. After the war he migrated to Jefferson County, where the ancestral home still stands on the banks of the French Broad River (now Douglas Lake). He was famous for making gun powder for Gen. Andrew Jackson for the Battle of New Orleans. The home is recognized by the Tennessee Historical Commission and identified by a historical marker containing this inscription: Samuel McSpadden, powdermaker and Revolutionary War veteran, built this house in 1804, and died here on August 3, 1844. From a crude powder mill located 1/4 mile north he sent flatboats loaded with gunpowder to New Orleans, where General Andrew Jackson used it in the Battle of New Orleans, the last major battle of the War of 1812. His first wife was Sarah Keys of Virginia who died shortly after giving birth to his first child (Child later died and buried in VA.) He later remarried Nancy Harris of Tennessee. You can see a little piece of history yourself, check out where the War of 1812 Patriot spent his last years. Some locals even say they recall remembering old stories of General Andrew Jackson riding on horse back to visit Samuel. Jackson didn't become president until 1829 -1837. Classic Roadside America! If you are ever heading through Knoxville and traveling east stop off the Smoky Mountain exit to a left on Douglas Dam Rd this is the most direct route to the house, it will be on your right hand side. For a more scenic drive you will be surprised at the beauty and rolling hills on the way if you pass Douglas Dam Rd and Take a left on Old Douglas Dam Rd just a few more miles south, it still leads back to 139(Douglas Dam). You will find yourself driving past The Douglas Dam where farms and cemeteries were drowned under water from the creation of the dam in the 1940's by the Tennessee Valley Authority. TVA built the dam in record time in the early 1940s to meet emergency energy demands at the height of World War II. #roadsideamerica #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #mikethehikingguide #blogger #revolutionarywar #war1812 #generaljackson References: www.findagrave.com GPS: N 35° 58.215', W 83° 30.472'
Wiley Oakley He was a man whose name became an icon in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Many described him as a simple, hard-working, and good-natured individual who was quick to help anyone who found themselves in need and at his doorway. It was this simple man, however, whose intimate knowledge of the forbidding and dangerously isolated region of the Smokies would open up what many Americans thought was a place better left to the few hardy natives who called it home. His efforts as a guide in the region would set new standards for those who followed in his footsteps and there were many, but, as long as he lived, there was none better than he and such reputations don’t come easy. When the nation finally exerted its efforts to harness the power and resources of the mountain range, he began a second career of sorts that would not only make his name a household word in the small city of Gatlinburg, but become one that would echo throughout the nation as the unofficial ambassador of the Great Smoky Mountains. Wiley Oakley was born on Sept. 12, 1885 to Henry Coleman and Elmina Conner Oakley at the base of Mount LeConte. He was one of nine children born to the mountain family and they made their home in a simple cabin farm. Henry Oakley lived off of the land and made a little extra cash money working as the local postman in Gatlinburg. As was the case with most mountain children, all were expected to help on the farm as soon as they could and the work was hard and sometimes brutal. The family was traditionally close-knit and the parents saw to their children’s education in the old-time traditions of the mountains. With only a few books available in the entire region, the Bible was their primary grammar primer and the children learned their letters from it as well as the ability to memorize and recite lengthy passages from its texts. They were also a religious family who attended the White Oak Flats Baptist Church regularly and took an active part in the Gatlinburg community . Wiley Oakley’s father was a hardy mountaineer who had been raised in the mountains and spent a good deal of time among the local Cherokee. From them and his own parents, he had learned of the medicinal herbs and food sources available in the mountains and it had taught him the woodsman’s ability of living with the land and not against it – something Wiley would eventually master in the Smoky Mountains and become a life-long pursuit. Disaster suddenly struck the Oakley family with the death of Elmina while Wiley was still a young boy. His mother’s passing had a profound affect on Wiley and, to deal with his grief, the child began wandering the hills and hollows of the mountains as if looking for her. In his later recollections, he would speak of trying to climb the highest peaks to see if he could catch a glimpse of her in heaven. His father’s strength as a man kept the family close and little Wiley soon began following his every step on the mountain trails. As was the way with the old-timers, everything was a lesson and, from the littlest insect to the raging waters off of the mountain peaks, his father would use to make a lesson or take time to point out the herbs and plants, which could be used for medicine. The young Wiley proved to be an avid student of his father’s teachings. Henry Oakley’s hard work did bring a measure of prosperity to the family and they were able to build a bigger, more comfortable home to accommodate the large family. With a huge family to feed, Wiley also took up the responsibility at an early age of hunting and fishing the remote backwoods to help keep meat on the table and was soon regarded as one of the best hunters in the Smoky Mountains. A deer hoof slip on a game trail, flora or fauna freshly bent forward, or grass springing back into position would be things an untrained eye would not notice, but to young Wiley they were pages of a book that told him the story of the animal he was tracking and the direction it was going. He knew the best places for them to gather, the watering holes, and which way the winds were blowing to keep his scent away from the game he was tracking. In the process, he discovered unique features of the mountains and blazed private paths where only a man on foot could travel. As the young boy’s continued wanderings took him to the mountains’ tallest peaks, deepest hollows, and numerous ridges, he began to come to an understanding of the region that only a precious few had ever known. His father, who Wiley fondly remembered for his white-beard and mountaineer appearance, took great trust in his son’s ability as a woodsman and instructed him in the ways a father does a son. He taught Wiley how to use firearms and knives in the old mountain traditions and Wiley’s reputation as a hunter continued to grow. He also taught his son the rich oral history of the Smoky Mountains. The lessons captured the imagination of the young boy and Wiley became a fountain of knowledge on the old stories – as well as an accomplished story teller himself. Wiley Oakley’s abilities hid an artistic side of him that few would know until later years. While he taught himself to read and write, he also taught himself music, how to paint, and how to make most anything by hand. The easy-going nature of Wiley Oakley and his personable warmth was infectious to everyone who met him. His good-natured personality made him one of the most liked individuals in Gatlinburg. His roaming eventually brought him to the door of a local lady and soon he married Rebecca Ann and started a family. Wiley provided well for his growing family much the same way as his father had before him, except Wiley was developing an excellent career as a guide and unknowingly sowing the seeds of a new type of industry in the region – that of attracting visitors to his beloved land to see the wonders of the Great Smoky mountains. It allowed him to build a family home on Gatlinburg’s main street, which was still then a dirt road. Wiley’s home also featured a shop of his hand-crafted works and gifts. When he wasn’t working on a project, selling to customers or guiding hunters, he was always "roamin", as he called it, through the mountains and hollows of the Smokies. Hunters and sport fishermen in Knoxville, Nashville, and other cities on both sides of the mountains soon began searching him out to guide them through the maze of mountains to the best hunting spots. What they found in Wiley wasn’t what many expected from guides. Wiley Oakley’s knowledge extended beyond where to find the best trout, deer, bears, and wild boars. He knew the plants, the trees, and seemingly every blade of grass. He even knew secret places in the mountains to hide and wait out storms or sudden changes in weather. As his guide reputation grew, he soon found himself conducting Governors, Congressmen, businessmen, and celebrities from all parts of the nation into the forbidding mountains to hunt. The stories they brought back to their homes encouraged others to travel to the region to meet Wiley Oakley. Letters poured into his little Gatlinburg shop from across the nation. They ranged from people he had guided on tours thanking him to writers wanting to meet and record the wealth of knowledge he had gained throughout his life in the region. When the "official" federal movement began forming the Smoky Mountains into a national park, scientists from Knoxville and the Smithsonian Institution hired Wiley Oakley as a guide and were simply astounded at his ability to show them numerous plants, flora, and ferns never before catalogued in America. His knowledge of every possible nook and cranny in the mountain folds was priceless to them and he soon became a major consultant in the Park’s formation. Surveyors called on him repeatedly to help establish the Park boundaries. With all of the guiding and help he provided the government in the process, Wiley Oakley found himself becoming a national treasure. To help promote the region to tourists, the mountaineer found himself "roamin’" outside the boundaries of his beloved home and to places like Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C. where his homespun stories attracted a national audience. His poetic descriptions of the physical beauty of the Smokies was second only to the old stories of the people of the Smoky Mountains he told. The Oakley voice that spoke those oral histories carried the unique lilt and dialect native to East Tennessee and reawakened the national spirit of self-reliance and rugged individualism. Radio stations in major cities across America carried them and the little city of Gatlinburg soon became known as a destination stop for a growing number of American travelers – most of which wanted a chance to meet old Wiley Oakley and hear him spin the tales of the Smokies. His popularity earned him a nickname as the "Will Rogers of the South" and a popular radio guest in his day. He and his wife continued to bring their family up in the Oakley traditions of hard work, community service, and religious values. He saw that his 12 children received as good an education as they could get in the mountain community and also took time to teach his children the things he was taught as a child. His family was always his first responsibility. Wiley Oakley never became caught up in the celebrity reputation. He was always himself and never tried to be any more or less to the thousands of people he met. When danger came to his family home,Wiley was said to be as stoic as the mountains he loved. As the nation was torn apart by the guns of World War II, Wiley, the father, saw off six of his sons and one son-in-law to the battlefields to serve their nation. Relatives said he prayed every night for their safety, did whatever he could to help in the war effort, and was standing there to welcome his sons home when they returned. The war also made its presence felt in the Smoky Mountains while Wiley’s sons were overseas. In 1944, Wiley wrote of being approached by a distraught woman whose husband had been one of five military officers to disappear over the Smoky Mountains in an airship that reportedly crashed in the area. She had heard he was the best and wanted to hire Wiley to help her look for him. It was January and the weather was subject to change at a moments notice. Maybe it was the thoughts of his own sons in the war or his childhood quest to find his mother among the mountain peaks that led the Gatlinburg, TN native to accept the job, gather his things and set off with someone who knew little about the land in front of them. With what little knowledge she had of the wreck, she set out with Wiley Oakley and kept pace with him the entire way covering anywhere from ten to fifteen miles a day on foot. The mountaineer noted the lady had a powerful set of German-made binoculars and Wiley wrote of the determination in her eyes to find her husband or his body. The woman never gave up hopes of finding him, but, when she finally had to call off the search and return home, Wiley Oakley watched her go with a great sadness and respect. It was during this time that the Smoky Mountains he loved so well had begun changing dramatically. It wasn’t so much the preservation of the Smokies into a national park that was changing the legendary land of his youth, but the developing economic conditions and landscapes brought on by the Tennessee Valley Authority and companies like the Aluminum Company of America. The lumber camps, the mines, and the mountain settlements where natives had long found employment began disappearing and many families, who had resided for generations on the land, had to leave their homes and start over building a new life in places that were strange to them. They abandoned many of their customs to adapt and, as a result, many of their stories and histories disappeared in the succeeding generations. By the 1950s, Wiley Oakley had achieved almost legendary status among the region’s natives. From the city of Gatlinburg, TN to the inner reaches of the Cherokee Nation, the mountaineer was regarded as the principal source of information on the mountains. His reputation among the Cherokee was particularly noteworthy as he was for all intents and purposes regarded by many of them as an unofficial member of the tribe who wandered freely on the Reservation. His years in the mountains had earned him numerous friends among them. At many places, his money was no good to them as the old mountaineer had often brought meat to their tables in hard times or graciously shared what he had with them. As a life-long student of the mountains, it wasn’t unheard of him as a young man sharing camps with the Cherokee hunting parties in the mountains and trading stories. Following World War II and the further establishment of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a prosperous nation and newly expanding highway system saw American tourism become a lucrative industry as thousands of people people began descending on the Smoky Mountain region and the city of Gatlinburg, TN. Wiley Oakley’s fame continued to grow as America began choosing the mountains as their primary holiday destination to camp, hike, fish, and travel the many wilderness trails. Wiley continued to travel and speak across the nation about the Smoky Mountains, writing articles about his experiences for magazines, and becoming a fixture in newspaper columns as a primary source of knowledge and information. Wiley even penned a couple of books on his experience and travels in the Smoky Mountains, which became an instant classic among scholars studying the region’s cultures. With his mountain string band and weekly performances at his Gatlinburg shop, Wiley and his family’s efforts helped bring the culture and traditions of the Smoky Mountains to life, which attracted other businesses and helped make Gatlinburg one of the more popular tourist locations in the South. It was always his talents and abilities as a guide in the Smoky Mountain wilderness, however, that earned him his greatest reputation and a place in the annals of American history. As time wore on, the "Roamin Man of the Mountains" began feeling the wear of life and was soon diagnosed with cancer. As in his youth and rigorous life, his waning years battling the disease set an example of courage and strength for his family and friends. The self-educated Gatlinburg mountaineer who had literally brought the world to his door and opened an new era in American tourism, finally lost his battle with cancer. On Nov. 18, 1954, Wiley Oakley quietly passed away and was laid to rest in White Oak Flats Cemetery in his beloved Gatlinburg. While many people over the years had written of Wiley Oakley and characterized the mountaineer in so many different ways, the words delivered in eulogy by Tennessee Congressman and Democratic Whip J. Piercy Priest served as a lasting and honorable tribute to the life and times of the Smoky Mountains’ Wiley Oakley. "Let us raise in the hushed stillness of the mountains a simple but rugged memorial to the memory of one who was and is the living spirit of the Great Smoky Mountains. As the years pass, the name and fame of Wiley Oakley will become legendary. But he was infinitely more than a legend. In his unhurried life was reflected the serenity of the hills, rock-ribbed and eternal, from which he drew his quiet strength. In character, he was sturdy and stalwart as the tall pines that crown the wind-swept peaks; and the sincerity of his humility sprang from a deep and genuine sense of gratitude for the bounties, the blessings and the teachings of nature and nature’s God. From these teachings, he developed an understanding heart and mind, and a soul so sensitive to his primeval environment, that in his own life from season to season, could be envisioned the ever-changing moods of the mountains. The imprint of his personality is indelibly inscribed in the hearts of thousands, great and small, who knew him and were privileged to share his companionship. In the years to come, million will pause to read words that may be chiseled in bronze or marble on a memorial marker high in the mountains...and roamin’, somewhere nearby, will be the immortal spirit of Wiley Oakley. He was a man, take him all in all, we shall not look on his like again." There are numerous place names and roads found in the Gatlinburg today that honor Wiley Oakley as well as a plaque at the Gatlinburg Welcome Center. His descendants are numerous and most still reside in the region. Special thanks for this story has to go to the National Park Service, The Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, the Tennessee State Library and Archives, and numerous Wiley Oakley descendants in Sevier County., who each had countless stories of their father’s colorful life in the Smoky Mountains. The books mentioned in the story written by Wiley Oakley are available in many locations throughout the region. One retrospective of Wiley Oakley’s life "Rememberin’ the Roamin’ Man of the Mountains" is written by Oakley’s son Harvey Oakley, who spent his career with the National Park Service in Gatlinburg and includes valuable excerpts from the thousands of letters the Gatlinburg native received throughout his life as well as numerous photographs of Oakley and his family. Wiley Oakley may be best remembered for his knowledge of the Smoky Mountains and his home-spun wit that enthralled America, but scholars of the National Park System and others will tell you his efforts accomplished something entirely unique that would set the Great Smoky Mountains National Park apart from every other one in the nation. Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Parks of the Northwest and Alaska are all known for their natural environmental wonders and the focus of the U.S. Government is primarily on the preservation of terrain features and the scientific study of them. The Great Smoky Mountains, however, is a Park system where the unique people who called it home – not the forests that sheltered them – have been the traditional focus of study and its main attraction thanks,in part, to Wiley Oakley and to Horace Kephart’s work "Our Southern Highlanders." It was the first in a long string of publications that documented the unique brand of people who inhabited the region. A population never heard from, but with traditional family roots intact that , in many cases, can be traced to colonial times – an object of fascination to many American scholars since it was first written about by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt in his book "The Winning of the West." While things have evolved over the years and scientific study is becoming more of a focus with NPS officials in the Park, it is the culture of the mountaineers and the Cherokee that still draw hundreds of thousands of tourists each year to the region and new efforts are underway in many regions to preserve the traditional skills and handicrafts of the era. When the Great Smoky Mountain National Park unveiled its new auditorium last year, it also debuted a new introductory film for visitors to the Park. Sprinkled in among the scenic views and wildlife was a section devoted to the hardy mountaineer culture that once pervaded the region. The voice and interview used to help tell the story was 93-year-old Gatlinburg native Lucinda Ogle- the daughter of none other than Wiley Oakley. #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #mountainman #wileyoakley #gatlinburg #easttennessee
References: http://www.tennesseehistory.com/class/wileyoakley.html and visitmysmokies.com
In 1887, missing persons' cases started rolling in to Hamblen County Sheriff, J. F. Hayes and continued until 1902. These reports were considered unlinked and Brushed off as accidents attributed to dangerous mountainous wildlife or becoming lost in the massive expanse of the Appalachian Mountains. On July 5, 1902 Jeremiah Lexer took his own life after a brutal killing-spree that left his entire family slain. After his plantation was searched, the gruesome discoveries of over 30 bodies was a shock to the community. It was later discovered that in his old age, Lexer suffered from undiagnosed Bipolar disorder and Schizophrenia. With the economy of Hamblen County struggling, and a push by government officials to populate the under-funded county, local media and law enforcement were bribed to cover-up the murders, so as not to dissuade potential residents and business owners from moving to the county. Who wants to move to, or work in a town where you could go missing or worse? From the second the first bribe took place, most information and evidence collected from the plantation was destroyed by law enforcement and the remaining bits were sealed. The local newspaper, The Morristown Gazette, wrote almost nothing about the story. Leaving the victims to be lost in limbo for what is going on a century. The Lexer files were officially released to the public in 1987 with reluctance from the TBI by a court order from The Tennessee Open Records Act. Locals can still be seen posting on blog entries claiming this story isn't true or cannot be backed up by facts. They have even challenged the Wiki entry on Jeremiah Lexer claiming a false story with no factual information. The "Reasonable Doubt" so to speak makes me wonder if these victims will ever have a fair trial, even in the eyes of modern society. This small town seems to do whatever they can to bury the truth behind 7588 West Andrew Johnson Hwy, Talbott, Tennessee, and keep its dark secrets hidden. The property later become The Attic Restaurant. It operated here for many years, with a attached hair salon and barber shop in the back. A major addition was added on to the home for the seating of the restaurant. Upon closing, the property switched hands and became a Seafood restaurant. In 2001 the closing of the popular restaurants located here, have only added to the plantation’s evil history. It makes you wonder why none of these business can keep their doors open. Due to its horrifying past, no contemporary business or family has touched this land. Leaving the Manor itself abandoned and left to ruin. There is a cell phone tower that is also leased onto the property. Talk about some spooky EMF... and conduction of energy. Presently, the location is a Haunted House attraction focused on the gruesome historic past from the yester years. Frightmare Manor has become one of the best East Coast Haunted Attractions in America. This alone, will surely be enough to stir up some of the deeply buried secrets and residual spirits of the victims whose unheard cries still echo on the property. Forever waiting for their vindication, which is sadly never to come. Joe Powell a Blogger out of East Tennessee sat down with Chris Wooden the creator behind Frightmare Manor for a in depth interview on the plantation to discuss new attractions on site, the property's local history, and company logistics. Follow the link here http://cupofjoepowell.blogspot.com/2011/10/more-secrets-of-frightmare-manor.html Cup of Joe Powell. #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #mikethehikingguide #easttennessee #serialkillers #talbott #hamblen #ghostresearch courtesy of onlyinyourstate
We arrived around 9 am on a Sunday morning, we weren't the only individuals it seemed that were there. A vehicle with local tags was parked down by the water. Onward we went exploring the old Cavern office, store, and concession area. Some disrespectful people have been coming here in the last few years, destroyed the glass cases. Someone has stolen a model train that was in a case for many years at the site. When you walk out you pass some cheezy wood props of a wagon and water wheel. Around a corner sits a reconstructed altar to represent Native American sacrifices that may have gone down here many moons ago. Now the gates are clearly locked, but there is a couple of makeshift ways in, up a strategically placed ladder or into a side slit in the caverns front room. We entered not knowing the sheer enormity of this cavern. We trekked in and were astonished with every step we took. Figured out where this French fur trader would of lived, imagined the many tours that went on in here for many years. We saw stalagmites that would tower over the ones we saw on vacations before at Forbidden Caverns Sevierville, Tn, and Tuckaleechee Caverns Townsend, Tn. Mudglyphs can be seen on a large wall on the right side of the cave midway in that inscribes the names, of the very first peoples coming into the cave to the vandals, thieves, Satanists, druggies, alcoholics and explorers that are still coming today. As we head further into the cave you can cleary see there has been a ceiling collapse at some point, massive flow stone structure had cleaning split off the ceiling under its own weight and shifting earth. Once we realized what we were looking at we were skeptical about our safety but with the adrenaline, excitement the sure rush of being in this underground world we hiked on. We made it to what seems to be the back of the cave but if you just shimming and crawl under a carved out rock you can follow the river even further. But where we stop we found the remains of the old mining process from 1869, some type of sluice box or trough that funneled water or material down to be washed was still prevalent in the water an cave muck. An old chain held it in place with a stake anchor in the river. The age of the metal looked as if it could of been dated before the 1900s, as the large almost oval shaped ringlets were worn away and eroded from time in the mineral rich water. We found two old mining buckets in the muck and one tied to a string which we could never find the other end of the string. We turned our backs to realize, "wow" the mud wall behind us was signed by the miners in its hay day and dated. Looking through my gallery you will see some of these pictures. Very cool to see dates like 1869 carved into the mud with a finger. This is history that could be literally erased with the swipe of a hand. Spent almost 6hours inside that day, not wanting to actually leave. On our way out we were spooked by a older couple walking in with minimal gear, a cell phone light and crappy flashlight. Within minutes they were passing us and heading back out realizing they were unprepared. Upon our exit, one of our accomplices found a hole in the ceiling a rock material had basically funneled down into a room. We just needed to climb up the steep incline to get into the hole in the roof. Cory was the first one up and inside and what do you know another room! This place is non stop adventure and around every corner is something new to discover whether it be a new room you crawl into where water once was, and surprising cavern show rooms with magnificent drapery of formations. You bet your butts the three of us will be back and we will be bringing trash bags to clean up the cave from all the previous "raves" and "parties". Until next time! #hikedontwalk #historicarchaeology #blogdaily #spelunker #speleological www.mikethehikingguide.fun Jim Whidby Cave Activist, Cave historian, and caretaker for Cherokee Caverns finds a 3,000 year old knife blade in the cave.
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January 2019
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