Oh, the things you will learn. This past weekend, I went to the opening of the Robert Birdwell exhibit at the Oak Ridge Art Center (see story here, seriously, you …
Knoxville nighthawks: A picture worth a thousand words
It is simply one of the coolest pictures of downtown Knoxville I’ve ever seen. Posted in a history group, it breathes film noir, with a hint of Edward Hopper’s painting …
A centennial celebration of artist Robert Birdwell
Entering Ann Birdwell’s Powell home is an instant immersion into artistic everything, bordering on visual sensory overload. There are pieces collected from artists she admires, former students, her own work, …
Camp Poland: Knoxville during the Spanish American War
The soldiers of the 3rd North Carolina Regiment had had their fill of Knoxville. It’s likely the volunteers from the 2nd Ohio concurred. On October 3, 1898, a contingent of …
Emancipation, from Eighth of August to Juneteenth
A week from now, Juneteenth celebrations will be starting up in Knoxville, with festivities celebrating the emancipation of Black Americans during and after the Civil War. Juneteenth is now a …
George W. Callahan: A road for a railroad man
The story from June 1927 hailed the winners in butter fat production amongst Knox County dairy cattle. I have no idea how the entries worked or if everyone was in …
A grisly murder, a final hanging
In a little country home near Gades, 25 miles from Knoxville, lived an aged couple, Henry Snodderly and wife. The snows of 90 winters had settled on the father’s head, …
A tale of two markers and too many Reynoldses
Faith and beggorah and saints preserve us, Nannie Lee Hicks got something wrong. I am speaking of the well-known history teacher from Central High School who authored A History of …