Tag Archives: Tennessee

Americana, Photography, Tennessee

Bristol Tennessee Virginia

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Wow! It’s been awhile since I posted here. Yikes! I’ve been concentrating on my podcast, Tourist in your Town. Be sure to check it out! A recent episode of the podcast was from Bristol, TN/VA. I thought I’d hop over here and share some of the photos that I took while there. It rained while I was there. But I got some great photos of the historic train station, the Paramount Theatre marquee, and lots of other cool places around town. Enjoy!

The Bristol Sign

Bristol is a town that is split between two states, Tennessee and Virginia. The split is right down the middle of the street that runs through downtown. The Bristol Sign sits across the road with one side in Tennessee and the other in Bristol. This sign was placed in this location in 1915 and originally said “Push!…That’s Bristol“. In 1921, the town held a contest to select a new slogan. “A good place to live” was the winner.

The Bristol TN / VA sign.

Bristol Train Station

The historic Bristol Train Station was built in 1902. Passenger service to the station ended in 1971. The station is currently an events venue.

Bristol Train Station at sunset.
Bristol Train Station on a rainy night,

The Paramount Bristol

The Paramount Theatre in Bristol was built in 1931. The first showing was “It Pays to Advertise” with Carole Lombard and Norman Foster. The theatre is now a concert venue.

The Paramount Bristol marquee at sunset
The Paramount Bristol after dark.
The divide between states

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my images! Prints are available of all images, just click on the image. You can also visit my gallery for more of my travel art.

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Americana, Photography, Tennessee

Evelyn Hazen: A Story of Sex, Lies, and Love Letters

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Evelyn Goes to College

Evelyn Hazen entered college at the young age of 14. She was a young, naive girl, raised by a very proper victorian woman. She falls in love with a man named Ralph Scharringhaus.

Sex

For over 15 years, the two have a relationship. They start having sex early on. She agrees with the promise of marriage. There are several love letters where he talks about when they will get married. But he continually delays marriage with excuses and lies.

The Lawsuit

When Ralph breaks it off with Evelyn, she feels lost and afraid. She is in her early 30s and her reputation is in tatters. So, she files a lawsuit against Ralph for breach of promise of marriage and seduction. Image what it was like for her in the 1930s, to have the whole world know that she had sexual relations outside of marriage. She was embarrassed and devastated. But stood up for herself and did what she had to do. Want to know more? Listen to the podcast on touristinyourtownpodcast.com

Prints of the above images are available, just click on the pics!

Photography, Purchase Fine Art

Best Sellers

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It’s the end of the year and time for lots of recaps and recalls. Today, I want to share with you some of my best selling prints from my shop on Etsy– Purple Rosemary. Feel free to share your own best sellers in the comments! 

Etsy Listings

I sell quite a bit in my Etsy Shop – Purple Rosemary. These are just a few of the big sellers. 

Richmond, VA skyline, featuring the Lucky Strike Chimney and water tower. I’ve had several people tell me that the chimney was an important part of their childhood memories. 
The Library at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. Book lovers appreciate this one, as well as, lovers of black and white art. 
Apothecary Jars with medicinal liquids inside. Whatever ails you, we have the cure. This prints sells at least once a month. But as often as it sells, I get a question asking if I sell the labels with the jars. 
Who can resist these beauties? Cowgirls and fashionistas all over love this image. I admit, it is one of my all time favorites! 
The Tennessee Theatre marquee on Gay Street in Knoxville, TN. People from all over the United States order this one. I expected to sell to people in Knoxville. But I have only sold a few to the locals. 
This map is a favorite in Knoxville. I had one person order several poster sized images to give as gifts. 
The Sunsphere on a cloudy evening in the fall. This has been very popular recently. 

Be sure to visit my shop and see if you are looking for a great gift for someone. Or maybe you just want to own something unique for yourself! Thank you for visiting my gallery. 

Photography

Johnson City Tennessee

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We recently took a quick trip to Johnson City, TN. It has been on our list for awhile because we love Yee-Haw beer.  But we finally had a good reason to go. It was work related, so at least the gas was paid for!

Dinner and a Beer (or two)

The first place we went was, of course, Yee-Haw Brewing Company. They have a great in house bar and they share space with White Duck Taco Shop.  Yay! Beer and food all in one handy place.

Bangkok Shrimp®
Lamb Gyro
Yee-Haw Eighty
The bar at Yee-Haw Brewing in Johnson City, TN

Downtown

After eating, we decided to walk around downtown a bit and see what else is happening in Johnson City. As it turns out, not much. But it was a Sunday evening. We will try to go back on a Saturday and catch a show or something. Prints are available of the images below – here.

A classic ghost sign on the side of a building in Johnson City, TN
Numan’s Cafe & Sports Bar is located in downtown Johnson City, TN
Window reflections and a view inside
Ghost sign on a building in Johnson City, TN
Atomik Comics and Blue Moon Theatre Company side by side
Capones in Johnson City, TN
Campbell’s Morrell Music store on the corner of Commerce and Market Streets in downtown Johnson City, Tn.
The Johnson City Tennessee sign located in downtown Johnson City, TN.
Empty buildings on the other side of the train tracks in Johnson City

Dessert

I had a hankering for ice cream but there did not seem to be any ice cream shops. I admit, we didn’t look really hard. We headed back to the White Duck to see what they had for dessert. They had two desserts and both were yummy!

Coconut Macaroon Pie w/ Salted Caramel
Mexican Chocolate Pot du Creme w/ Pistachio Nut Crunch

We will definitely go back to Johnson City, Tennessee!

 

 

Americana, Photography

A visit to Murfreesboro, TN

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It’s May, that means it’s time for the Renaissance Faire in Middle Tennessee. The Faire takes place in Arrington, TN on the grounds with an actual castle. It takes place each weekend in May. My friends, S and P, introduced me to this awesome event!

Arrington is located between Franklin and Murfreesboro, TN. It’s a 3 hour drive for us, so we spend the night in Murfreesboro, so we are nice and rested for the Faire.

The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery

We drove to Murfreesboro on Friday afternoon. We stopped at the Green Dragon for pints and snacks. The Green Dragon Pub and Brewery is an homage to Tolkien’s works. The owners are true Tolkien fans and it feels exactly like I image a pub in Bywater would be. We love it! They always have great beers and the food is perfect. It’s not bar food. It’s real food.

Ale menu.
The Green Dragon has every kind of brew you can imagine. They also have some great mead.
These stuffed mushrooms aren’t your average bar mushrooms.
Found in the privy at the Green Dragon

Our Airbnb

After drinks and snacks we went to our Airbnb called Childress House: The Gardner.  This was my first Airbnb and I’m pretty sure it was a perfect way to start a new trend for me. Our host was Sandi, a sweet lady who lives in the downstairs of the historic house. In addition to our full apartment, we were given access to the Parlor, a lovely outdoor garden area, and the large porches. Sandi also provided cream twists for snacking. Oh, and there was a Keurig in the apartment with coffee.

Our little kitchen reminded me of an apartment I had in college.
The living room wasn’t big, but the sofa folded out and was fairly comfortable to sleep on.
Our sweet host provided us with fresh flowers throughout the apartment as well.
The full bath was clean and the water pressure in the shower was perfect with plenty of hot water.
This retro bathroom is located in the downstairs of the house. Pink everywhere.

Around Town

The Gardner was located within walking distance of downtown, so off we went. Murfreesboro has a thriving downtown with bars, restaurants, shops, barbers, salons, and some friendly people. We had a pint at Liquid Smoke, located on the main square. The smoke was too much for me, so we sat outside and did some people watching.  Some great signs from downtown.

I love this Puckett’s sign. A guitar at the top and a fork at the bottom. Food and music, the best combination.
A simple sign in downtown Murfreesboro, TN. But eye catching with the dark blue against the light metal. A very vintage feel.

We had a reservation for dinner at Five Senses. It was too far to walk, so we got a Lyft to the restaurant. Where we ate some of the best mushroom soup I have ever eaten. There may have also been a stop for a pint at a nearby bar. We Lyfted back to the Gardner where we had those cream twists awaiting us.

Perfectly cooked and soft as butter.
This mushroom soup was so simple but fantastic!

Down to the garden we went for dessert. We were greeted by dear pup Abby and a couple other dogs which were a bit too timid to visit with us.  We also enjoyed our morning coffee in this quiet back yard.

Abby kept us company in the garden.
Our host provided us with cream twists and fresh strawberries, an excellent late night snack.
An inviting garden patio for guests of the Childress.

After our first rounds of coffee and Abby pets, we were off! Renaissance Faire details in the next installment.  I’ll give you a hint, there might be some drinking and eating.

 

Americana, Photography, Tuesday Trekkin'

Tuesday Trekkin’ – 021318 Loudon Tennessee

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You may recall that we made a quick stop in Loudon on a previous Tuesday Trekkin’. I decided we should go back during the day and check out the town. We decided to try the back way into town and got a little lost. But it wouldn’t be a Tuesday without a little diversion.

A great lunch

Once we arrived, we had an excellent low key lunch at Annabell’s Emporium. We both had soup and quiche. He had the Italian Wedding Soup. I had the tomato bisque. Both were spot on.

A large mural is painted on the side of Annabell’s Emporium. Inside there is a small cafe and plenty of beautiful antiques.

Around Town

After lunch, we made our way around town. We found some interesting empty buildings. It always breaks my heart when I go to these small towns and see so many empty shops and buildings. And these were some pretty cool places that are just begging for love and art.

An old caboose is parked at the historic train depot in Loudon, TN
A boutique in Loudon, TN.
There has been a funeral home at this location in Loudon since 1916. It is currently owned and run by the McGill family
The Lyric Theatre in Loudon, TN
The historic Loudon Courthouse
The Friendly Florist seems to be closed for good.
The Acme Hospital Equipment Co. is also closed for good.
A gorgeous, brick building in Loudon, TN. It is empty but full of potential.
The Loudon Train Depot houses the Loudon County Chamber of Commerce and also has a cool caboose out front.

More Empty Places

After seeing these historic brick buildings, we rounded a corner and saw this place. It is the old Bacon Creamery / Hosiery and later Hutch Manufacturing. But now it is empty and falling apart. I appreciate beauty in decay. However, I wish it were full of people working and building and making.

A very detailed, metal awning on the now empty Hutch Plant in Loudon
One of several covered walkways between the buildings of the Hutch plant in Loudon
a different view of the Hutch plant
Empty water tower frames in Loudon, TN.
Exterior Sprinkler Alarm on the old Hutch Manufacturing Plant in Loudon
The company will not be responsible for loss or damage to cars or contents while parked on company property.
Hutch is no longer in business. The plant is empty and rotting. But the offices seem to be used by the local utility company.

Tuesday Trekkin’ is fun for us. We see so many new and different things. Places that I did not know existed and would never have found if we didn’t just start wondering around. We will be taking a little break. But hope to be back trekkin’ soon!

Prints are available from all of the Tuesday Trekkin’ blogs here.

Americana, Photography, Tuesday Trekkin'

Tuesday Trekkin’ Cades Cove and Elkmont

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We finally got back on the road for Tuesday Trekkin’. My Tuesdays have turned into take the cat to the vet day. We have 6 cats and 4 of them are seniors, so vet visits are a way of life. Anyway, back to the real reason we’re here.

Plans? What plans?

We had been planning to go to Jonesborough, the first town in Tennessee. However, plans are more like suggestions for us, so that didn’t happen. It was cold and I didn’t fancy walking around outside in the cold. We decided a car ride might be a better option. We could see things and still enjoy the heated seats. There was also the lure of possible snow in the mountains. Snow can make pretty pictures.

Lunch

We planned to eat at a bbq place in Townsend, but we got there and it was closed for the season. We found a great little Italian place, Brianna’s Italian Restaurant and Cuisine,  just down the road instead. It proved to be a happy accident. Walt had the stromboli and I had the eggplant parmesan. Both were excellent! We will definitely be going back.

Cades Cove

Cades Cove was a bit of a disappointment as there was only a bit of snow here and there. Winter in the mountains is brown. Cades Cove is a valley in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The road is an 11 mile loop where you can see tons of wildlife, some old historic cabins, and a few old churches. We took the shortcut though and saw none of that. Onward we went.

They just blew a whole in the mountain and made a tunnel.
The trees are bare and there is a dusting of snow. You know that water is cold!
The Great Smoky Mountain National Park is full of trails and paths
Winter in the Cove is quiet.

Elkmont

Walt decided we might try Elkmont, but the sun was setting fast. We weren’t sure we’d make it in time. They close a lot of the roads after dark due to possible hazardous conditions in the winter. But we made it! I had not been there before and found it pretty cool. It’s a small resort community in the mountains where people could stay in the summer. Most of the leases were up in 2001. After that, it became a ghost town. The Wonderland Hotel was once in this area, but in 2005 it collapsed. Most of the historical items were removed and a small annex was left. The annex burned down in 2016.

Several houses in the Elkmont Community are still standing and in decent shape.
A log cabin in the Elkmont Community
A summer cabin in the Elkmont resort community
The steps to the Wonderland Hotel
Sitting on the steps that go up to the ruins of the Wonderland Hotel
The chimney of the Wonderland Hotel stands alone at sunset in Elkmont.
An old sink from the ruins of the Wonderland Hotel.

Americana, Photography, Weekly Photo Challenge

Sunsphere Variations

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The weekly photo challenge is Variations on a Theme. I have tons of photos of the Sunsphere in my hometown of Knoxville, TN.

The Sunsphere on a rainy night.
The clouds are a little more ominous in this sepia photo
A photo of the Sunsphere with a reflection in the rain below.
The clouds have been boosted and a sepia tone has been overlayed.
The Sunsphere as the sun sets on a summer night.
Sunphere and map
A travel map featuring the Sunsphere.

Americana, Tuesday Trekkin'

Tuesday Trekkin’ Burlington

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We’ve been having a hard time getting out of Knoxville the last few Tuesdays. It seems Tuesday has become errand day. Maybe after the holidays, we can get started up again. Today’s gallery is from the Burlington area of Knoxville, TN.

Burlington is east of downtown Knoxville. It is currently full of empty and run down buildings. But there are quiet a few people trying to rebuild it and bring new life and prosperity to the area.

The Homer Hamilton is an amphitheater in Chilhowee Park. It is used for concerts during the Tennessee Valley Fair.
Ace Building Golden Gloves Arena in Chilhowee Park
Greenlee’s Drug Store has long been closed for business.
The Lunch House in Burlington is a popular spot for breakfast and lunch.
Keeton’s Jewelers sign. I have a thing for clocks on signs. This is a favorite of mine.
Lema’s World Famous Chittlins. The red building stands out and sits next to a small fire house.
OK Furniture I love the faded letters on the front of this building.
Scott’s Place is known for it’s hamburgers and onion rings. But how cool is that giant ice cream cone?