As published by the Murfreesboro Post, Jonathan Fagan, Sunday, March 25, 2012 Just in time for the 35th anniversary of Uncle Dave Macon Days, longtime organizers of the event discovered documents from its humble beginnings. Macon, nicknamed The Dixie Dewdrop, was a banjo-picking, original member of the Grand Ole Opry…
Dan Whittle, The Murfreesboro Post, March 12, 2012 SMYRNA, Tenn. – What historic Sewart Air Base brought to here cannot be measured in the present. Amongst the biggest, longest-felt local impacts was when Sewart landed Maj. James “Jim” Walls as a pilot of C-130s in 1957, and after his distinguished 20-plus…
As published by the Murfreesboro Post, Jonathan Fagan, Sunday, February 19, 2012 A wealthy black Southern planter who owned many slaves? The image challenges many preconceived notions of the Antebellum South and its social structure, but such a shocking image was reality in Rutherford, Davidson and Wilson counties. Along the…
Michelle Willard, The Murfreesboro Post, February 12, 2012 Racquel Peebles always knew she’d practice law in Smyrna. “My family tells me I always said I wanted to be a lawyer,” Peebles explained, adding she always knew it would be in Smyrna. “People here helped me when I was younger and…
As published by the Daily News Journal, Sunday, February 4, 2012 By Greg Tucker, President of the Rutherford County Historical Society The vast wealth accumulated by the oil barons of the American industrial age, and small blue ribbons, advanced the health of Rutherford’s children in the two decades between the…
WGNS Radio, January 28, 2012 WGNS presents more about the death of Dr. Linda Kennedy. This from her alma matter. She was one of the first five African-American students to attend Middle Tennessee State University in the 1960s. She is remembered as a lifelong K-12 educator and administrator who touched the…
As published by the Daily News Journal, Sunday, January 22, 2012 By Greg Tucker, President of the Rutherford County Historical Society Rural education in 19th century Rutherford County could have been a Hard Start with Little Hope for a Last Chance to ascend that Happy Hill of knowledge. The rural…
Dan Whittle, The Murfreesboro Post, January 1, 2012 When former President Jimmy Carter came to Nashville back in October 1980, a stalker followed him with he probable intent of shooting the president, according to recently released government documents. “John Hinckley Jr. was in Nashville the same day (Oct. 9, 1980)…
As published by the Daily News Journal, Sunday, December 11, 2011 By Greg Tucker, President of the Rutherford County Historical Society Not all Civil War “arms” were made for combat. There were a number of “musician’s swords” and at least one extraordinary “Double Barrelled Flintlock Sporting Gun.” Now Rutherford artifacts,…
As published by the Daily News Journal, Sunday, November 27, 2011 By Greg Tucker, President of the Rutherford County Historical Society The view into the ladies’ room was closed but the men’s room continued to be under surveillance. At the time there were very few women employees but privacy concerns…