November 98
News Archives
Welcome to Tennessee Online's
News Archives
Just Click the Headline of interest to
go to the story.
Erosion claiming Tennessee Mexican
War Monument
Cas Walker dies at age 96
National Storytelling Festival a success
Thousands attend Museum of Appalachia Homecoming
Medal of Honor recipient to speak at Veterans
Day ceremony
MSgt. Ray E. Duke to be honored
Monument erected to Memphis
Appeal Editors
Erosion claiming Tennessee
Mexican War Monument
Gallatin- It is probably one of
the most overlooked periods in American and Tennessee history, but
the Mexican War was an era that spawned a new breed of military
officers and ushered in modern-day warfare. Junior officers like
U.S. Grant, Robert E. Lee, William T. Sherman, and P.G.T. Beauregard
would get their first combat experience in the conflict and go on
to fame in the War Between the States. In Tennessee, it was also
the defining moment when the state was officially given the “Volunteer”
nickname. While Governor Aaron Brown was asked by the U.S. to raise
only 2,600 men for the war, more than 30,000 showed up to volunteer.
Many of those who couldn’t be taken by Tennessee regiments joined
in bordering states and some just took off on their own towards
Mexico.
The 30-foot gray limestone obelisk in Gallatin
honoring those Tennesseans who served is one of the only monuments
in the state commemorating the men who died in the conflict. It
lists 50 Tennesseans from Sumner and Macon Counties who died in
the Mexican War. While there are no immediate plans to fix the obelisk,
state and local historians in Sumner County are trying to get some
help to repair it and restore the monument to its original condition.
Sumner County historian Walter T. Durham says the monument’s erosion
is a shame. “You just know,” said Durham, “that 100 years from now,
if it’s still standing, you won’t be able to read it at all.”
If you would like to get involved and help preserve
this important monument, please contact us at Tennessee Online and
we will put you in touch with the right people.
Cas Walker dies at age 96
Knoxville- One of the icons of 20th
Century Tennessee passed away in October. Sevierville native Orton
Caswell Walker began his career as a common laborer and worked himself
up to being one of the premier grocers in Tennessee. Although known
for his political antics in Knoxville- one that resulted in a fistfight
with fellow Councilman J.S. Cooper that landed him and the Knoxville
City Council on the front page of Life Magazine in the 1950s, he
was known for starting the musical careers of some of Tennessee’s
most notable Country Music performers.
His daily “Farm and Home Hour” aired on WBIR television
featured numerous bluegrass icons such as the Osborne Brothers,
Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys, as well as a young beginner
named Dolly Parton. Cas Walker started it to promote his grocery
stores and air his political views and it soon became a fixture
on Knoxville morning television. He once fired a family singing
group because they played “that rock-n-roll stuff” and didn’t think
the gyrations of the Everly Family was proper entertainment for
his audience. The Everly Brothers of course went on to record some
of Rock-n-Roll’s classic hits. In addition, Cas Walker was a prolific
donor to East Tennessee charities and, in spite of his numerous
enemies, regarded as one of the best machine politicians of his
day. Hundreds turned out for his funeral and he was laid to rest
in Glenwood Cemetery in Knoxville. “Warts and all,” said one writer,
“he was one of our own and will be sorely missed.”
National Storytelling Festival a success
Jonesboro- Tall tales and yarn-spinning
were the rule as thousands packed the streets of Tennessee’s oldest
city. The 26th annual National Storytelling Festival in Jonesboro
was a success this year and organizers are already looking forward
to next year’s event. The Tennessee festival is recognized nationwide
as one of the best of its kind and has grown with each passing year.
It was voted the Mountains’ Best Festival by BlueRidge Magazine
in 1998 and featured in broadcasts and magazines throughout America.
Over 18 storytellers from across the nation attended this year’s
festival and kept the American oral tradition alive.
“It is truly an unbelievable event,” said Mary
Ann Keelan from Bristol, Virg. “Before there were newspapers, radios,
televisions, or computers, this is how history was preserved through
the ages. It is not only educational, but a truly entertaining program.
Seeing the young people taking part is the best and it is comforting
to know that future generations will preserve this vital art form.”
Because of the huge success of the program, organizers
are already encouraging people to book rooms and reservations early
for next year. for more information, you can contact the National
Storytelling Association at 1-800-525-4514 or (423) 753-2171. They
also have a website at www.storynet.org If you have never been to
this one-of-a-kind event, it is truly worth attending.
Thousands attend Museum of
Appalachia Homecoming
Photo Courtesy of Linda Lewanski, Sevierville, Tennessee
Norris- The annual Museum of Appalachia
homecoming drew thousands to Norris, Tenn. as traditional musicians,
craftspeople, and artists from across America descended on the city.
The event is a true sign of fall in Southern Appalachia and one
of the region’s most talked about events. the event began as a traditional
type county fair and has ballooned into an event that packs Interstate
75 and draws people to the Anderson county town.
Through the years, big name performers have made
it one of their annual performances. Noticeably absent this year
was singer/songwriter Jimmie Driftwood. The teacher, who penned
the Grammy award winning ballad “The Battle of New Orleans” to teach
his students about the War of 1812, passed away earlier this year.
He was a perennial performer at the Homecoming and remembered fondly
by the musicians present at the event.
Medal of Honor recipient to speak at Veterans
Day ceremony
Sevierville- The bells of patriotism
will be ringing in the Smoky Mountains on Veterans Day. Korean War
Medal of Honor recipient Col. Lee Mize will be the guest speaker
at this year’s Veterans Day ceremony in Sevier County. The students
at Sevier County High School have always held an annual event honoring
local veterans, but this year the ceremonies honoring the state’s
Medal of Honor recipients have extended far beyond the county lines
and involving East Tennessee. The 1998 ceremony is in keeping with
the Tennessee Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 2979 calling
on Tennesseans to honor the recipients.
“Everyone and all veterans are invited to this
event,” said organizer Jennifer Laster. “The kids have really done
an excellent job with this program and are looking forward. We have
added an extra ceremony on the night of Nov. 10 for adults and parents
in order to accommodate the numbers of people who will be attending.”
The Sevier County American Legion is pitching
in to help as is the National Medal of Honor Museum of Military
History in Chattanooga. They will be taking their mobile display
to the school on Nov. 2 and other area museums are also lending
their support to the exhibit. Tennessee Online’s Ed Hooper, who
is also a Trustee of the museum, has been assisting in the project.
“I was impressed with the student’s efforts,”
said Hooper. “Fellow trustee Col. Lee Mize is an excellent speaker
and looking forward to the event. I couldn’t believe how fast this
program grew and am just as excited about it as the students are.”
The ceremonies will begin Tuesday night at 6:30
p.m. at Sevier County High School on Dolly Parton Parkway and again
on Veterans Day at 9 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Col. Mize will attend all
of the events as will some family members of Tennessee’s Medal of
Honor recipients.
MSgt. Ray E. Duke to be honored
Chattanooga- In a related story,
Tennessee Msgt. Ray E. Duke, who posthumously received the Medal
of Honor for his actions under fire in Korea will have a special
display officially dedicated at the National Medal of Honor Museum
of Military History in Chattanooga. The Tennessean is the only known
recipient of both the American and South Korean Medals of Honor.
After a valiant battle where he was captured, he refused to inform
on the South Koreans he had trained and North Korean officers at
the P.O.W. camp starved him to death because of it. The museum has
spent the last year working to get the display built and are looking
forward to the Nov. 14 ceremony. For more information on the event,
you can contact the museum at (423) 267-1737 or through their web
site at www.smoky.com/medalofhonor
Monument erected to
Memphis Appeal Editors
Memphis- Over 100 people were on
hand for a special ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis as the
Tennessee Sons of Confederate Veterans, Memphis State University
officials, and staffers from the Memphis Commercial Appeal erected
tombstones at the grave sites of former Memphis Appeal Editors Benjamin
Dill and John McClanahan. When the West Tennessee city fell to the
Union in 1862, the Editors loaded their presses on a boxcar and
began a journey that took them across the South, where they continued
to publish the paper. During the time they were on the run, the
Memphis Appeal followed the old adage that “freedom of the press
is only guaranteed to those that own one”. The paper’s circulation
increased ten fold during the War Between the States and was regarded
as one of the most read papers during the war. Their accomplishments
have remained unrivaled in the annals of American journalism and
prices were put on the heads of the editors by the Union Army in
order to stop their presses. Tennessee SCV Lt. Commander Jerry Lessenberry
helped organize the event. “It was a beautiful ceremony,” said Jerry
Lessenberry. “ The weather was great and the bagpipers sent chills
through the crowd. These were two men who deserved recognition and
it was a long time in coming for them. I hope they will be remembered
for the contributions they made to their profession. It is a story
that is only now being told.”
When the Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame was
first organized at the University of Tennessee, Memphis Appeal Editor
Benjamin Dill was among the first to be voted in and inducted into
the Hall. The other Editor, John McClanahan, is now being considered
by the S.C.V. for the Confederate Medal of Honor. Neither man had
a proper tombstone on his grave. Guest speaker for the event was
the present Editor of The Memphis Commercial Appeal.
The Tennessee newspaper is currently celebrating its 150th anniversary.
Click here for
News Archives
|