Tennessee Old Towns

Today we drove some back roads with the intent of seeing town centers from the early 1900's.  We left our hotel in Harriman and ended up just outside of Nashville in Smyrna, TN.

Our first goal was Dayton, TN noted for the Scopes Trail of 1925.  We took pictures of the outside of the courthouse.  Unfortunately as it was Saturday, the museum was closed.

If you look closely at the photo below you can see the statues of Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan on either side of the courthouse on the front lawn.

And strangely enough the little tableau below was behind the wall with the Halloween display.  I can't resist color.

Across the street we found another small park sponsored by the Rotary Club.

Back in the car driving along, I kept noticing the green vines growing all over the other plants and changing the scene into something mysterious.  This is through the car window, so sorry about the reflections.

Next stop was Pikeville, TN.  First off some signs of hard times.  The diner below had been a pizza restaurant.

 These are out of order.  The first should be the stone home six photos down.  We saw this coming through.  Mike wanted to take photos of the building.  It looked like they were setting up for a wedding,  with lots of tables with white cloths and center pieces.  I'm glad I am not invited, it will be in the low 50's or colder when this event gets started.  They had lots of signs - one said something about staying cozy and was next to some blankets!

Mike chatted up the person in charge.  The building is owned by a family that live in Florida.  They have never fixed up the inside.  The photo no 5 shows the inside of one of the rooms.  There is marvelous woodwork inside.  No lights, so that is the only one we saw.  They rent out the grounds for various events - like a wedding.

The yard next door had the scene below.  The car is an old Desoto and the truck a Dodge.  Anyone want a fixer upper?  I'm sure you can get it cheap.

I don't remember this feature on windows.  Like a little awning.

Other buildings in the area.

Pikeville United Methodist Church.

And some homes.  We saw more Halloween decorations on this trip!

 Our last stop was in the town of McMinnville, TN.

There were 3 different churches in a couple of blocks.  I'm thinking this one is special!

 This flag and its reflection in the window caught my eye.

This re-purposed building is now the Pure Home Design Store.

 

Mike has a memory of his Father - he loved the Dinty Moore canned stew.  They must have canned other things - or else the menu would get very boring at this restaurant!

And a final view of the courthouse and one of the churches.