Picturing the Past 47: Down South in the Dixie

I wish that some of you could identify some of bank employees in the picture. I only found one, Rell Tillett, Sr. sitting far left, back of the table.

Another good picture, David.

This is more fun than a jigsaw puzzle. I'm like leeii, it's likely a few more could be identified with a larger image. I'm gonna take a stab at a couple more, but I may or may not be right. Counting 3 more people down from Rell Tillett is Tom Segroves. Behind him, just in front of the righthand window drape is Carl Brandon, and I think the man at the end of the table (maybe head table) on the right side of the photo, with light gray coat and dark hair is Prentice Cooper. A side note, Prentice and Hortense just got married in April of 1950. That's all I'm going out on a limb to try, but I keep looking for Bud McGrew in that photo.

Regarding the hotel, the dining room was featured in an old copy of The Ford Times magazine. I have a copy if I can dig it out, and also a lunch menu. I recall eating lunch there occasionally in the late sixties and early seventies. It was quite a place. Only just recently I acquired a little bell (the kind you hit with the palm of your hand) that was used at the registration desk when the desk clerk had stepped away.

The best treat of all for me is the 1956 band photo. Yes, Bill Thomas was the drum major and I was one of several trombone players that marched on the front row, just behind the majorettes--1956 to 1960. Cookie, you were one of the majorettes in that photo weren't you?

quantumcat, As you were describing dining at the Dixie Hotel I could almost envision a Norman Rockwell portrait of your eating experience with your patent leather Mary Janes barely touching the floor as you ate your lunch.

David, do you have any pictures of the old place at Wolf Meadows, before it burned? I haven't been able to find any photo's of it.Or can you tell me where I might could find some.

Page 90 of the 1969 T-G Book, and page 61 of "Doors To The Past" contain pictures of Wolf Meadow.

ilikeoldsongs, I am having a hard time locating "Doors To The Past", however it sounds familiar to me. Is there another name that I should be looking for?

Another book worth looking for is "A Pictorial History of Bedford County" published by the Times Gazette in 1994. There are lots of flood pictures, including a view of North Main looking south toward the Court House. This picture on page 60 shows Brown's Grocery that we were talking about last week in one of the comments. It also shows the Black House which no one has mentioned -- a large two story frame house. I would be interested in hearing what that house was used for, boarding house, hotel or private residence?

dianainnc and leeiii,

There is a nice article about the Black House on page 57 of the 1969 T-G book, and it seems to indicate that it was a private dwelling when built, and was then used as a boarding house following the death of William Black. Seems that it wore several different hats during its lifetime.

The photos of Wolf Meadows used in the 1969 Sesqui-Centennial book were taken that year. I recall the home was still being used as a home for patients with various types of disabilities and emotional problems. On the day that I took those photos, the late, beloved Robert Brown (the Fix-It Shop man) agreed to go with me, since he frequently went to Wolf Meadows to handle their repair jobs. The patients were not alarmed when he was there, so he went inside and made sure everyone was in the back of the house and away from the front windows. Thus, I was able to wander around and take the photos we used with the article. Understandability, I could not take interior photos.

For those interested, the Tennessee Historical Society magazine published a series of well-written and illustrated articles several years ago about Wolf Meadows and the Tilman family, who built the house.

Regarding the "Doors to the Past", Dick Poplin headed up that project for the Bedford County Historical Society and it was printed by the Times-Gazette. The BCHS has a supply of that book as well as many of Dick's other titles. The family donated them to the society when he died.

Cal Phelps was a very accomplished amateur photographer. He mostly shot only black & white and voluntarily photographed many community events. Another "Cal" that did similar work was Calvin Daughtrey (sp ?) who owned the Hames-Daughtrey Drug Store on Depot Street. The two "Cal's" were the finest of gentlemen and assets to Shelbyville.

My apologies for rambling.

leeiii, Among the names you mentioned above there is a tie-in with A&W Root Beer. Phyllis Ann Hayes worked there for awhile, possibly 1956, more likely though, 1957, I think.

ilikeoldsongs, The root beer stand was a place that I visited often, but it is puzzling to me that I can not remember the girls who worked there except that I think Peggy Allen worked there at least one Summer, and I can remember that both Mr. and Mrs. Enzfelter always worked inside. I also remember those Enzburgers which were a lot like today's Manwich Sandwich or Sloppy Joes with the loose ground beef.

Thanks for the heads up on "Doors to the Past". I plan to get my order blank in the mail today. What is the exact location of Wolf Meadows? I am having a hard time pinpointing it.

FlaDon, Thanks for the memory. I had forgotten about "the Dugout" where boys picked up their Tenneseean and Banner newspapers. I can remember that there was a Tucker guy who was circulation manager. His first name escapes me right now.

On Bing maps, follow Fishingford Pike (now known as Warners Bridge Road, but still Fishingford on Bing) until you see Stewart Road, directly across from the west end of Rabbit Branch Road. Wolf Meadows was at the end of Stewart Road. Its former location can be clearly seen.

I'm too young to remember Southern Rendering, but today you don't to be behind a Griffin Industries truck (they haul dead livestock and usually stink!) or, for that matter, a Tyson truck carrying a load of chickens.

David and leeiii, Thanks to both of you for the input.

Like leeiii, I can say that I was never "there", but now that I know where it was I can say that I saw the old house on several occassions, just didn't know what I was looking at, and wasn't looking at it from Stewart Road.

This house was visible from Simms road in the mid 1950's when I would travel it on the way to my uncle's house, across the road from where Simms is joined by Coble Road. From his backyard it was probably no more than a half mile across the river to Wolf Meadows. Of course at that time I had never heard of Wolf Meadows.

A question about this old two story house in which my uncle lived at the Simms & Coble intersection. It was really old in 1954, but in its day would have been an impressive home for that period of time. Anyone know who might have been the builder of this house, and when? In the garden spot behind the house I found an 1882 Indian Head penny that was covered with a green coating that probably indicated that it had been in the ground for a long time before 1954.

Also in this area, if you look at the bend in the river, just before it comes out of its bend, I caught my first mink on the far bank. What a thrill.

One more question and I'll quit pestering for awhile. All the trot liners that I knew years ago called the hole of water behind Wolf Meadows the Grayson Stewart Hole. I have read of the Stewart name being connected to Wolf Meadows, but not a Grayson Stewart. Anyone know who he was? Or was it perhaps someone whose last name was Grayson, and what they were saying was Grayson-Stewart?

Thanks, leeiii,don't know how I missed that, but seems to be par for the course lately.

By the way, when you get the "Doors" book I'll bet you can't put it down till you finish it.

Does anyone recall the name of the loan company located near the main entrance to Hotel Dixie? I believe the Dykes family ran it.

Shortly before they came here to do footage for Sunday morning coming down the loan company was robbed. A few days later some suspicious people were spotted outside that area of the hotel and police responded quickly. I rushed up to see what was happening and, I believe his name was Perry Rosemond, called over to me.

"Bo, tell them who we are and what we're doing here," he said.

I had been to a few areas with this group prior to the filming and they were constantly playing Johnny Cash singing Sunday Coming down on an eight-track I believe. They were saying it would be a big hit.

So I explained who they were and what they were doing in Shelbyville at that location.

The next day they told me Johnny Cash really laughed about them almost being arrested.

Bo, The name of the loan company, if the one I'm thinking about, was Quick Loan, operated by Herbert Dykes, and he had an employee (maybe a partner)named Evelyn Adams, who I believe might have been the widow of Coy Adams, the operator of the Economaster plant that was located on the Fayetteville highway prior to burning.

Boys and Girls I believe that we have a "big ole good 'un" here or maybe a "good ole big 'un. I have been searching the biggest part of the day for that video (so far with no luck).

Here is what I think I remember: some filming in a hotel room at the Dixie Hotel, sidewalk scenes both on the East side of the square and the North side of the square, footage at the Southside Elementary School playground, and the fact that it was done in black and white.

Bo, do you remember the month and year that the filming was done. I have been using the year 1970 in my searches but I am not sure that is right. Johnny Cash included the song (audio) in an album that he did in 1970. Ray Stevens was the first one to record it (audio) and he did that in 1969.

marnold1118, if I find it I will let you know where I found it at. I am also looking for Ray Stevens version. I have found it on an album or two but I would really just like to buy the individual song.

ilikeoldsongs, I checked the link that you mentioned but that was an onstage event from his TV show.

Cal t, I can not remember the year but before it was the Fair Store, it was known as A.R. Johnson's and it was a dry goods store.

I worked at the Fair Store for Mr. Pfliger and that was my first job away from home. He had a mens side on the left which I worked in and the other side to the West was the womens side. It is amazing how much I have forgotten over the years, but the memories come back as we keep going over things.

leeiii, thanks for the info on Johnny Cash. That was good to see The Dixie, square, and other sites. I did enjoy.