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 Bell Buckle businessman Greg Heinike says that the small town is about to get some national television exposure and he has plans to take that concept even further. (T-G Photo by Brian Mosely) [Click to enlarge] |
That is what is due to happen over the next few months as the town is to be featured on one of the country's fastest-growing television networks.
And, if all goes according to plan, people across the country may be seeing a whole lot more of the village in the future.
Greg Heinike tells the T-G that a segment has already been shot about Bell Buckle for the show "Turnin' to Country" on RFD-TV. The show is hosted by country music artist Tresa Jordan, who travels across the country visiting small towns, as well as regional rural events such as fairs, expos and festivals.
The one-hour segment will feature Heinike and the Bell Buckle Café, which he owns, sculptor Russ Faxon, Tennessee Poet Laureate Maggie Vaughn, Billy Phillips' general store and ice cream shop and bluegrass artist Valerie Smith.
Heinike said that Smith and Liberty Pike will also be giving Bell Buckle some words next month when she performs on Feb. 2 for "Song of the Mountains," a show to be shot for PBS in Marion, Va.
RFD-TV has been on the air for eight years and is growing rapidly. The Nashville-based channel focuses on the needs and interests of rural America, horse lovers, farmers and ranchers with "traditional, family-oriented television programming."
The network is available on DirecTV, DISH Network, Charter, and other cable systems in all 50 states, serving over 28 million homes. Another 19 million homes in Brazil are now viewing selected RFD-TV programing through Terraviva.
Over the past year, the network has doubled its audience and added personalities such as Don Imus and the popular show "Crook and Chase."
The Bell Buckle segment could be aired as soon as February, Heinike said, although the air date is not set in stone. He also added that the producer found so many things about the town that were worthy of the show that they plan to return for other features.
Heinike has a copy of a "rough cut" of the segment, which he calls "absolutely magnificent."
"It puts a light on Bell Buckle that's real, that you don't see until you've talked to the people," he said. With nearly 30 million subscribers, "enough people will be watching this that I promise you, this will bring people to Bell Buckle."
But even with this upcoming national exposure, Heinike has even bigger plans: The concept of a monthly musical variety show shot in his banquet hall in downtown Bell Buckle, hosted by Valerie Smith and emceed by Heinike.
Heinike already has some lighting and a sound system, as well as a small stage in the hall and access through his contacts in the music business to cameras and video equipment.
"If I can pull this off, it will give us national prominence," Heinike said. He added that the bluegrass radio show that was broadcast out of the Bell Buckle Café for 12 years brought business to the town and one article in Southern Living magazine really put it on the map.
The video production would not be that expensive, Heinike said, adding that the major cost is for editing and post-production. Even if the show was shown for just a year, the exposure would be massive. Relatively speaking, the cost of putting the show together would be just a fraction of a major production. He's seeking local sponsors for the project.
"We're ready to go, all we need are the sponsors," Heinike said. "It would benefit Bedford County and bring a lot more people to the area."
In reference to the last post by walpurgis that opens with "Please let me offer some factual clarification and basic logic to this discussion. As a Bell Buckle expatriate and observer of the town's developement over the last forty years, I feel qualified to speak" let me address you by saying that although you did offer some factual clarification and some degree of basic logic you did not escort the lady back to her seat after the dance.
You mentioned a "natural" "friction" that would result but cleverly you left the reader thinking the friction was within Bell Buckle itself. There is really no "friction" worth discussing within Bell Buckle. Before anyone can comment further on any "friction" we have to define what is being perceived as Bell Buckle. This further complicates the issues because in essence there are two primary definitions being used by two parties at two different times (depending on which helps their cause at a particular given time).
Definition #1 - Bell Buckle is an entity, town, municipality,(whichever you prefer)that has a boundary set (more commonly known as the city limits). This boundary has a legal description and is shown on various maps published and available to the general public. It is specific and precise.
Definition #2 - Bell Buckle is a perceived area of land mass that has a boundary set only within the mind of each individual. It is not shown on any published map and is only available by having conversation with each individual. It is not specific nor precise.
The "friction" you mentioned is naturally occurring because you have a group that is within definition #1 wanting to control what is outside their limits (Definition #2) with no regard to the well being and wishes of people on the outside of their limits. They want to use their powers that come with their definition #1 to go outside their limits and be used on their definition #2. They have been accussed of using water (which they have to get from someone else), trying to manipulate the 1101 Urban Growth Boundary, and seeking Regional Planning from the County in an effort to turn the definition of Bell Buckle from the #1 Definition into the #2 Definition. Luckily the County Commissioners understand the problem and realize that the area outside the City Limits of Bell Buckle needs to be controlled by the County and preserve the #1 Definition.
I would also like to offer you some more of your basic logic in addressing your comment "In the long run, I believe that reason will prevail and that a compromise can be found. If everyone keeps in mind that what's good for Bell Buckle is the objective, any issue can be resolved. Remember, it's what's right and not who's right that matters." This very comment shows where the issue is that needs resolving. The issue will never be resolved if the objective is "what's good for Bell Buckle". What about the people outside of Bell Buckle??? The friction you mention will never be resolved until Bell Buckle (Defintion #1) looks at the available published maps showing their limits and quits trying to control and destine what is outside the legally descibed boundaries by using resources made available to them by others such as water.
In concluding I will offer you a third possible perception of the definition of Bell Buckle.
Definition #3 - Bell Buckle is a grandfathered in illegal town today. It is hardly the size of most if not all subdivisions in Bedford County. It is smaller population wise than Covered Bridges (small subdivision on its outskirts). If it was not grandfathered in it could not become a town today in Tennessee. Communities such as it trying to control growth were the reason for the Tiny Town Laws enacted in Tennessee. Bell Buckle should be (and could only be) set up as a Homeowners Association at most instead of a town today. They are truly desrving and qualifying of a Homeowners Association.
That, my friend walpurgis is the basic of basic logic.
Please let me offer some factual clarification and basic logic to this discussion. As a Bell Buckle expatriate and observer of the town's developement over the last forty years, I feel qualified to speak.
Although a trivial matter, you would have gone blind looking for stores with dirt floors 21 years ago in Bell Buckle. Dirty, maybe, but not dirt. By that time the town had already undergone quite a metamorphosis. After years of neglect and stagnation, Bell Buckle was once again a thriving community with shops offering a variety of arts and crafts, many of which were produced by locals. As the years passed, there was the normal ebb and flow of people and personalities living and working in the area. As new people came to the area and impacted the business community as well as local government, it was only natural that friction would be the result. The natives wanted to see progress and growth while the newbies wanted to maintain the status quo. If one will only look deep enough, it's easy to understand both mindsets. If you grew up in Bell Buckle, it was normal to see it as a little one-horse town where nothing ever happened, and probably never would. As an adult, if you remained in the area, you longed for change, any change that would positively impact growth and economic developement.
Now consider the new area resident. Generally, these folks visited Bell Buckle and fell in love with this picturesque, quiet, and cozy little corner of the world. These are the qualities to which they relocated, and this is the way they want Bell Buckle to remain. Who could blame them? I've seen unbridled growth turn vibrant communities into virtual cesspools, all in the name of growth and progress. No one wants to see something like that happen here, but this is the fear that the newbies face.
In the long run, I believe that reason will prevail and that a compromise can be found. If everyone keeps in mind that what's good for Bell Buckle is the objective, any issue can be resolved. Remember, it's what's right and not who's right that matters.
One other point regarding the history of Bell Buckle's rebirth must be made. It was with a great deal of surprise that I found no reference to Mildred Locke by any of the other writers. It was actually Mrs. Locke who started the resurgence in Bell Buckle. After her retirement from conventional business, she began teaching quilting from her home in the early 1970's and eventually built a thriving business in her home. This is noteworthy because she was able to gain the attention of national media, which brought Bell Buckle into the spotlight. It was due to her efforts that a new quilt shop was opened in town. As Mrs. Locke and Bell Buckle became more prominent, other artisans and craftspeople became aware of the area. It was on the heels of all this that Anne White Scruggs, Russ Faxon, and many others came to adopt this area. Many people either don't remember or never knew that it was the media coming here to interview and/or film Mrs. Locke that caused them to become aware of Bell Buckle. In an effort to give credit where it's due, it's quite possible that if Mildred Locke hadn't retired and started quilting, there might not even be a Bell Buckle today.
bell buckle09 - You must be a carpenter since you hit the nail exactly on the head with your comment below.
"I will agree with you about the new people. They all moved in here and didn't want anything to change. It amazes me how all these people come here and then want no one else to move here."
I remember when these newbies moved in from Washington, Illinois, etc., etc. and were given the opportunity to become a part of Bell Buckle. It appears they wanted the gate open to allow them in but seem to want to reach behind and shut the gate once they are in. These transplants would like to make Bell Buckle their own little private "village" if given the opportunity. By some of their own admissions they would like to have a 2 mile buffer zone around the town and not allow anything new to happen inside this ring. They would love to leave their little homes and continue to see the same thing from now on. Nothing wrong with their fantasies unless they are unwilling to pay for this dream. They seem to forget while fantisizing that they are driving on Federal and State Highways while looking at privately owned farms.
As far as National Exposure I believe they are already getting it. In having converstion with a client in Mississippi recently he asked me how far I lived from the "little spot" in Bedford County that had a senile old lady throwing shoes at semi's trucks using State Highway 82 because she did not want them coming through "her town". The woman was reported to have been aged enough to have seen and partaken of the horse and buggy days but seemingly unaware that these trucks she was throwing her shoes at paid for the biggest share of the road they were driving on and she was living on? Another client in Louisiana asked me about a story she had heard about occurring in a town in Middle Tn she called "Belt Buckle". She had been told the town got it's name from the 1880's when the sherriff, his wife and a local store owner got kinky with ropes, belts and guns. A gun held by the store owner accidently went off striking the belt buckle holding the sherriff to the bed and struck his wife in the arm. The town then became known as Belt Buckle.
While I live within 80 miles of this place and have never heard of the two above stories and doubt their occurrences I can say that I have heard enough from several people that the comment of bell buckle09 is merited.
Ex Bell Buckean what exactly have half the people you listed done to get Bell Buckle national exposure? Don't get me wrong they're good people but, they didn't really do anything.
I will agree with you about the new people. They all moved in here and didn't want anything to change. It amazes me how all these people come here and then want no one else to move here.
To tncamper. While it is true the Cafe' brings many people to town. It must be said that Anne And Bob Scruggs "encouraged and Financially assisted" the Heinike's and many others to town to get them into town. Perhaps they should respect and give credit where credit is due.
To hhhmmm Consider that the reason that Bell Buckle Became what it "was" is because the "eclectic" Charm of the town. 21 years ago there was nothing in Bell Buckle most of the stores were dirt floors no business at all, It was headed to certain death. It came back to life due to the vision and hard work of several people. (See previous comment)Perhaps you need to recall and review the true history of Bell Buckle.
Most of the business owners where encouraged to come to town because of these people. Maggie Vaughn, Russ Faxton, Greg Heinike, and others should remember what brought them there.
As for it being a place to send your quacky kin-folks, Thank God they did.
If the "new" spirit of Bell Buckle is that you can do whatever you want, build a building where ever you like regardless of the restrictions, attach to the already failing sewer system without the proper fees and permits, etc then I for one am very glad I am gone but my heart is still in Bell Buckle I love that town. I gave many years, tears and sweat to it. I respect and appreciate what the people before me did. I have deep sadness for what is happening in Bell Buckle today!
Hey Ex, I was told by more than a couple of those in your first sentence that Bell Buckle was a place the rich in other TN cities sent their quacky kin-folks. It was "eclectic" was their word. Some are deceased and some were widowed and had to move away. I think its better now. JMO.
If the cafe wasn't there, there would be no Bell Buckle. Maybe Greg can get this town out of the old rut it has been in for many years. Towns don't grow or get on the map if some isn't making money. Go Greg and all the wonderful people whom work at the Cafe.
The National Exposure to Bell Buckle came many many years ago with deserving people such as Anne and Bob Scruggs, Linda Key, Jan and Ron Rowlette, Mr Macahinney, Miss Jean, Fred and Linda Wonder, Jerry and Arron Haskins, Kaleb Smith, Parker and Lynn Sain, Tom and June Berry, Delmer and Mrytle Howell, Jennette Bowers, Glayds Hatchett, Faye Hardy, Betty Sain who brought the first real national exposure to Bell Buckle, Not to mention the GREAT families like The Binghams, Cooks, Stiners, Lokey, and the list goes on. The "new" people that have come to town in the last 10-15 years have done nothing for the town of Bell Buckle except ruin the "feel" of old time Bell Buckle. Now that the town business is failing due to the lack of attention. These people like Mr Heinike, Maggie Vaughn, Billy Phillips and the entire Bell Buckle Chamber of Commerce, many of wich were given living quarters and free rent from the "true Chamber of Commerce founders", as a whole are panicking to revive the town. In a last ditch effort to bring it back to what it was. These people have no idea or appreciation for what was done in years past. They could not ever live up to what the people before them did. What it took almost 21 years to build they destroyed in a manner of 4 years. They broke rules and ordinances to gain money in their pockets and nothing else. Now that they have destroyed it they are trying to build it back. I say to them "to much to LATE you should have continued the legacy and you would not be in this shape. Evil and backroom deals NEVER pay off".
Greg certainly has been a mover and a shaker since he came to town. His family has certainly had a positive impact on our tourism business.