Woman's Club hears of Next Step, King museum

Woman's Club President Sally McReynolds (center) thanks Linda Vannatta and Garland King for visiting at Wednesday's meeting. (T-G Photo by Sadie Fowler) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

What do Linda Vannatta, coordinator of the Next Step Home, and historian Garland King have in common?

Other than both of them being avid supporters of the Bedford County community, both were guests of the Shelbyville Woman's Club, which gathered Wednesday at Riverbend Country Club for its monthly meeting.

Vannatta attended the meeting to receive a club donation for the Next Step Home, and also to inform members about plans to open the therapeutic home for women who've been incarcerated. King encouraged the women to visit King's Museum, a haven for anyone interested in local history.

"They (Next Step residents) need the support of people like you to succeed," Vannatta said, telling members the Next Step Open should open sometime this month. Vannatta said they've hired staff to run the house, who will ensure residents are on task with their counseling, job skill development and other requirements.

Vannatta said the staff is interviewing potential residents and should have the homes, located on Union Street next to the former Bedford County Medical Center, filled next week.

Nancy June Brandon, Woman's Club member and also a supporter of Next Step Home, spoke briefly about the Next Step Home's women to women campaign. Organizers are trying to get 1,000 women to pledge $10 a month to the home, which would keep it up and running for one year.

"After one year we're hoping we'll have a lot of success stories," Brandon said, indicating success stories will help carry the home, by attracting local support, in years to come.

King received the members' attention next, as the club's presenter for the day.

"I have got history in my museum about everything," King said. "It would be an honor for you to come visit, in groups of about 20 or so."

King, who was born in Unionville, said he really got into history when he worked for the Shelbyville Fire Department during the city's urban renewal program in the 1960s.

"We would have to burn down a lot of those houses," King said. "I would go down on my day off and look under the attic or under the houses (of the houses that were to be burned) and drag out old bottles and keep them."

King eventually opened his museum, which features many fire trucks, cars, walking horse memorabilia, history of local schools and businesses, and many, many more things of local, historical significance.

"I have checks from 1929 that couldn't be cashed by local banks who went broke," King said.

King's Museum is located on the corner of Noblitt and Sevier Streets. To make an appointment to see the museum, call King at 684-5229 or 684-5304.

What's next

Special thanks were given to Janie Bartlette (decorations), Charlene Pope and Nelda Sudberry (place cards), Clara Doyle (devotional), Martha Deason (reservations) and Nellie Barnes and Blondell Fisher (hospitality) for organizing October's meeting.

The next meeting will be held Nov. 12 at Riverbend Country Club. Becky Nichols will present the program on "Holiday Magic." For reservations, call Blondell Fisher at 685-4832.