This month we are going a tad bit off the grid. All of the places that I had to go I thought were in places that I didn't really have a mutual place with the other places in downtown. Now, it ended up that lots of them of could have added on to at some point in the other travels. I am glad that they didn't end up how I thought because I was so tired after all of the other times that I was walking around that I don't think I would have had the chance to make it.
Let's talk about Polly Bergen and Cape Fear.
Polly Bergen was born in Knoxville, Tennessee on July 14, 1930. She did not spend very much time in Knoxville, her family moved when she was five months old. It seems that she spent a good part of her early life in California. She went to school there and started to learn her trade of acting and singing at a very young age. She has a number of movie and tv credits, and even had a short lived Varity called The Polly Bergen Show. Some of her most memorable appearances were in Cape Fear and on the hit tv show To Tell The Truth. Polly passed away in 2014 at the age of 84.
A lawyer in a midsized town has his world turned upside down when a man he help to put in jail is released. Him and his family are being stalked and threated, but with not much proof there is nothing can be done to get him out of town. When things start to escalate drastic measure he to be taken.
Knoxville High School and The Doughboy Statue
Knoxville High School was built in 1910 and has had seen it's fair share of students. It's even hosted the learning places for James Agee, Patricia Neal, Clarence Brown, and Mary Acosta. Over the years the school has changed. it's has not been operating as a school for some time but it's now an apartments building for Senior Living. Outside of the building, as you can see above, is a the Doughboy Statue. This statue was created to honor those Knoxvillians who fought and died during World War I. Most of those who did were alumni of Knoxville High School.
St. John's Lutheran Church
Built in 1912 by R. F. Graf, this church was the first English Speaking Lutheran Church in Knoxville.
This little patch of grass is all that is left of Emory Place Park. it was actually a market that got moved to South Knoxville in the early 1900s. The city tried very hard to make the, at that time, empty lot a park for the city that lacked such a space. The park was named after Rev. Isaac Emory, who came to Knoxville to teach the new concept for churches "Sunday School". The Rev died in the train crash that happened in New Market in 1904. It was a park for about 50 years until it was paved as a parking lot.
Old Gray Cemetary
Old Gray is one of my personal favorite History places in Knoxville. My mom and I discovered that they do a wonderful tour of the site every October. They have reenactors, and guided tours, and food and other activities that make it such and interesting place to go. The Cemetery was started in 1850, and was named for the Poet Thomas Gray. It's a "Garden Cemetery" inspired by those in Paris. In the start it was a grave yard but also a public park. The people that are buried here are from all walks of life and many have influenced the loved of our city and even our country.
National Cemetery
I have a special connection to this Cemetery. I do to all of the National Cemeteries that honor those who fought for our country. My Grandpa, and my great grandma, are buried in the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. Mom and I went to St. Louis a few years back and we went to visit the graves. We learned that on memorial day they place flags on all of the headstones all all those who are buried here. Mom and I wanted to come back and help, or see it cause we thought it would be an amazing site. We have never been able to help out them cause we life too far away. However, a few years ago mom and I learned about the Wreaths Across America and the National Cemetery in Knoxville was looking for volunteers. Mom and I have helped out every year since then. We have also helped out this year on the placing of the flags on Memorial Day. The Knoxville National Cemetery was originally going to be only used for those who fought for the Union in the Civil War. Over 3000 buried here are from that was, and 1/3rd of them are marked "Unknown". During the Spanish-American War the graveyard was opened again to new burials, and opened again during World War I. Soldiers have been buried here in every major conflict since that point.
Gallows View and the Church of Immaculate Conception
So, just beyond the church here is the view of what Gallows Hill used to be. Now there isn't much to look at now however, it comes with an interesting tale. Gallows Hill used to be the place for public executions. One such execution has brought something along that is very odd. A young man murdered his lover's husband and was caught. Since he was young and healthy Rev. Steven Foster asked to borrow the body once it was over. He was allowed to, for a very short time, and took it back to the Presbyterian Church. He put electrodes to the body and connected them to a battery where he made the body move as if it were still alive. Once he realized that many people were watching him and brought the body back.
The Church of Immaculate Conception was built in 1886. Many who attended the church were Irsch refugees from the 1840s famine.
James White Fort
James Fort is one of the founding father's of Knoxville. He settled here, with his extended family, after the Revolutionary War. He gave the landed need to the first church in Knoxville, and he was a delegate to the constitutional convention that founded Tennessee. This is not the original place of his home. It's moved around a bit in the years that it was first built. Once it got to this permanent home, it been used for reenactments and as a museum for how people lived during James White's time and how Tennessee came to be.
Treaty Of The Holston Statue
This statue represents the many treaties signed by the Cherokee nation, and the US government under George Washington. The statue was designed by Raymond Kaskey and Malcolm Harlow cared in time for the opening of Volunteer Landing in 1997.
The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame
This museum came to be in 1999. It shows the history of women's basketball and all of it's inductees.
Statue of a Fireman
This statue first showed up on the yard of the courthouse in 1905. It was created to honor two firemen who died in the huge fire the broke out on Gay Street the year before. It has moved several places since that time but it currently lives in front the the Downtown firehouse.
Deaf and Dumb Asylum and Lincoln: The Final Summation
So, why is there a picture of LMU? Well because this building that LMU is in was originally the school for the Deaf during the1800s. However, during the Civil War the building was used as a war hospital and Asylum.
The Lincoln Statue is actually created for the school LMU but fitting as Lincoln was the President during the time of the Civil War.
Cal Jonson Park and Recreation Center.
This park is named for the former slave turned millionaire. There is a playground, outdoor and indoor basketball, and just a nice little spot for anyone to come and enjoy a sunny day outside.
Suttree Landing
Unfortunately, there is construction going on when I came to visit. So, I got as close as I could and it's not the best picture. However, the park is right on the water and is named after the book but James Agee.
I really have been looking forward to doing this section of the book, but also not because it was all over the place. I am thankful that it's done. I know that I have several other places that I need to visit. however, there is only one that it's a time consuming as this. Thankfully, it's starting to get a bit colder so I won't be has hot walking around for the rest of the year.
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