TULLAHOMA'S LANDMARKS DISAPPEARING

Say it isn't so?? Our old landmarks are being torn down. The old Geneso building on the corner of Anderson and Carrol street has been hazed. It sad to see this old building leaving it's home since 1934. The land was originally donated by the late John W. Harton to the city of Tullahoma with the stipulation that the city would bring a manufacturing plant to Tullahoma. General Shoe Corporation had said it would be interested in a shoe plant in the town if provide with a building. During the depression the city was on the verge of bankruptcy. Employment just barely existed. A government grant was available for $100,000 for a civic center. The sly maneuver by the Mayor and alderman to apply for the grant as a civic center till the building was completed and then turn it over to General Shoe. The local banks found out that the building wasn't going to cost $100,000 but would only cost $60,000. To not try to deceive the Federal government the four local banks agreed to share in the $60,000 loan to the city. Those banks were First National, Traders, Farmers and Merchants.
The city signed a lease in 1934 with General Shoe for $1.00 a year rent on the building. General Shoe flourished as Tullahoma largest employer during the depression days and was given credit as Tullahoma saviour from bankruptcy. The General Shoe became Geneso and employed many people through the years in and around Tullahoma. Additions to the building in both 1939 and 1945 increased production to an all time high. I recall many people through the years working at Gensco. My late father-in-law comes to mind.
The doors were finally closed in 2000 when SAS or San Antonio Shoe ceased operation at the building. My brother-in-law, Ned Hindman was the plant manager.
Progress will go on at the site but many people that still are alive will have many memories of those good days of working at Gensco. They had their own newspaper and held many social events for their employees and the town through the years.
GOOD BYE OLD FRIEND.................

RONNIE'S ROOST.....

People talk about plans on what they want to do some day. I think we all have had some strange ideas we want to accomplish in the future. I always laughed at a guy who worked with me for many years. Ronnie always talked about having a place on the river and living in a tent. He would bring this up many times over the years when his rent went up or he received a high electric bill. I would agree with him and say, " Yeah, one of these days??"
My sister had told me about Ronnie's place down on the Duck River several years ago. She had told me they were having a family get together at his place for the Fourth of July. On the spur of the moment I decided to see if I could located Ronnie's Roost.
A scenic drive down through the Cascade Hollow, home of the George Dickel Distillery. Around here if you don't know JACK you might know GEORGE. After a short drive you arrive in a very small town, Normandy. The only thing going on was a place in the middle of the town square renting kayaks. I soon passed my landmark; the fire hall and found the first turn off the main road onto Ronnie's Roost. Down a short steep incline and under Ronnie's sign announcing your arrival. High on the hill on my left was his herd of goats in their fenced in area. Chickens and ducks walked close to the road and I got a chuckle out of the signs posted.....Chicken Crossing...Duck Crossing. A fenced in area on my right was full of young ducks and a large white dog with a gruffy bark. Soon I came into a open field with a few cars and trucks parked. I parked my truck and was out walking to an area where some people were seated in lawn chairs near the rapid flowing river with a large home built table nearby with a covering over the top of it.
High on the hill on my left I heard Ronnie's voice asking," Who in the world is that walking up to the people seated near the river's edge." It didn't take him long to figure out who I was. " Hey, Nick come on up to the cabin and I'll show you around." The climb up to the cabin was steep and rocky but I didn't have a lot of trouble reaching the porch of the cabin where his wife and another woman were seated. We shook hands and he began to tell me all about his roost. Almost all the work was done by Ronnie using used building materials he had accumulated over the years. The small cabin wasn't the only structure on the land. He could tell you where all the materials came from in each structure. After showing me the small one room cabin with a bed, wood stove and a table.....Nick I have no electric bill, water bill or sewer bill here on my four acres. We walked a little ways to his newly planted peach and apple orchard. I want to show you my outhouse. He explained that he thought about building an old fashion out house but changed his mind......Maybe Brenda changed his mind. We entered a small building with a bunk bed by the window. A door opened to the bathroom with a commode. Four buckets of river water sat on the floor for the flush cycle. He had some barrels filled with stone as the septic system hidden in the ground.
Ronnie was upset because the river was flowing at a  high rate. TVA was releasing water at the dam about a half mile away from all the heavy rains we have been having. Fishing and swimming wasn't going to be happening this weekend. His oldest son arrived and told me if his mom died first he was sure his Dad would stay here on the river full time.
Yes, Ronnie had talked big about his plans to have a place on the river many years ago. He had accomplished his dreams. Way to go Ronnie!!!

PEOPLE WATCHING...............

Ever wonder what people are up to when you see something strange while you are out and about??
Yesterday, we went to eat after I took my wife to the doctor in a big town. We like to go to Ryans for lunch after her Doctor's appointment. While having our meal I noticed a woman opening the men's restroom doors and looking inside many times. I told my wife I think I'm seeing my first woman pervert. We both found this event unusual. Finally out of the restroom came a blind man and the woman lead the man to a table near us. That sure solved the mystery but also created another mystery for me? Did she go inside and help him with his aim??
Once she had him seated she went to the bar and fixed him a plate and sat it down in front of him to eat. He sure was having a hard time keeping the whole kernel corn on his fork. I was sorry to see all the trouble he was having with eating his meal. I can only imagine the hardship of been blind.
The world has seen some amazing blind people through the years. They have exceed way beyond their handicap. The great Ray Charles comes to mind. Look at all that man accomplished during his time on earth.
Amazing people with their handicaps succeed in life where a lot of normal people fail.

SUN DROP COLA......MY FIRST ONE....

Do you remember the first time you tried some thing new?? Maybe a new food or drink. Looking back in time I remember the first time I sampled a new soda called Sun Drop.
Charles Lazier came up with the idea for a refreshing citrus soda in 1949 while driving around his home town. He jotted down the ingredients and gave them to his son Charles Jr. The next move was genius; Sun Drop Cola was born.
The cola hit a few stores in a few states in the South in 1951. We had a small neighbor store on Franklin Street called Scott's run by two elderly sisters. Going to the store for a soda and peanuts the Double Cola truck was parked at the store. The cola driver was giving away a new soda to customers. It was Sun Drop and I got a free one. At the time all sodas were only five cents. It was different in taste and I didn't particular like it at the time. I wasn't going to switch from my Pepsi.
Time goes on and old Sun Drop becomes a top seller around the Southern States. People became addictive to the cola. My son's friend in the Marines would have his parents UPS him two cases of Sun Drop to California since it wasn't sold in all States. Sun Drop crossed many State lines in those early days. Just like Coors Beer. Beginning this year Sun Drop has gone Nationwide for the first time. Nothing beats a refreshing Sun Drop on these hot summer days. This cola is very popular with the younger generation. We old folks enjoy it too!!

TIMBER HARVESTING

For many years I have been against having our timber cut on the back of our property. With so many trees being blown down during the recent storms I reconsidered my options. Many of the trees are also dying. I decided to contact a friend that I ran around with during my high school days. Wayne came by and we walked the back acres where he said the timber should have been cut 20 years ago. The woods had several species of old trees. Wayne told me that timber was at an all time high in price. Our deal was for him to cut and ship the timber to a sawmill located about 35 miles from the sight. We agreed to a 50 / 50 split on the timber sales. The sawmill would provide a computer list of every log sold. This would include the length of log, the diameter, grade and price.
The woods featured red oak, white oak, poplar and some hickory trees. Only the market timber would be cut. Wayne used a bull dozier to pull the down logs to a clear area to be stacked. A huge piece of equipment with forks would load the logs onto a log truck to transport them to the sawmill. That first week Wayne cut and shipped 275 logs to the sawmill. Wayne is 69 years old and small in statue and man can he cut down the trees and fall them just where they need to fall. He gave his Stidl chainsaw a good workout that week. Nine loads were shipped. On Friday afternoon Wayne rang my doorbell and said I have your first check. I sure wasn't expecting a check till he completed the job. With the check was the computer list of all the log data. Wow!!!! I had no idea my check would be this much. The woods with all the tree tops left was indeed discouraging but that check made it not such an eye sore.
The next week he completed the job with two more big loads going to the sawmill. He was saving the MONEY LOGS which were the big White Oaks to be sold to a friend that makes barrel staves to be shipped to France and used in the wine industry. Indeed these logs brought top dollar. The red oak lumber will be used for hardwood flooring, railroad cross ties, cabinets and furniture. Hickory is used for flooring, paneling, smoking meats chips and made into handles for hammers, shovels, picks and etc. Poplar used for furniture, wood pulp and paper production. A total of 377 logs were cut and only two were culled by the grader at the sawmill.
All the tree tops left on the ground will be cut into firewood by friends of mine that burn wood. Oh, yeah, I'll be cutting wood for the next 20 years??????

LIFE IS SHORT..........

Last Wednesday 8 senior men began a golf tournament for 7 weeks. We would play with a different partner each week. 2 points for a win , 1 point for a tie. One in our group was going on a vacation for 3 weeks. No problem Bill we will wait till you get back to resume. I'm sorry to say our friend will not be back. We never know when life will end. Yesterday our golfing friend's life ended in a sudden tragedy. He was visiting with friends and all were on the deck which was ten feet off the ground. Bill was leaning against the railing when it broke and he fell to the concrete and broke his neck. Our Bill was gone from this life.
Bill was a fun loving man. Loved to golf; loved to win. He enjoyed poking fun at his golf competitors when his team won. One week Bill was unbeatable in his match against my partner and me. Bill chipped into the cup from just off the green on five holes. A feat that Bill will hold the record on for ever.
Bill is gone from this life but he left all of us with memories we want soon forget. Rest in peace Bill. I'm sure if there is golf in heaven Bill will tee it up. 

MOTHERS..........HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY..

Today is mother's day and I wish my mother was still alive. Not a day goes by that some thing doesn't remind me of my MOM. MOM was a simple woman who loved her husband, children, grand children, great grand children, relatives and friends. Mom never learn to drive. Mom was devoted to all her family and loved to cook special meals with everyone in attendance. Nobody could cook like MOM. She could have a good meal on the table in no time flat.
Mother spent many hours during the cold winters baby sitting for each of her children's kids. All the kids LOVED their Nanny. She made each one of us a quilt as well as the grand kids. All the work was done by Mom's hand. My quilt has some of my clothes that I worn a long time ago stitched into the pattern. I only became aware of this on looking at my quilt some days ago in closer detail. Wow, there are pieces of that pink shirt that I wore during high school that was so popular with the guys. By the time I got mine they were going out of style. Patches of my sport coat that my wife made for me years ago. Mom always was collecting pieces of material for her next master piece. Perhaps other pieces of clothes that my brother and sisters worn are Incorporated into my quilt. Mom sewed ever stitch with LOVE. It took many hours to make each quilt. I cherish my quilt and the love mom put into it for me.
Mom endured a lot of heart breaks during her 74 years on this earth. She lost all her family except a brother. Lost Dad, a daughter, and two sons. After Dad died mom was never the same. Life takes a toll of everyone but that's how life works. If you have a Mom still alive spend as much time as possible with her.

THIS PHOTO DOESN'T BELONG???