Smoky Mountain Homeplace II 2023

2023 Smoky Mountain Homeplace They Made A Difference

They all have made a dierence

BY EDDIE WALKER

Thefoundationofthe

historyofanycommunityiscomposedofthose peoplewhosepresence, initiativeandlaborhave contributedtoitsformationandgrowth.In variousways,whateach personsaidordid,voluntarilyorperhapspaid,in justoneinstanceorover theyears,createdanenvironmentthathasbenettedothers.Sometimesthis workwasjustshort-term; inotherinstances,itmay have“settheballrolling” forachainofeventswhich werelong-lasting.

“Community”canrefer toagroupoflike-minded individualsoritcanbea specicgeographiclocationinhabitedbygroups ofindividuals.Ineither case,therehavebeenpersonswhowereresponsible foractionsandevents whichbroughtabout changeinthecommunity. Thishasbeenastruein CockeCountyasithas beeninPhoenix,Arizona, Jamestown,Virginiaor Tuskegee,Alabama. Inalllocationsthere havesometimesbeen thosepersonswhose nameshavebeenrememberedbecausetheir names,theirworkand storieshavebeenrecorded;theyhavebecome partofourhistory.Safe tosay,theydidn’taccomplishitallbythemselves. Theyhadtohavehelp. Allinvolveddeservetobe remembered.

Firstwouldbethepioneers,thosefolkswhofor whateverreasonleftthe securityandcertaintyof establishedareasandventuredintothewildernessof whatisnowCockeCounty. Thedateattachedtothe rstpermanentsettlersis 1783.Afewhadmeansof conveyancebutmostof themwalkedthedistance, sometimesblazingatrail, fordingthestreamsand perhapscrossingthe mountains.Theyfounda placetosettleandacommunitybegan.

By1787,therewasthe needanddesirefora churchandenoughresidentstoestablishone.Big PigeonBaptistChurchwas organizedonDec.6,1787, onBigPigeonRiveratthe mouthofEnglishCreek. Iteventuallyhasevolved intotheBigPigeon PrimitiveBaptistChurch. Althoughnotontheoriginalsite,thecongregation continuestogatherfor worshipasithasfor235 years(withtheexception oftheyears“duringthe rebellion.”)

Fromthishandfulof menandwomenCocke County’sreligiouscommunityhasdeveloped. Therehavebeennumerouschurchesofatleast15 diferentdenominations, plusthenondenominationalorindependentcongregations,allintheirown wayscarryingthebanner ofChrist.Onepositive factorhereisthespiritof cooperationamongthe churches.Eventhough theymightnotagree doctrinally,therehasbeen littlefrictionoranimosity betweendenominationsor churches.Acongregation mightsquabblewithinitselfbutitseldominvolved anothercongregation. Closelyconnectedwith religionwaseducation. Theearlyministersthemselveshadbeeneducated, andeitherbyexampleor directencouragement, theyweretheimpetusfor theevolutionofschools inthecommunities.The processwasslowand selective,asitwouldtake yearsbeforeeducationalopportunitieswere availabletoallsegments ofsociety.Oftentheywere bothseparateandunequal.StartingwithCocke County’s rstorganized school,AndersonAcademy,in1806,theeducationalhistoryeventually reachedthetimewhen therewereover100public schoolsoperatinghere, movingforwardtopresent timewiththe12multifunctional,technological facilities.

Evenafterthepublic schoolswereestablished, thechurchrecognizedthat therewasstilltheneedfor spiritualandeducationalinstructionincertain remoteareasofCocke County,andthePresbyterians,Baptist,Methodists andDisciplesofChrist foundedmissionschools, andwhenthemission schoolswerenomore, churchorganizations sawthatmissionworkers remainedinthearea. Allcommunitieshavean economywhichfunctions ontheneedofgoodsand servicesandthosewho providethem.While farmingwastheprimary occupationofmostearly residents,soontherewere thosewhorecognized theneedforitemswhich farmingalonecouldnot produce.Thiswasthe beginningofthemercantilesystem.Oneo the rst “stores”wasconductedby MajorPeterFine,andhis daybook,whichbeganin 1797,showsthathewas providingresidentswhich suchthingsasglass,kettles,ovens,cottonorwool cards,stationery,cutlery, bucklesandbuttons, queenswareandavariety ofcloth(linsey,linen,calico,corduroy,jeans,etc). Obtainingthesegoods requiredtraveleitherfrom theitinerantpeddlers

whobroughttheminor themerchantsthemselves whotrekkedtoareaswith alargermarket,sometimesasfarasCharleston orBaltimore.

Therewerethosewho realizedthatpersonal knowledgeandskills couldprovideanecessary servicetothecitizens andsuchprofessionsas blacksmith,carpenter, cobblerandotherleather work,attorney,physician, mason,gunsmith,tailor, tannerandcabinetmaker becamevitalfunctionsin thecommunities.Eachorderwasunique;therewas nomassproduction. Allcommunitieshave hadthosewhostepped forwardinthenameof freedom.TheAmerican Revolutionwasoverby thetimesettlersmoved intothisarea,butCocke Countycitizens,bothmen andwomen,havebeen apartofeverywarand anyothermilitaryconictinwhichtheUnited Stateshasbeeninvolved. Thelocalfolkstrulyhave embodiedtheconceptthat gaveTennesseeitsnicknameof“TheVolunteer State.” Aveteranisonewho waswillingtogivehis lifeforthecause,and whilemostdidnothave topaythatprice,many citizensofCockeCounty

havemadethesupreme sacriceandunortunately receivedlittlerecognition forit.Oflate,therehave beenthoseorganizations whohavemadeitacause toseethatourveterans arehonoredandnotforgotten.Theslogan“tocare forthemwhohaveborne thebattle”shouldbethat ofmanygroupsnotjust thatoftheVeteransAdministration. Industryistheprocess oftakingrawmaterials andconvertingtheminto nishedorsemi-nished materials.Industrial developmentdidnotbegin inCockeCountyuntilits secondcenturyandat rst wasabitsporadic.In1884 theScottishCarolinaLand andTimberCompanyLtd locatedherebecauseof thecounty’svasttractsof virgintimber.Itwasonly hereacoupleofyears,but thecitizenshadbeengivenatasteofwhatindustry couldprovide.SCL&Twas followedbytheEngland andBryanTanneryin 1892,in1900bySpeigle LumberCompany(which evolvedintoRhyneLumberCompany)andthenin 1905byStokelyBrothers. Thesewerealllargerand long-lastingoperations whichdidmuchgoodin thecommunity.There werealsosmallerindustries–knittingmills,bug-

gyfactory,handlefactory –whichwerehereonlya shorttime.

Inthepost-WorldWarll era,CockeCountyexperiencedasurgeinindustrial developmentwithovera dozenindustrieslocating hereandbringingmajor changesinthelifestylesof thecitizens.

Overtheyears,citizens havejoinedtogetherinto manycharitableandfraternalorganizations.

The rstwastheMasonicorderwhichwascharteredherein1806.Each organizationhashad itsownrulesandgoals, butallorganizationshave manifestedprogramsof someconcernfortheless fortunateinsociety.Some oftheseorganizations ceasedtofunctionafter theirgoalwasachievedor interestinitwaned,but some,suchastheNewport KiwanisClub,whichwas organizedin1920,have continued,adoptingnew goalsoradaptingtheir oldergoalstothechangingtimes.Thegoodwork oftheseorganizationsis stillevidenttoday. Locally,therehavebeen twoexcellentexamplesof howjustafewcitizenscan makeadiference.

In1981,theDeadPigeon RiverSocietywasorganizedbysmallgroupof citizenstoprotestthepol-

lutionofthePigeonRiver whichbeganin1908by ChampionInternationalin Canton,NorthCarolina. Therewerehearings hereandhearingsin NorthCarolina.Governmentalagencieswere broughtintothefray.

Tempers aredandviolencewasthreatened,but intheend,theemissions fromtheCantonplant werelessenedandthe PigeonRiveristoday runningclearandisnowa popularrecreationvenue. In2002,awhite-supremacistgroupannouncedarallytobeheld indowntownNewporton Jan.19,2002,toprotest thetown’sblackmayor.In justoneweekpreceding theevent,anothergroup ofcitizensorganizeda“DiversityFestival”tobeheld atthesametimeatCocke CountyHighSchool.Both eventstookplacewithout anyviolence.The“DiversityFestival”wasanannual eventforthenextseveral yearsandtherehasnot beenasupremacistrally heresince. Butthen,whenone considersallthosein CockeCountywho,inbig andsmallways,havetried tobetterthelifeofone personorthelivesofthe community,thenumber couldnotbecounted,for allhavemadeadiference.

Newport Mayor Roland Dykes Jr. (far left) speaks with a group at the Diversity Festival in 2002.

Big Pigeon Primitive Baptist Church was the rst church in Cocke County.

Cocke Countians can be counted on to help

BY EDDIE WALKER

Itcanneverbesaid thatthepeopleofCocke Countyareblindtothe needsofthecommunity

anditscitizens.Time aftertime,whenaneed arosehere,ourpeople haverisentotheoccasion tohelpinwhateverway theycould.Therecords

ofthemanycivicorganizationswouldshowthe manyprogramsandfund raiserssponsoredbythe organizationtohelp. C.M.Boyeroperateda

woodandcoalyardhere formanyyears.OnNov. 25,1914,hisproposal foraPeople’sCharity Fundwaspublishedin TheNewportPlainTalk.

Itwashisgoalthatthe BoardofMayorandAldermenoverseethisprograminawaytohelpthe needyinthecommunity fromDec.1toApril1.

Also,atthissametime therewasadrivefor Newporttohaveahospital.Alocalwomen’scivic

DEDICATED SERVICE ProvidingQualityVeterinaryCare

HealthCerticates

. ExperiencedSta

PHOTOBYKATHYHEMSWORTH

Members of the 2023 Newport Rescue Squad.

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group,theSerioSabio Club,embracedthat cause.Theypublisheda cookbookanddesignatedtheproceedstowards thehospitalfund,aswell asthosefromamusical “TwoOldConfederates” whichtheyproducedat theOperaHouse[onthe cornerofBroadwayand McMahanAve.]onMarch 6,1914.BothUnionand Confederateveterans weregivenfreeadmission.(Unfortunately,this hospitaldrivedidnot succeed.)

Manychurchessupport nationalandinternationalmissionprograms withintheirrespective denominations,but theyalsohaveprojects thathelppeoplecloseat home.OnesuchprogramisthatofNorthport BaptistChurch,which hasofferedaChristmas dinnertotheneedyin CockeCountysince1986. Thechurchmembers organizeandpreparethe mealswiththehelpof otherchurchesandallthe volunteerswhostepforwardtodeliverthem.In theyearofthepandemic, alocalItalianrestaurant, Milano’s,cameforward tohelp.

Anothersuccessful church-affiliatedcharity

hasbeentheChristmas shoeboxesfilledwith toys,candy,toiletriesand clothingwhicharesentto childrenacrosstheworld.

TheFirstUnitedMethodistChurchbeganthis programinCockeCounty in1996with21boxestakentothecollectionsiteat Montreat,NorthCarolina.Eachyeartheproject grew,andwithotherlocal churchesparticipating, thenumberofshow boxeshasgrowninto thehundreds.TheFirst BaptistChurchbecame acollectionsiteandthey tooktheresponsibilityfor deliveringtheboxesto NorthCarolina.

Charities,suchasthe MarchofDimes,Heart Fund,LungAssociation, conducteddriveswhich involvedgoingdoor-todoor.Thosewhoparticipatedwouldtellthat scarcelyanyonerefused todonate.Itmightbea nickel,adimeoraquarter,buttheyrecognizeda needandwerewillingto dotheirpart.Thesolicitorswouldalsotellthat thepatronsinthetaverns alongtheMorristown Highwaywerethemost generous. Localpeoplecanbe creativeinfundraising. WhenNewporthadatobaccomarket,oneofthe charitiessetupabooth andtheworkersasked eachsellertodonate

onehand.Theseleaves werethenallloadedon abasketandsoldwith theproceedsgoingtothe charity.(Ahandisacertainnumberofleavesof tobaccothatarebundled together.)

Sicknessanddeath seemtobringoutthe bestinourfolks.Atthose times,itneverseemstoo hardortoomuchtowhat isneededtohelpout. Foodiscookedandtaken andassistanceforwhateverisneededisoffered. Inatleasttwoincidents, probablymore,neighbors cametogetherandcut tobaccocropsforfarmers whowereunabletodo so.Inanotherincident, thewifeandmotherof afamilywasbedridden andtheywerelivingina convertedgranary.The communitywenttogether toerectthefamilyanew house.

Today,nearlyevery monthinoneofthelocal communitiesabenefit meal/auctionisconductedtoprovidefinancial supporttooneofits citizenswhohasmedical issuesorhassuffereda devastatingloss. TheNewportRescue Squadhasbeentheideal combinationofconsideration,volunteerismand serviceinthecommunity sinceitsinceptionhere in1958.Nomatterthe need,nomatterthetime,

nomatterwhomitmight be,thesquadmembers haverespondedwithno expectationofcompensation.Whenitcomes todonations,fewCocke Countianshesitateto contributetotheRescue Squad. Theirnamedefines theirmission.Intheir yearsofserviceherethey havedealtwithsuch situationsasdrownings, planecrashes,fires,medicaltransportation/deliveriestrafficaccidents, fallentrees,losthikers/ campers,floods,train wrecks,fallentrees,as wellasprovidingtraffic/ crowdcontrolandfirst aidstations,bulldozing roadsandevenretrieving animalsfromdangerous positions.TheCrewettes wereladieswhoprovided foodanddrinkforthe squadmembersduring theseworkingevents. Eventhoughithad notbeenquestioned,the NewportRescueSquad proveditsmettleinJuly 1964whenaUnited Airlinesflightcrashed nearTrenthamHollow RoadinParrottsville, killing39passengers.The localsquadwasthefirst rescueunitonthescene andtheyworkedforthe nextseveralweeksinthe aftermath.

Inadditiontothe squad’swork,United Airlinesrecognizedother help.(1)Sixareahomes gaveuptheirtelephones

inordertohaveemergencycommunicationservice installed,whichlocal linemenhadcompleted withinfivehoursofthe crash.(2)Mrs.MaeTrentham,onwhosepropertythecrashoccurred, turnedherhouseoverto officialsasaheadquartersandbakedthem“a goodcake”eachday.(3) Theoffersofchainsaws cameforwardwiththe needtoclearcutthearea.

(4)LynnAllenopened hisofficesupplystoreat 3a.m.sothatasmall,but necessaryitemcouldbe purchasedatacostof$4. (5)LionsClubfurnished breakfasttotheworkers.

(6)TheAmericanLegion furnishedcoffee.(7)A localfurniturecompanysentitscrewtohelp installairconditioners fortheMemorialBuildingwherethemorgue waslocated.(8)Amotel ownerprovidedrooms forUnitedofficials. Whenitwasover, DaleMedlinwithUnitedAirlinessaid,“We’ve alwayshadcooperation butnothinglikethis. You’dhavetogoalong waytofindanythingto comparetothefriendlinessanddesiretohelp thatwehavefoundhere.” TheRescueSquadwas presentedaJeepand $1,000inappreciation fromUnitedAirlines. Mr.andMrs.Dave Godshalkandtheir familycameherewith

Sonoco.Aftersettlingin, Mrs.RolfeGodshalkwas impressedbyNewport’s uniquenessandfeltthat thereneededtobesomethingfornewcomersto learnaboutthepositives ofNewportandCocke County–itshistory,its communities,itsculture, itsopportunities.She enlistedtheaidofher club,theCliftonClub,to undertaketheproject. Withherastheauthor/ editor,theclubwent intothecommunityand fromthecitizensgatheredtheinformationand thepictureswhichwere compiledintoabook entitledNewportwhich waspublishedin1970. WilmaDykeman,oneof theclubmembersherself, wroteofthebookinher columnintheKnoxville NewsSentinelandsaid, “NewporthelpedtheauthorwriteNewport.” Itisn’tjustadultswho cangetbehindaproject ofhelpingothers. OnSunday,Nov.10, 2002,atornadoripped throughMorganCounty, Tennessee,devastating lives,homesandhopes. ThenextdayaKnoxville televisionstationfeaturedalittleboywhose homewasdestroyedwho saidhealsodidn’tgetto havehisbirthdayparty. SomeCockeCountyHigh Schoolstudentswho sawthatbroadcastwere

JROTC cadets from CCHS worked at highway maintenance.

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fromNewportmotoredto Wartburg.Theboy’smother hadbeentoldabouttheparty andwasattheschool.After theexcitementcalmed,the boylookedathismotherand said,“YousaidIwasn’tgoing togetanybirthdaypresents.” Itmightbedifficulttosaywho benefittedfromthismore–the CockeCountystudentsorthe Wartburgstudents. InthehistoryofCCHS,there havebeentwooccasionswhenthe

localpeople,manyofwhowere alumni,cameforwardtohelp withaproject.In1966adrive wasbeguntobuildthepresent stadiumatacostof$200,000.A challengewasissued.Therewere somelargeindustrialdonations, butthecitizensdidtheirpart,as theydidwithrenovationsofthe auditorium,whichwerecompletedin2019. Thentherearethepeople whoquietlyandanonymously goabouthelpingothers–the

teacherswhoseethatstudents haveshoes,coats,thenecessary materials,ladieswhonotice hungrychildrenandseethat theyhavesomethingtoeat,a doctorwhostopsatahometo checkonasickchildwhoisnot evenhispatient,gruffoldmen whowilldenybeingemotionalbutwillslipmoneytohelp someonewithaproblem,a childwho’llgiveafavoritetoy toanotherchildwhomaybe hurting–allofthesecanbe

foundinCockeCounty. Remembertheparableofthe widow’smitethatemphasized thatitisnotthesizebutthe spiritinwhichagiftisgiven thatmatters?Americanauthor NapoleonHilloncesaid,“If youcannotdogreatthings yourself,youcandosmall thingsinagreatway.”Whetherthedeedbegreatorsmall, ifithelpsothers,ithasbeen successful,andyouhavemade adifference.

FILE PHOTO

Northport Baptist Church has offered a Christmas dinner to the needy in Cocke County since 1986.

Churches are the anchors of a town

BY EDDIE WALKER

Whenyoutravelthroughatown,mostany Americantown,churchesarevisible,often onthemainstreetorusuallynotmorethan acoupleofblocksaway.Thesestructuresare partofthetown’sheritage,theysaysomethingaboutthepeople,andtheyareattractivevisualstothelandscape.

Inrecenttimestravelrouteshaveoften beenchangedtoavoidthedowntowncongestionanddelays,butthinkaboutpassing throughoneofNewport’ssurroundings towns–Morristown,Greeneville,Dandridge, JohnsonCity,Sevierville,HotSprings,White Pine,JonesboroughandevenKnoxville.In eachyouwillseechurchesofvaryingdesigns, sizes,denominationsandages.

SuchusedtobecaseinNewport.ThebusinessdistrictdevelopedonMainStreetalong therailroad,butthechurcheswerebuiltone blockbackonwhatisnowBroadwaybutat onetimewascalledChurchStreet.Itbecame themaintravelroutebythe1890sandthen itsimportancewasenhancedintheearly 1920swhenitbecamepartoftheDixieHighway,whichwasaplannedroutetoimprove travelbetweentheSouthandtheMidwest. ThehighwaythroughNewportwasoneofthe majoreast-westroutesuntilthedevelopment oftheinterstatesystem.

AtonetimealongtheDixieHighwayin downtownNewportweretheFirstBaptist Church,theMethodistEpiscopalChurch, South,theMethodistEpiscopalChurchand FirstChristianChurch.

Justahalf-blockover,butstillvisible,was theNewportPresbyterianChurch.

Newport’soldestchurch,PisgahPresbyterian,startedoutasanexceptiontothe “downtownrule.”WhenitmovedfromOldtownin1858andbuiltitschurchontheGormanproperty,therewasnotownofNewport here.Therewasjustalittlehamlet(whichis smallerthanavillage)whichlaterwascalled “Clifton”and/or“Gorman’sDepot”before itofciallybecame“Newport”in1884.The PisgahChurchwasadjacenttothecemetery thatremainsacrossfromWalgreens.

PisgahPresbyterianwasusedbyallthe churchpeople.TherewasaUnionSunday Schoolandthenpreachingwasdoneby thepreacherofwhicheverdenomination happenedtobescheduled.Inruralareas andsmalltowns,fewchurchesrarelyhada regularpreachereachandeverySundayin thosedays.

FirstBaptistChurchwasorganizedinthe PisgahPresbyterianChurchin1876.The congregationcontinuedtomeetthereuntil theybuilttheir rstchurchin1877onthe spotusedbythecongregationuntilOctober 2022.TheBaptistsstillparticipatedinthe

UnionSundaySchooluntil 1884whentheyformed theirown.Theotherchurch groupscontinuedusing thePresbyterianchurchon Sundays,butWednesday nightprayermeetingwasa UnionserviceattheBaptist church.Traveling“outof town”tothePresbyterian churchwasharderatnight bylanternlight.

Thisearlysharingofa buildingmayhavebeen thereasonCockeCounty churcheshaveusuallyhad suchaspiritofcooperation witheachother,eveniftheologyanddoctrinedifered. Acongregationmight bickerwithinitsownwalls, butrarelywithanother congregation.

TheSouthernMethodistsbuiltachurchin1885 about50yardseastandthe twobranchesofMethodismusedthisbuilding withaSundaySchooland alternatingpreachersuntil theNorthernMethodists builttheirchurchin1892 another50yardseast.The twomergedintoonecongregationin1941andused theSouthernbuildinguntil movingtoanewbuilding in1957. ThePisgahPresbyterians movedtodowntownin1897 andchangedtheirnameto theNewportPresbyterian Church.TheChristians builttheiroriginalchurch onChurchStreetin1921. Thepresentbuildingwas erectedonthesamesitein 1928.

Whywerechurchesbuilt inthedowntowns?These werecommonareasand moreeasilyaccessiblefor allpersons.Justasbusiness andtradeswerepartofany community,sowerethe churches,andaspreviously stated,theysaidsomething aboutatown.

Whichonewasthebest?

Whichonewastheperfect one?Noneofthem.They werethenandarenow composedofhumanbeings withalltheweaknesses, frailtiesandfallibilities thatthehumanracehasto ofer.Alocalpastoronce remarkedthatSatanhad

thekeytoeverychurchand didn’tneedaninvitationto comeinside.Thosenotof anychurchoftendescribe thechurchesasbeing“full ofhypocrites,”butanotherpastorcounteredthat churches“weren’thotels forsaintsbuthospitalsfor sinners,”andthosewho wereinthechurchesknew theyneededitshealing.

Whyhavechurchesleft manydowntowns?Changes inthepopulationandthe culturewouldbethemost likelyreasons. InNewport’scase,the changesrequiredthe churchestohavemore spaceanddiferentdesigns.

Lookatthetopography ofdowntownNewport.It isanarrowstripofland hemmedbyariver,two blufsandtherailroad. Whenmanyofthebuildings werebuilt1890-1920,probablylittlethoughtwasgiven toexpansion.Thechurches weresandwichedbetween

businesses.

Wherecouldtheygo?

Also,whenthesechurcheswereerected,parking wasnotanissue.Many peoplewalkedwherever theywent.Noteveryfamily hadavehicleandthose thatdidfunctionedwell withonlyone,asopposed totodaywhenthereare severalvehicleswithinthe samefamily.

Newport’sdowntown churchesweremulti-storied.Congregationshave alwayshadmembers whowerehandicapped andolder.Whetheritis “pleasanttorepeat”(froma hymnline),themobilityof thosepeoplewasnotgiven muchconsiderationuntil recentyears.Olderbuildingshadsteps,andforthe olderpeoplestepsbecome anissue.Anyonewhohas hadanytypeofhandicap, temporaryorpermanent, certainlyunderstandsthis, andanyonewhohasdealt

withimplementingtheADA policiesunderstandshow littlethenon-handicapped understandandhowresistanttheyaretochangethe statusquo. FirstBaptistChurchconstructedarampandFirst ChristianChurchinstalled anelevator. Waterwasanotherfactor forthechurchesonthe southsideofBroadway. Theblufbehindthemis permeatedwithwet-weatherspringsandduringheavy rainsthebuildingsalong theblufhavebeenplagued with ooding.ThisissomethingTheNewportPlain Talk,FirstBaptistChurch, Rhea-Mimsbuilding,StokelyMemorialLibrary,the oldFirstMethodistChurch haveallexperienced. Infact,thewaterwas themainreasonthatthe Methodistsleftdowntown. Intheearly1950sthewar anddepressionwereover, economywasimproving

andmanychurcheswent intobuildingprograms. FirstBaptistChurchgot startedontheirbuilding rst.Constructionwould bedelayedwhenthesite ooded.TheMethodist leadershipconcludedthata similarproblemwouldexist iftheystartedbuildingon theirsite.Thatiswhenthey madethedecisiontoleave downtown. Movingtoanothersiteis notalwayseasy.Moving“so farawayfromdowntown” wasnotpopularwithall Methodistsin1955.Even someofthemembersof FirstBaptisthadsuggested theyleavedowntown.The Methodistsmoved;the Baptistsstayed,because churches,likeotherinstitutionsandorganizations, operateunderthisgolden rule:thosewhohavethe goldmaketherules. Leavingachurchbuilding isnoteasyformembersor friendswhenonethinksof

yearsofworship,rejoicing, remembranceandmourningsharedwithinitswalls. Citizenswillremember graduations,weddingsand funeralsatFirstBaptist Church,anditwasthere thatNewportgatheredon theeveningofSept.11, 2001,withaneedfordivine guidanceandreassurance. SinceNewportwasestablished,thepopulationhas grownandtheboundaries haveexpanded. Churcheshavebeen establishedinmanyother placesandarenowanchoringthecommunityinthose locations. Butmorethangeographicalanchorsoftown, thechurcheshavebeen spiritual,emotionaland sometimesmaterialhavens forthecitizens.Whentimes weregood,thechurches havebeenhere.Whentimes weretough,thechurches havebeenhere.Theyeach havemadeadiference.

First Christian Church

Appreciationandrespectforveterans

BY EDDIE WALKER Aveteranisanyperson whohasservedinone ofthebranchesofthe military.

Whenpersonsenlist, itisnotknownhowor wheretheirskillsmay beneeded,buttheyare willingtoserveevenif itmeansmakingthesupremesacrifice.

Americanhistoryhas proventhatnearlyevery generationhashadtoface amilitaryconflict.

Thenicknamefor Tennessee,the“VolunteerState,”originated fromthefactthatwhen callshavebeenmade fortroops,thecitizens haverespondedwillingly. IntheWarof1812,the responsewassogreat thattheTennesseeMilitia hadtobedividedinto theEasternandWestern Divisions.WhenPresidentJamesK.Polkcalled for2600volunteersfrom TennesseeintheMexican War,30,000answered.

Whatevertheconflict, CockeCountyresidents havesteppeduptothe plate.

AtthetimeoftheAmericanRevolution,thisarea ofEastTennesseewas stillwilderness,inhabitedbyNativeAmericans andafewscatteredwhite traders.However,after independencewasgained, settlersbeganmoving intothisarea,notalways legallytobehonest,but mostofthesemenhad answeredthecalltoarms inotherplaces.They broughthere,however,a loveoffreedom,pridein theircountryandwillingnesstoserve.

EvenwhenAmerica itselfwasnotdirectly threatened,veterans steppedforwardtodefend thecauseoffreedom wheneverandwherever theymightbeneededand itupholdthehonorand reputationoftheircountry.Ineveryconflictthere havebeenthosewhogave theirlives.

Alackofearlyrecords herewouldmakeitimpossibletonamethemall, butalistofRevolutionary Warveteranswhocame tothisareawouldinclude ThomasBibee,William Boydston,WilliamBragg, JamesMilliken,Bartlett Sisk,JohnHuff,Darius O’Neil,VinetFine,MichaelNehs,Sr.,Michael Nehs,Jr.,JohnOttinger, JesseBryant,Joseph Burke,JohnCampbell, ThomasPalmer,AlexanderSmart,GeorgeCarter, PeterFine,JohnParrott, MartinShults,Jacob Boyer,JohnCarmichael, WilliamColeman,George Kelley,SpencerColeman,AbrahamHembree, JamesPotter,JohnWilliamson,SamuelYates, EdomKendrick,Matthew Fox,JesseWebb,John Fugate,JohnHeath,John Henry,AllenSurratt, PeterWise,HenryClick, GeorgeGregory,Robert Jackson,WilliamLofty, SamuelMartin,Lewis Sawyer,JehuStokely, MaximillianConner,AlexanderSmithandJohn Waddell. ManyCockeCountycitizenstodaycancountone ormorethesemenasan ancestorandcanbeproud thathemadeadifference forboththecountyand thecountry.

Just30yearsafterthe AmericanRevolution, thecountrywasagainat oddswithGreatBritaininaconflictthatis knownastheWarof1812. Thestateandnational archivesshowthatCocke Countycitizenswerein thefollowingunits:4th Regiment,TNMilitia (commandedbyCol. SamuelBayless),EastTN VolunteerMountedGunmen(commandedbyCol. JohnBrown),1stRegimentVolunteerMounted Infantry(commanded byCol.SamuelBunch), 2ndRegimentEastTN Militia(commandedby Col.SamuelBunch),3rd RegimentEastTNMilitia (commandedbyCol.WilliamsJohnson),and2nd RegimentEastTNVolunteerMilitia(commanded

byCol.WilliamLillard).

SinceLillardwasa citizenofCockeCounty, thereweremorelocal meninhisunitthanany oftheothers.Allofthese unitsservedintheGulf CoastTheatreinAlabama, MississippiandLouisiana,culminatingwiththe BattleofNewOrleans. Becausethemilitary engagementsweremore withtheNativeAmericans –Cherokee,Creekand Shawnee–ratherthanthe British,thisissometimes calledtheCreekWaror IndianWar.

TheMexicanWar (1846-1848)followedthe 1845annexationofTexas bytheUnitedStates,as Mexicostillconsidered theareaitsterritory.They didnotrecognizethe validityoftheTreatyof Velasco,endingtheTexas WarofIndependencein 1836.WhentheUnited StatesinvadedMexico, troopswereneededand CockeCountyresidents wereamongthosewho responded.Thereisn’ta completelistofnames butinOctober1880 whentherewasarallyin Newport,morethan100 veteransoftheMexican Warattended.

TheCivilWarwasa darktimeinourhistory, thecountrytornapart, stateagainststate,brotheragainstbrother.When

Tennesseesecededtothe Confederacy,EastTennesseeremainedprimarilypro-Union,butthere wasapro-Southernelementherealso.Localmen joinedbotharmiesand whenthewarended,they returnedhomeandtried toresumelifeasusual.Of course,therewasresentmentandbitternessand somemovedelsewhere. Overtimethosefeelings eased,butalastingeffect isreflectedinthepolitics ofCockeCounty,which havebeennearsolidly Republican.Therehave onlybeentwoDemocrats electedtoCongressfrom theFirstTNCongressionalDistrictsincetheCivil War.

TheSpanish-AmericanWarwaswithSpain, basedonUSintervention intheCuba’sWarofIndependencein1898after theUSSMainewasblown upinHavanaHarbor.It wasashortconflict,but CockeCountyformedits ownunittoserve–CompanyC,6thRegiment,US VolunteerImmunes.GovernorBenW.Hooperwas theircaptain.Theunit servedinPuertoRico. Thencomethemodern conflicts–WorldWar I,WorldWarII,Korea, Vietnam,theGulfWar, Afghanistan.Hereitgets personalasmanyknow andhaveknownveterans

fromeachofthese.

Theirstoriesandexperienceshavebeenheard first-handandsomeof theireffectshavebeen witnessedbythoseback home.Thepeacetimeveteransmustnotbeforgotteneither.Theyhavekept ourmilitaryfoundation solidinreadinessforany timesofcombat.

DuringWorldWarI, NewportattorneyCapt. ThurmanAilororganized andheadedCompany E,2ndTennesseeInfantry,whichwascomposedofCockeCounty citizens.

StartingwiththeRevolutionaryWarveterans, foreveryconflictthere havebeenprogramsof compensation.Thosefirst veteranswereawarded bountylandsaswellas pensions,butalsofrom thestart,gettingand receivingthemforsome hadinvolvedtheproverbial“redtape.”Thegovernmenthasnotalways beenforthcomingwiththe reparations,andinthe caseofWWIIveterans,it ledtoviolence.Confederateveteransonlyreceived pensionsiftheindividual Southernstatescould laterfundthem.

In1921allagencies whichofferedanytype ofaidtoveteranswere consolidatedintotheVeteransBureauwhichhas

evolvedintotheVeterans Administration,which waselevatedtoCabinet statusin1989.Themotto oftheVAisbasedonits goalofcaringforthose “whohavebornethebattle.”TheVAmanagesall veteranbenefits—medical,financialandburial.

In1945thepositionof VeteransServiceOfficer wascreatedtobelocated ineverycountytoassist veteranswiththeirbenefits.

TheVAprovidestombstonesforanyveterans sincetheAmerican Revolution,andoflate, citizenshaveseenthatthe unmarkedgravesofmany localveteranshavebeen marked.

Inrecentyears,Vietnamveteranshavecome forwardandrelatedthe negative,unprovokedand hostiletreatmentthey receivedtotheirreturn totheUnitedStates. Suchmistreatmentmay havecontributedtothe estimatethatatleast30% ofVietnamveteranslater havehadsomedegreeof PTSD.Fewofthemtalk aboutit,butwhatmostof thesemighthaveexperiencedcanleavedeep scars.

WhentheUnitedStates enteredtheGulfWar, citizensmadeaconcerted efforttoseeitsveterans werenotagaintreated

astheVietnamveteranswere.Oneplanwas thecampaignof“yellow ribbons”whichcitizens wereaskedtodisplayas asymbolofhonorand remembranceofthose servinginthemilitaryfar awayfromhome.

Anotherlocalgroup thatseekstoremember ourveteransistheCocke Countychapterofthe QuiltsofValor.Founded in2015,thisgrouphas18 volunteers,bothmenand women,whomeetmonthlyattheDAVbuilding. Theyhandcraftquiltsof variouspatternsbutall inpatrioticcolorsand motifs.Anyveterancan receiveoneofthesequilts symbolicofcoveringthem withcomfortandhealing andwithappreciation fortheirserviceand sacrificetoournation. ThelocalchapterofQOV hasdistributedquilts toover500ofourlocal veterans.

Thephrase“Ourcountry–rightorwrong!”was coinedin1816bynaval heroStephenDecatur. Ourveteranshave dedicatedthemselves andofferedtheirlivesin defenseoftheircountry, nomatterwhat.Inevery era,ineveryyear,they havemadeadifference, andthosewhosupport themmakeadifference, too.

Quilts of Valor were awarded to a group of local veterans in 2022.

This group of veterans in 1972 represented service in World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. From left rst row: Hugh Holder, Neil Harper, O.L. Clark.

Second row: Fred Murr, Jack Holt, Ricky Bryant, Randy Reneau. Third row: Herbert Harper, Herman Shelton, Cecil Samples, Ernest Johnson, O.C. Hopkins.

G.A. Bentley, the pied piper of industry

BY EDDIE WALKER G.A.Bentleyisaname

thatwouldnotbefamiliar withmanypeopleinCocke Countytoday.Yet,hiswork herehashadlastingefects formanyfamilies.Asan industrialrecruiterinthe 1950sand1960s,hehelped tobringindustryhere andinsodoinggreatly

improvedtheeconomyof CockeCountyandlifestyles ofitscitizens.Hewasso adeptatdoingthisthat onecommunitydubbed him“thepiedpiperof industry,”ashehadaway ofconvincingindustriesto followwhereheled.

HewasGeorgeAllen Bentleyandwasbornin Coatesville,ChesterCoun-

ty,Pennsylvania,onMarch 2,1890. ChesterCounty,whichis nearPhiladelphia,hasbeen called“thelandofiron andsteel,”becauseofits numberofsuchindustries throughtheyears.Lukens SteelCompanybeganin 1810inCoatesvilleandis stillinoperation.Thesteel industrywasthefounda-

tionforBentley’swork ethic.Hisfatherwasthe superintendentofTheCenturyCompany,andG.A.’s rstjobwasatLukens Steel.In1920hewas managerofanautomobile worksthere.

Mr.Bentleytoldthat leftworkinarubberplant inOhiotobeginasan industrialrecruiterin1928.

Eventuallyhedeveloped whatwascalledthe“BentleySystem”whichactedas a“go-between”forcommunitieswhowereseeking industryandindustries thatwerelookingfornew locations.Itwashisjob toseethateach“gotthe mostforthemoney.”Inthe Breese(Illinois)Journal, Dec.2,1937,hismodeof

operationwasexplained: “Hemakesasurveyofa community,learnsofits facilities,includingpower, water,schools,churches,streets,mailservice, nancesandeverything thatmightbeofinterest toanindustrialorganizationifitisseekinganew

G.A. Bentley, far left, with Cocke County ofcials R.D. Ford, Donald Cody and Roy T. Campbell Jr.

locationforitsfactory.His reportonwhathefoundin Breesewasmostfavorable, statingtheonlythingwe lackedwasnaturalgas.He commentedveryhighlyon ourlowtaxrateandthe factthatourcitywasout ofdebt.Heaskedforthe numberofpeoplebetween theagesof18and50living inBreesewhoarewanting workinafactory…“

Thiswashowitwasdone foranylocationwherehe wasengaged.In1935,he wasinLongBeach,New York,in1938St.Louisand in1940hewaslocatedin Chicago.Onereportsaid thatwhenhewasbefore theleadersofacommunity,hespoke“withthe airofanevangelist”which “instilledexcitementand thenenthusiasminthe menattending.”

Overtheyears,he amassedatremendous networkofcontacts,both ofcommunitiesandindustries,andseeminglykeepingallofthisinhishead, wheneveraneedarose,he couldretrieveittomake thenecessarycontacts, usuallystartingatthetop withtheheads.Someofthe placesBentleyassisted,in varyingdegrees,includedKirksville,Missouri, Breese,Spencerville,Ohio, Versailles,Kentucky, Groton,Vermont,Falls City,Nebraska,Seymour, Indiana,Mt.Carmel, Illinois,Casper,Wyoming, AtlanticHighlands,New Jersey,Sikeston,Missour andSmyrna,Delaware. ItwaswhileMr.Bentley waslivinginChicagothat hewasseverelyinjured whenhewasstruckbya car.Herecovered,though badlystoopedandwalking withtheaidoftwocanes. Hechosetousecanes because“whowouldpay attentiontoanindustry locatorwhowalkedinto anofceoncrutches?”

Hewasunabletodrive carafterward,buthisvast knowledgeofindustrial recruitingwasnotharmed andhiscareercontinued.

In1946,heleftChicagoandwenttoNewport News,Virginia,asindustrialcommissionerfor thePeninsulaIndustrial CommitteewhichcomprisedallofVirginia’s LowerPeninsula.OnJan.

1,1951,hebeganasimilar jobfortheBeckley,West Virginia,ChamberofCommercewherehewasuntil December1952.OnJan.

1,1953hebeganworkin Pottstown,Pennsylvania, andwasthereayearwhen hemovedtoMiddlesboro, Kentucky.Thisbeginshis connectionwithNewport andCockeCounty. FollowingWorldWar ll,Americanshadanew visionastotherolethat industrycouldplayina community.Throughthe cooperation,modications andlaborforce,America’s industrieshadplayeda vitalroleinwinningthe war.Manycommunities wereinterestedinthe developmentthatnew industrycouldbring.Such wasavisioninCocke County.Atthattime,the majorindustriesherewere RhyneLumberCompany, Stokely-VanCampand

UnakaTannery,alongwith somesmalleroperations andAmericanEnkain HamblenCounty. Therepreviouslyhad beenaChamberofCommercebutitwasdefunct.

In1951itwasrevived withM.M.Bullard,atrue visionary,aspresident.The newchamberalsocreated anIndustrialDevelopment Committeewithapurpose tostimulateindustryhere.

Contactsweremadebut nothingsubstantialdevelopeduntilthecommittee learnedaboutG.A.Bentley inMiddlesboroin1954. Havingonlybeentherea shorttime,Bentleywas readytoleavebecausehe wouldnotworkwhere therewereunionissues.

JamesFranks,Burnett ShepherdandLutherCooperwenttoMiddlesboroto seeifhewouldbeinterestedincomingtoNewport. Hewas,andhebeganhis workhereJan.1,1955.

Inthenext20months, hemadeover60contacts

withindustries.Oncehe putthecommunitiesand industriesintouch,itwas uptothecommunityto “sell”theirlocationtothe industry. Within90daysin1956, threeindustriesmade planstolocatehere:WallTubefromPlymouth, Michigan,Heywood-Wakeeld romGardner,MassachusettsandNational CylinderGasofChicago. Oncehere,thelatterwas knownasChemtron. Bentleywashereuntil Oct.1,1956,whenhe movedtoErwin,Tennessee.WhenMr.Bentley leftNewport,Col.Bullard wasquotedintheErwin RecordsayingthatBentley hadmorethanlivedupto theexpectationsandthe onlyreasonforhisleaving wasthathiscontracthas expiredandhisindustrial programwasaheadofthe cityplanningprogram.He wasinErwinuntil1958 whenhemovedtoCorbin, Kentucky.InMay1960,he

returnedtoEastTennessee asindustrialcommissioner forElizabethtonandCarter County.

WhileMr.Bentleywas here,Col.Bullardalso workedwithhimtobring industriesandcivicimprovementstothecounty, continuingduringthe timesMr.Bentleywasn’t here.

Mr.Bentleyreturned herein1963,startingon Sept.1asindustrialrecruiterforbothCockeand JeersonCounties.During thistime,hisworkbrought threemoreindustrieshere: VerncofromColumbia,Indiana,Electro-Voicefrom Buchanan,Michiganand SonocofromHartsville, SouthCarolina.

AnarticleintheKnoxvilleNews-Sentinel,Aug. 13,1967,saidBentley “seemstoattractindustries likesugardrawsants.”At thatpoint,Bentleysaidin his39yearsinthat eld,he hadrelocated329industries.Inthatinterview,

Bentleywasaskedwhat Newporthadthatother EastTennesseecommunitiesdidn’thavewhenit cametoattractingindustry.Hementionedthatit wasan“openshop”town, therewaslaborpeaceand awagescalefarunderwhat isfoundinnorthernand midwesterncities.Healso pointedoutthatNewport wasonI-40,existing industrieshereareexpanding,asewersystemis extending,thehighschool hasanewfootballstadium, NGShadmadea$1million addition,SmokyMountain GolfCoursehasanewclub house,HolidayInnisabout toopenandothernew motelsareplanned. BentleyleftNewportthe secondtimein1968and wasnextinPana,Illinois, until1970whenheretired toErwin.Whiledoing recruitingworktherein 1956,hemetandmarried anErwinlady,Mrs.Minnie Weaverin1957.Thiswas histhirdmarriage.His

rstwiewasMargaret Nolan,whomhemarried in1927.Shediedin1953. HissecondwifewasMrs. MargaretDurando,whom hemarriedin1955;that marriagewasshort-lived. WhenMr.Bentleydied Aug.2,1971,attheage of81,thiswassaidabout himinaneditorialinthe JohnsonCityPress-Chronicle:“Hewasapusher,a go-getter,adoer…Getting newindustrieswashis specialty,andhistalents inthis eldwerealmost uncanny…Hecouldopen doorsthatseemedclosed. Hecouldsucceedwhere othersfailed.Heseemed toknowintuitivelywhere togoandwhattoday…To arriveatwhatweowethis man,itwouldnecessary tolookintothelivesofall thepeoplewhohavejobs becauseofhim.”

Manysuchpeoplein CockeCountyhavebeen recipientsbecausepeople likeG.A.Bentleyhave madeadierence.

M.M. Bullard worked cooperatively with Mr. Bentley to bring industry to Cocke County.

BY EDDIE WALKER

Religionandeducation oftenhavebeenhand-inhandthroughtheyears, althoughinmorerecent years,itseemedthateach waspullingagainstthe other.Itwastheworkof thechurchthatestablished the rst ormaleducational programinCockeCounty, andthenvariousreligious denominationsestablished theirowneducationalinstitutions.

CockeCounty’s rst schoolwasAndersonAcademy,whichresultedfroma legislativeactdatedSep.13, 1806,whichdesignatedthe proceedsfromthesaleof publiclandsforanacademy tobeestablishedinevery county.Atthattimethere wereonly32counties.The goalsoftheseacademies weretodevelopthemoral andspiritualnaturesof thepupils,toemphasize culturaleducationandto developabodyofintelligent students.

AndersonAcademywas namedforTennesseeSen. JosephAnderson(17571837),wholivedinLowland inwhatisnowHamblen County.Dueto nancial issues,theacademywas notfunctioninguntil1815. Althoughtheacademywas establishedwithpublic monies,ithadastrong Presbyterianinuence,as mostofitsprofessorswere Presbyterianministers.It wasthePresbyterianchurch thatbroughtreligionand educationintothewildernessofEastTennessee. The rstacademywas amilewestofNewport [Oldtown]nearthepresent intersectionofWoodson RoadandWagonWay.By 1850,theoriginalbuilding hadbeenabandonedand theinstitutionhadmoved toanewbuildinginNewportandchangedthename to“NewportAcademy.” Thisschoolclosedatthe beginningoftheCivilWar. Tennesseedidnothave awell-organizedstatewide schoolsystemuntilafter thewar.Thepresentsystem haditsoriginsin1873 whenanactrequiredpublic schoolstobefundedby propertytaxesandpolltaxesandcreatedtheofceo superintendentofschools ineverycounty.

Thereligiousdenominationscontinuedtosupport theirowninstitutions, whichbecamemission opportunitiesforchurch groups.Itbecamethejob ofthemissionariestomake theschools’programs andneedsknowntothose interested.

ParrottsvilleAcademy wasestablishedin1875bya groupofcitizens,allbutone beingMethodist.The rst teachers,GeorgeR.Stuart andThomasF.Robeson, bothbecameMethodist preachers.Theschoolhad bothprimaryandsecondaryinstruction,withplans tooeroneyearo college work.Theschoolwasin theoldRoadmanMansion. TheParrottsvilleUnited MethodistChurchisonthe sitetoday.

Followingadisagreement oversta,thetrusteesin

word

“SocietyofSoulWinners” in1896. Dr.Guerrant’sorganizationwasresponsiblefor establishingthreeeducationalinstitutionsinCocke County.Firstunderthe controlofthePresbyterianSynodofTennessee, theywerelaterpartofthe ExecutiveCommitteeofthe HomeMissionsofthePresbyterianGeneralAssembly. Theseinstitutionswere Ebenezer,SmokyMountain SeminaryandtheJohn BlackSchool. Ebenezerwasestablished in1898fromaschoolthat hadbegunabout1890by twoMoravianmissionaries,MissCatherinePlontz andWilliamNowak.Of Dr.Guerrant’sschools, Ebenezeristhebestknown. Twoofitsteachers,John WoodandMissLenora Whitaker,marriedand becametheparentsof writerCatherineMarshall, whousedtheirexperience thereasthebasisforher best-sellingnovelChristy, whichwaspublishedin 1967.In1994thestorywas presentedinaTVdrama, partsofwhichsomeof thelocalresidentsfound oensive. Thesiteoftheschoolis nearChapelHollowRoad intheOld15thsection.It isaboutsixmilessouthof DelRio.ThePresbyterians operatedtheschooluntil 1927.Theoriginalmission buildingburnedin1962, butasaresultofChristy, thelocationstillattracts interestfromvisitorstothe area.

SmokyMountainSeminarywasonTobe’sCreek RoadnotfarfromtheI-40 Watervilleexit.Itwasestablishedin1901.In1912it wasreportedthattherewas a ve-roomschoolanda three-roomcottage.In1914, anarticleinTheNewport PlainTalktoldthatthere were43studentsandthat tuitionwas35centsper month.Avisitortothe SundaySchoolreported thatthelessonwascreditableto“thejuniorclassof anytheologicalseminary.” SmokyMountainSeminary closedaround1925.

MissMaryAndrews ofMilledgeville,Georgia,cametotheBlack’s communitynearHartford about1903.Mr.JohnBlack contactedDr.Guerrant abouttheneedforbetter educationalinstructionand spiritualguidanceinhis community.MissMaryAndrewsofMilledgevillecame totheBlacksettlement about1903.Accordingto Presbyterianrecords,the schoolwasnotestablished until1911. Evenaftertheschool closed,thechurchwas calledMaryAndrewsChapel.MissAndrewsremained inthecommunityuntilher deathin1953.

1886soldtheacademyto theMethodistEpiscopal Church,whichoperatedit underitsSouthernEducationprogram.Thename waschangedtoParrottsville Seminary.Information abouttheschool,suchasits sta,curricula,enrollment, tuitionandpropertyvalues beganappearingintheannualreportsoftheMethod-

istEpiscopaldenomination. ParrottsvilleSeminary doesnotappearinthe reportsafter1908.Area newspapersbeganmentioningParrottsvilleHigh School.Mostlikely,theME Churchhadsoldthefacility totheCockeCountySchool System.

Dr.EdwardO.Guerrant (1838-1916)wasaphysician

inMt.Sterling,Kentucky, whowascalledtopreachfor thePresbyterianchurch.He hadafervorforsharingthe gospelwiththepoorinthe remoteareasofAppalachia. Partofhisplanwastohelp thesepeoplewasproviding educationalopportunities wheretheymightbemost needed.Toaccomplishthis goal,heestablishedthe

1913.Ona ve-acretract, therewasaschoolbuildingandcottagesforMiss Comptonandtheministers. Theschoolhadanexcellent academicreputation.The countyschoolsystemsupportedComptonMemorial tosomedegree.Followinga disagreement,MissComptonturnedtotheschool backtoMilliganCollege, whichthensoldittoCocke County.

CosbyAcademywas establishedin1912bythe HomeMissionBoardofthe SouthernBaptistConventionwithintheboundsof theEastTennesseeBaptist Association.Itwaslocated onthesiteofthepresent CosbySchool.

Theoriginalcampus hadanadministration/ classroombuildingand agirls’dormitory.Later aseconddormitorywas built.Classesbeganon Sept.1,1914.Theschool hadbothelementaryand secondaryclasses.Its graduateswenttocollege fullyprepared.Itsmission wasfrequentlyreportedon thestatepaperBaptistand Reector,andinterested patronswerequicktomeet itsneeds.Thefocuson missionschoolsdecreased aspublicschoolsimproved andbusingbecamemore available.CosbyAcademy ceasedtoexistwhenitwas soldtotheCockeCounty SchoolSystemin1935and becameCosbySchool. SunsetGapisacommunityabout vemiles rom CosbyontheSevier-Cocke line.Aschoolwasopened therein1924byMissSarah Cochrane,whowasa eld missionaryofthePresbyterianchurch.Theschoolwas actuallynamed“Glenwood” butwasbestknownjustas “SunsetGap.” ItwasMissCochrane’s mission“totrainboysand girlstoberesponsible,tobe clean,tobeneatandtocooperatewiththeirfellows.”

In1905,MissViola ComptonofIndianacame totheRaven’sBranchcommunityofCockeCountyas amissionaryoftheDisciplesofChrist.Shehada dreamtobuildaChristian schoolthere,andwiththe helpofthecommunityand MilliganCollege,Compton MemorialSchoolopenedin

Atonetimeitwastheonly elementaryschoolinSevier orCockeCountytohavean Arating. TheschoolprogramendedatSunsetGapin1960 andthefacilitybecamea missionandacommunity center.Itisstillfunctionsas suchtoday. Inadditiontothemission schools,twomissionary coupleswhoplayedmajor rolesformanyyearsin thecountywereRev.and Mrs.L.L.BrownandRev. andMrs.O.W.Harer.The couplesworkedinthecommunitiesandtheschoolsto helpthepeoplespiritually, materiallyandeducationally.Theirworkwasdoneon faithasalaboroflove. AfliatedwithChrist’s HomeinWarminster, Pennsylvania,theBrowns werehereforashorttime intheearly1900ssandthen left,doingmissionworkin Persia.Theyreturnedinthe early1930s,leavingin1945 whenRev.Brown’shealth failed.TheHarerscame aftertheBrowns.Manycitizenstodaystillremember “PreacherHarer”andMiss Graceandtheworktheydid toshareGod’swordwith thelocalschoolchildrenfor 40-plusyears.

As they taught, they spread the

Ebenezer Mission was the basis for the novel “Christy.”

Compton Memorial School at Ravens Branch.

Why it’s called McCabe Avenue

McCabeAvenueisin WestEnd.Manydrivers usethisroutetoavoid heavierBroadwaytraffic closertodowntown.The streetgoesrightbythe RhyneLumberCompany site,whichisfamiliarto manypeople.However, therewouldonlybeavery fewwhowillremember thatthatbusinesswas earlierknownasMcCabe LumberCompany,andat othertimes,SpiegleLumberCompany.Infact,the areaalsohasbeencalled “SpiegleHill.”

UntilaftertheCivil War,treeswereusually felledonlywhenanarea wastobeclearedtoget thelandforcultivation, forfirewoodortoget materialtobuildahouse orbarn.Forthelatterreasons,itwasnotthelargest treeswhichwerecut.In theSouthernmountains therewasstillmuchvirgin forestlandandmany massivetrees.

Atthattimethedemand forwoodwasgreaterthan thatformetal.TheeconomyoftheSouthhadbeen primarilyagriculturaland hadbeendecimatedby theravagesofthewarand theabolitionofslavery. Thenortherncapitalists soonrecognizedanopportunity.Herewasanarea ofrichresources,andwith ashortageofreadycash,a willinglaborpool.

Oneofthefirstlarge scaleloggingoperations intheSouthwastheScottish-CarolinaTimberand LandCompanywhichwas establishedhereinCocke Countyin1884.That businesshasastoryallits own,whichWilmaDykemancoveredinherbook TheFrenchBroad.(The SCTLleftherein1886. Ms.Dykeman’sexplanationwasthecompany’s devastationfromaflood. Sheprobablyhadknew, butchosenotthewrite, thatanothermajorreason wasthelackofcooperationbetweentheSCTL andthelocalbusinessand politicalleaders.)

Therewereotherareas intheSouthwherelater loggingoperationswere located.Theprimary focusforthebusinessmenwasremovingthe desirabletimberandfor theworkersitwasgetting theirwages.Therewas onlyminimalregardto thelandorlandscape. Forestsarearenewable resourcewhich,however, takestime.Inmanyareas, barelandwaswashed anderodedwhich,in turn,removedwildlife habitatsanddamagedthe streams.

TheBiltmoreForest SchoolontheVanderbilt estateinAshevillewas thefirstforestryschoolin theUnitedStates.From 1898-1914,itsgoalwas toteachsouthernershow toconservetheforest resourcesandtoquickly replantcut-overlands. Incorrelationtothiswas PresidentTheodoreRoosevelt’sdesiretoprotect wildlifeandpubliclands thatledtothecreationof thenationalparks,forests,gamepreservesand monuments.

Havingdigressedand gettingbacktothelocal angle,GeorgeMolledore Spiegle(1862-1946)was alumbermanandalso acapitalistwhosawthe potentialofthesouthern mountains.Hecamehere in1898andsetupbusinessintheformerBellvue CottonMill,whichwasat thepresentintersectionof EastMainStreetandLincolnAvenue.TheKnoxvilleJournalandTribune, May27,1900,mentioned thatGeorgeM.Spiegle ofPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,was“operating extensivelumberinterests inNewport.”

In“NewportNews”in theChattanoogaDaily Times,March27,1901,it wasreportedthatSouthernRailwaywasgetting readytoputinasidetrack “forSpiegle’snewlumber millintheWestEnd.” Thenextphasesofthe storyhavebothconfusion anddrama.

OnFeb.21,1906,inthe NashvilleBanner,itwas

reportedthattheSecretaryofStatehasissueda chartertoMcCabeLumberCompanywhichhad acapitalof$50,000.The incorporatorswerelisted asG.M.Spiegle,Walter McCabe,HenrySpiegle, FrankRichardsonand W.D.McSween.

WalterMcCabewasa brother-in-lawofGeorge Spiegle,whosewifewas LaviniaMcCabe.HenrySpieglewasGeorge’s youngerbrother.

Aspecialsectionabout thecityofNewportappearedintheChattanooga News,Sept.15,1906.It wasstatedthatthebusinesshadstartedMarch 1,1906,asasuccessorto Geo.M.Spiegle&Company,whichgrewsoquickly haditwasnecessaryto movetoaneightacretract onthewestsideoftown.

Handlingonlyhardwoods, theretheyoperatedasaw mill,aplaningmill,dry kilnandalumberyard. Theyhaveshippedlumber acrosstheSouth.

GeorgeSpieglewaslistedasPresidentandWalterMcCabeasSecretary. W.J.andW.D.McSween weretheirGeneralCounselors.FrankRichardson andHenrySpieglewere thebuyers. Asmentionedprevious-

ly,HenrySpiegle(18701908),knownas“Harry,” wasGeorge’sbrother. HarrymarriedAgnes J.Hauserin1892and theyhadsevenchildren. WhileGeorge’sprincipal residenceremainedin Philadelphia,Harryand hisfamilyhadmovedto Tennesseeby1903. Evidently,Harry“had issues.”In1908,hewas livinginKnoxvilleand wasemployedatthe KnoxvilleSawMillCompany.

AsreportedinthePhiladelphiaInquirer,onSept. 4,1908,Harryhadbeen theblacksheepofthe familyandhad“caused moreorlessdomestic discordthelasteightto tenyears.” Hehadbeenintroubleseveraltimesand hisbrotherhadhadto straightenthingsout. Harryhad“desertedhis wifeforasoutherngirl,” andGeorgehadbrought Harry’sfamilybackto Philadelphiawherehewas supportingthem. Harryhadgottena lumberjobinMarshall, NorthCarolina,whenhe wasarrestedandtriedfor forgery.InAugust1908, thecasewasdismissedon atechnicality.Forsome reason,hefeltGeorge

wasresponsibleforhis arrest,andonSept.3he cametotheoffice,where hefireda.32revolver whichmisfiredtwice.In anensuingscuffle,George wasabletowrestthegun awayfromHarryandshot athim,meaningittobe justawarning.However, abulletstruckHarryin theshoulderandranged downward,damagingseveralvitalorgans.Heunderwentsurgerybutdied laterthatnight.George turnedhimselfintothe police,madebondand wasreleased.Thenext yearhewasacquittedby reasonofself-defense. Reportsofthisincident werereported,naturally inTheNewportPlain Talk,aswellasacrossthe country.

In1910,WalterMcCabesoldhisinterestin McCabeLumberCompany toG.M.Spiegleandwent intobusinessforhimself inKnoxville.AdvertisementsintheKnoxville newspapersstatethathe waslocatedonthe“old Baldwinballpark”atDale andSouthandwasbuying “allhardwoodsandwhite pine.”TheMcCabefamily movedfromNewportto Knoxvillewheretheywere quiteactiveinchurchand socialaffairsformany

years. Herecomestheconfusingpart:whichwas whichandwhoowned what?

In1911,TheNewport PlainTalk,reportedthat SpieglemillwouldbeenlargedatMcCabeLumber Company.IntheSpecial EditiononFeb.24,1915, therewasanarticleabout thelumberbusinessof WalterMcCabe,and duringthattimethere wereregularadvertisements,sayingthatF.S. Graddonwasthemanager.TheMcCabeCompany wouldhavealumberyard neartheT&NCDepotin Newport.(Thatwasat thepresentintersection ofAshevilleHighwayand EdwinaRoad.)

In1916,Spieglewas partofagroupwhich establishedanoperation, calledCotrim,inBristol,Tennessee.Themen weredescribedas“expert lumbermenandmanufacturersandhavebeen operatingatNewport, Tenn.”TheSpieglefamily remainedinvolvedwith Cotrimformanyyears.It isstillinoperation. In1918,CharlesT. Rhyne,ayoungman, cametoNewporttowork forMr.SpiegleasmanagerofMcCabeLumber

Company.(YoungRhyne hadpreviouslyworkedfor BoiceHardwoodCompanyatHartford.)One pictureshows“McCabe LumberCompany”onthe millandanothershows “SpiegleLumberCompany”onthewarehouse.

Mr.Rhynewaslater abletopurchasethe business.TheNashville Banner,Feb.18,1926, reportedthatRhyne LumberCompanyhad beenincorporatedwith $30,000capital.The incorporatorswerelisted asC.T.Rhyne,T.Q.Hunt, J.O.Cope,W.D.McSween andMotelleRhyne. (Mrs.PatsyWilliams recallsthattheRhyne familywenttotheNew YorkWorld’sFairin1939 andstoppedinPhiladelphiatodelivertheirfinal paymenttotheSpiegle family.)

So,thisiswhyNewport hasMcCabeAvenue. Thesemenmadea differenceinproviding amarketforloggersand industrialjobsformill workers.Also,theyproducedqualityconstructionmaterialsforcontractorsandcarpenters. Theseopportunities remainedconstanteven duringtheyearsofthe GreatDepression.

Spiegle Lumber Company

McCabe Lumber Company

Atown’sappearancemakesadierence

BY EDDIE WALKER

A2019Bloomberg studyreportedthatthe morebeautifulacityis themoresuccessfulitis atattractingjobsandnew residentswhichinturn generatesmoreincome. Thereportwentontosay thatbeautifulplacesdonot

justoccurnaturally.They aretheproductofpublic policyandinvestment,but residentscananddomake theircitiesmorebeautiful. Civicimprovements don’tjustrefertothe infrastructure–utilities, transportationandservices suchas reandpoliceprotection,schoolsandlibrar-

iesandhospitals.Theyalso includecitybeautication whichinvolvescleaningup trashandwaste,removing weedsandunnecessary growth,razingdilapidated structures,plantingfowers,treesandshrubbery, painting,lightingdarkened areas,repairingbroken pavementandsidewalks

ANewKitchenWithPaintedCabinets

andpaintingwherever needed.

Whonoticesthese needs?Urbanplanners andindustrialdevelopers, ofcourse,do,butthere arethevisionaries,those personswhocanseethe potentialsbeyondwhat isthebroken,thetrash, thedilapidated.These

S

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peoplehaveprideintheir communityandrecognize thatanattractivephysical environmentcanchange theattitudesoftheentire population. Itwouldseemthat Newporthasalwayshad suchpeople.InNewport’s earliestyears,oneofthe town’searlynewspapers,

theEasternSentinel, madementionoftheneed forresidentstotakemore prideintheappearance ofthetown.Intheissue ofJanuary27,1881:We arecertainlyinhopes thattheexperienceofthe pastthreeweekswillnot

Margaret Clark, Frances Leibrock and Louise Butcher work to beautify the library grounds.

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1318SpicewoodFlats.DelRio,TN|(423)487-2655

APPEARANCE

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belostuponourcitizensinregardto fixingupoursidewalks…thestreetsin thewestendoftownarealmostimpassableandveryfewladiesdaretoenliven ourthoroughfares…Dr.[L.W.]Hooper complainsaboutthemud…OnMarch 10,1881,itwaswritten:Housecleaningisinorderandathoroughcleaning shouldbegiventhestreetsandalleys. Afewtouchesofthepaintbrushwould makewonderfulimprovementinsome localities.Wecertainlyhavetheprettiesttowninthestatewhenithasonits Sundayclothes.

Intheyearsbetween1890and1910, therewasagroupofcitizenswhoreally promotedNewportandCockeCounty andsoughttobringbusinessandindustryhere.Therewerelongarticlesinthe Knoxville,ChattanoogaandNashville newspapersdescribingtheadvantages andopportunitiesofthetown.Itispeople likethemwhohavewantedourtowntobe madeasattractiveaspossible.

In1911aWomen’sImprovementClub wasorganizedherewiththegoalofdevelopingthecivic,intellectualandcultural life.IntheNewportPlainTalk,March9, 1911,theladiesannouncedthatageneral cleaningupweekwouldbeset orthe rst weekofApril.TheyaddedthattheBoard ofMayorandAldermenwereentering intothe“spiritofamorecleantown”and weretakingupthequestionofgarbage cans.IntheApril20issue,theladies expressedappreciation ortheefortsthat thecitizenshadmadetowardscleaning up. OnJune8,1911,thefollowingletter fromMrs.J.W.O’Haraappeared:Adrive aroundourbeautifultownwillreveal manyimprovementswhichhavebeen inauguratedthepastfewmonths.Our macadamized[graveled]streets,newly paintedresidences,oldram-shackled buildingstorndown,outhousesand fenceswhitewashed.The“Clean-up”spirit iscontagious.Ifyoudon’tbelieveit,my friend,justtrysettingandexampleyour neighborswillfollow.

Likeanyproject,civiccleanlinesshasto becontinuedorslovenlyconditionswill recur.ThiswastrueinNewport,foraneditorialin1914asked“IsNewporttohavea cleanup?”andstatedThereareonlytwo streetsinNewport…othertownsthesize ofNewporthavecleanerandbetterkept streetsthanwehave.Itisaprettyshiftless townthatwon’tcleanitsstreets.Theother dayweheardthattheonethingwrong withNewportwasthatthestreetswereso dreadfullydirty.

AnotherarticleAug.26,1924,wastitled “NewportNeedsCleaning-Up.”TheKnoxvilleJournalreportedthatinSeptember 1934thattheTwentiethCenturyClubhad hostedameetingwithleadersofNewport women’sorganizations–UnitedDaughtersoftheConfederacy,AmericanLegion

Auxiliary,PTA,BusinessWomen’sClub –allofwhichpledgedtheirsupportto “improveandbeautifyNewport.”InNovemberofthatyear,Mr.SamBrewsterof TVAspoketotheclubaboutaidavailable fromTERA[TennesseeEmergencyRelief Administration]tosecureacityplanner toassistindevelopingzoningregulations, beautifyingpublicareasandestablishing acitypark.

In1963,Newportwentintocivic improvementinaBIGway.Thelocal ChamberofCommercesponsoredthe “Clean-Up,Paint-Up,Fix-Up”campaign andurgedallcitizensandorganizations toparticipate.Mrs.PatsyWilliamswas chairmanofthisendeavor.Itwasavery successful,andinJanuary1964Newport wasgiventheawardfor“TheBestOverall Program”intheTennesseeCommunity Program.Theyalsoreceivedsecondplace inthe“GrandAward”fromthestate.

InFebruary1964,NewportMayorand Mrs.J.FredJoneswereinWashington, DCattheInternationalInntoreceive the“SpecialAchievementAward”forthe Clean-Up,Paint-UpandFix-Up”national campaign.Thecompetitionwasdivided bycitysizeandwasbaseduponcivic beautication,slumprevention,health andsaety,juveniledelinquency, reprotection,civicprideandbusinessdevelopment.MayorJonesproudlystated,“Our citizensworkedhardforthisaward.”

Onecitizenwhoreallyputherdesirefor

aprettierNewportintoactionwasMrs. EvaSexton.

ShewasanativeofNewport.In1961 shebeganthejobasmanager/secretaryof theNewportChamberofCommerceand shewasamongthosewhowouldpromote Newportanditsopportunitiestoinquirers.ShewasquicktodefendNewportto anydetractors.Shedidn’twantanycredit orrecognitionforherself;shewasonlyinterestedinmakingNewportabetterplace toliveandwork.

WhenshelefttheChamberin1981,she wasn’tidlelong.MayorJeanneWilsonengagedherinbeauticationeforts orthe town.Usingher“greenthumb,”hersense ofcoloranddesignandherfrugalnature, shesettomakeadiferenceintheappearanceofthetown,aseconomicallyas possible.Readersmayrememberseeing herputteringabouttowninherbaseball cap,hercarloadedwithgardeningtools andwaterjugs.

Theconcreteplantersalongthestreets wereheridea.SheenvisionedthedogwoodgroveacrossfromWalgreens.She cameupwiththeplanfortheoldPisgah Cemetery,anovergrownjungle,tobe preservedandeasilymaintained.ShedesignedthelocalhistoryparkontheriverbankonEastMainStreet.Shespentmany hoursplantingandwatering owerbeds attheNewportCityParkandthroughher efortsthecaboosewasplacedinthepark. SheandDougShoemakerwereresponsi-

bleforthegrowthofwhitepinesaround theperimeterofthepark.

Whileshewantedtobe“acommittee ofone,”shewasquicktosayshecouldn’t haveaccomplishedthishaditnotbeenfor “herboys”fromtheCityStreetDepartment.Itwasherdirectionandinspiration thatbeganthebeauticationprogramthat isinplacetoday. TimDockeryisDirectoroftheNewport ParksandRecreationthroughwhichthe beauticationprogramismanaged.This includesthevariousparks–CityPark, PetMilk,WhiteOak,BryantTown,Fifth/ Filbert–aswellasthegroundsofthe CommunityCenter,CityHallandPolice Department.TheyalsomaintaintheEva SextonGreenwayandthegrassyareas aroundtheinterstate. The owersalongthestreetsandonthe bridgesareparticularlyattractive.The plantsarepurchasedbyFayeFishandare grownunderahydroponicsystemthrough acycleoertilizing/ ertilizing/ushing. Thecityplantsandmaintainsthe owersinhangingbaskets,both19inchand 24-inch,fromtheutilitypolesandthe44inchhayracksonthebridges.Theyhavea wateringtankof500gallonsmountedon avehicletotravelabouttowninaspecic pattern.

Today,KeepCockeCountyBeautifulcurrentlysponsorstheclean-upon DouglasLakebasin,oneofthearea’smost picturesquespots.

Eva Sexton oversaw the restoration of the old Pisgah Cemetery.

Dean Williams and G.A. Bentley at a Jaycee meeting in 1962.

Service organizations have contributed much

BY EDDIE WALKER

Tennesseehasbeen knownasthe“Volunteer State”foralongtime,and themenandwomenwho havejoinedthevarious serviceclubsareexcellent examplesoftheembodi-

Cell:865-322-1474

mentofthatspirit. Aserviceclubisa voluntary,non-prot organizationwhichmeets regularlyandisdened byitsservicemissionand itsmembership.These groupssupportcharitable causesrelativetotheir

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David.Popiel@yahoo.com

DavidPopiel REALTOR

www.CountryLivingRealtyTN.com

respectivecommunities eitherbydirect,hands-on eortsorraising undsto supportthesecauses.Itis thegoalofthesegroupsto bettertheircommunities.

Althoughsomeorganizationshavespecicmembershiprequirements,no oneisforcedtojoinanyof theseorganizations.They dosobecausecamaraderie withtheothermembers andaninterestin ulllmentoftheorganizations’ goals.CockeCountyhas hadmanysuchorganizations.

Theoldestformalorganizationinthecounty wouldbetheMasonicOrder,whichreceivedacharterasLodgeNo.4in1806

fromtheStateofNorth Carolina.Masonryisan ancientfraternalsociety whosegoalshavebeento promotethebrotherhood ofmanandtheFatherhoodofGod,torenderaid tothelessfortunateandto liveresponsiblelivesthat reecttheobjectiveso the society. WhentheMasonserectedtheirlodgehallin1875, theymadeprovisionfor Newport’schildrenbyprovidingabuildingforthe NewportAcademy.The Masonsusedthetop oor andtheschoolthebottom. ThiswasNewport’sschool until1898,andevenafter that,thebuildingwasused foroccasionallyforoverowclasses romNGS. TheMasonsandafliatedorganizationslikethe ShrinersandtheEastern Starsupportcausesforthe bettermentofthecommu-

nity.Throughtheyearsin CockeCounty,otherfraternalsocietieshavebeen theInternationalOrganizationofGoodTemplars,Woodmenofthe World,KnightsofPythias, KnightsofHonor,Junior OrderofUnitedAmerican Mechanics,Independent OrderofOddfellows, Rebekahs,RoyalArchMasonsandImprovedOrder ofRedMen. TheNewportKiwanis Clubisanotherorganizationthatisworkedfor thebettermentofthe community.Organizedin September1920,oneofits rstserviceprojectswas actuallyspentimproving thegravelhighwayat WolfCreekinMay1921. Throughoutitshistory, aidingchildrenandyouth hasheldtoppriority. Manyoldercitizenswill recall“KidsDay”atthe

“FollowingJesusThroughHisWord y 1 10: ac bo sN w

CityParkeverysummer. KiwanisKapers,arevue-typeproduction,was enjoyedbythecommunityforseveralyears.The KiwanisClubisstillactive today. TheNewportLionsClub was rstorganizedin1939 butdisbandedduring WorldWarllbecause manymemberswent intothemilitary.Itwas recharteredin1949.Inadditiontomanycommunity projects,anotherofthe club’smainprojectswas sightconservation.They providedvisionexamsand glassesfortheneedy,and theywereverysupportiveofVolunteerBlind IndustriesinMorristown. Theclubdisbandedabout 2010. TheNewportRotary Clubwasorganizedin

SEE SERVICE ON PAGE 19

234LincolnAvenue 423-623-2903

Office:423-430-9012

SERVICE

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December1957.The rst presidentwasJackHixon, the rstsecretaryDr.Jack Clark.Thisgroupsupportedanylocalprogram which ellundereithero itsobjectives–promote peace, ghtdiseases, providecleanwaterand sanitation,protectthe environment,support educationandbuildthe localeconomy.Theclub disbanded.

Thename“Jaycees” actuallystands orJunior Chambero Commerce.It isanorganizationtoprovideopportunities orcivic developmenttoyoung adults,18-40,whoseekto makeapositivechangein society.ThelocalJaycee chaptersponsoredthe rst “MissNewport”pageant herein1957.

TherewasanOptimistClubinNewportin thelate50s.Thisgroup seekstomakethe uture brighterbybringingout thebestinchildren,in thecommunitiesandin themselves.

TheSmokyMountain SertomaClubwascharteredherein1968.The nameisanacronym or “servicetomankind” whichspeakso their goals.Oneo their rst projectswasdeveloping theplaygroundatthecornero BeechandEighth Streets.Lateradoptedby theKiwanisClub,itisstill

widelyusedtoday.The clubsponsoredthe“Miss NewportPageant”19691974.Theyalsohonored leadersinthecommunitywiththe“Serviceto Mankind”award,the rst recipientbeingDr.Hobart Ford,Sr.Theclubdisbandedinthelate1970s.

Healthcharities ocus onpromotingawareness o andraising unds or theresearch orcuring andtreatingthoseaficted withcertaindiseases. Thesearenationally organized,buttherehave beenmanylocalcitizens whohavebeeninvolved intheactivitieso these charities.

TheMarcho Dimeswas oundedin1938byPresidentFranklinD.Roosevelt orthecauseo polio,as hehimsel wasavictim.

Oncepoliowasbrought undercontrolbyvaccines, the ocuso themovement shitedtoimprovethe healthconditionso womenandchildren. Fromthetimeo its oundingin1924,the AmericanHeartAssociationhasworked or improvingthecardio-vascularhealtho mankind. Fundsraisedhelpedresearch orbettertreatment andmedicine orhearth health.Therewasatime whenlocalcitizenshadto gotoplacessuchasPhiladelphia orheartsurgery andstayweeksinrecovery.Improvementshave broughtsuchtreatments toKnoxvillewithrecovery

beingonlydays.

Few amilieshave escapedthescourgeo cancer.CockeCountyhas hadtwoorganizations thathaveworkedtothose whohavebeenaectedby it.TheAmericanCancer Societyhasachapterhere. Anothergroupinvolvedin helpingcancerpatientsis CelebrateLie.

TheAmericanLungAssociationwasestablished in1907whentuberculosiswasthenumberone causeo death.Fromthat time,TBhasbeenbrought undercontrolbutother respiratoryissuesremain andthelungassociation isstillworkingtoalleviate those.ChristmasSeals weresoldasa undraiser o thisorganization. TheRuritanorganization ocusesonsmall townsandruralareas.Localclubsareautonomous andcan ocusontheneeds intheirowncommunities andcanstructuretheir programstomeetthose needs.Thesehavebeen thelocalRuritanclubs: Cosby,Parrottsville,Centerview,Edwina,DelRio andNaturalBridge.Inadditiontohelpingindividualsintheircommunities, thesegroupshaveworked toprovidesuchthingsas athleticteams,community centers,medicalclinics, beauticationandanti-littercampaigns, redepartmentsandscholarships. TheHomeDemonstrationClubswerealiated withtheCountyAgent

whichisparto theUT AgriculturalExtension Service.Theclubsallow ruralhousewivestomeet togethersociallyand learn romtheHome DemonstrationAgentnew methodsandpractices toimprovehomeand communitylie.InCocke Countytherehavebeen severalHomeDemonstrationClubs:Cosby,Parrottsville,SinkingCreek, SunsetGapandNewport. Theseladiesalwaystook anactiveroleintheCocke CountyFair. AsAmericabecame amore“throwaway” society,mucho thiswas becominglitteralongthe roadsandhighwaysand inourtowns.In1988 the“AdoptaHighway” programwasbroughtto CockeCounty,andcitizens andorganizationsbegantakinga ewhoursa monthtocollectthelitter whichhadaccumulated alongcertainstretcheso roads.CockeCountyand theCityo Newportboth establishedconvenience andrecyclingcenters, whichallowresidentsto disposeo trash.Cocke Countyhasachaptero KeepAmericaBeautiul. Thisorganizationseeksto createclean,beautiullocations,promoterecycling andreducelitterwhich willhaveapositiveimpact onthelocaleconomyand theenvironmentingeneral.Thisgroupsponsors theclean-upo Douglas Lakebottomeachyear.

Theladieso thegarden clubshaveadoptedprojectswhichwillimprove theappearanceo the community.Formany years,theNewportGarden Clubkeptthegrounds o theStokelyMemorial Library.TheHeartease GardenClubtookthe beautiedplotattheconjunctiono Broadwayand CollegeStreet. Therehavebeenwomen’sorganizationsthat werecultural,educational andsocial,buteacho theminvariouswayshave adoptedprojectsthat improvedthecommunity invariousways:TwentiethCenturyClub,Cliton Club,TenaseeClub,Beta SigmaPhi,AlphaDelta Kappa,EpsilonSigmaAl-

pha,TannerPreservation Society,MusicAppreciationClub,NewportMusic Club,EaselArtClub,BusinessWomenClub,Senior CitizensandCockeCounty RetiredTeachers. In1986agrouporganizedandcalledthemselvesthe“DeadPigeon RiverSociety.”Theybegan thecampaigntoseethat BigPigeonRiverwas cleared romthepollution whichthepaper actory hadbeendumpingintoit since1908.Itwasnotan easynorapleasantcampaign.Thereweremeetings,therewerehearings, therewerethreatsbut thegroupperseveredand todaytheBigPigeonlooks muchdierentthanitdid in1986.

The following were pictured at a Newport Kiwanis Club meeting. Seated from left: Billy Smith, Allen Thomas, Fred Chapman and Hugh Russell. Standing: unidentied, Ben D. Stokely, Gay Gillespie, unidentied, Jim Burnett.