2023 Sep 22, James D. Vaughn, Old Jail Museums and David Crockett's Log Cabin Lawrenceburg, TN

 Today, we rode to Lawrenceburg.

Our granddaughter didn't have school today and wanted to visit a museum. 

She has become interested in museums just this year, so we are always looking for a new one to visit.

Today, we went to the James David Vaughn Museum located at the 

Visitor Center 31 Public Square Lawrenceburg, TN 38464. 

Opened Monday-Friday 9:30–11 A.M. and 1–3 P.M. Call to get an appointment (931)762-8991 

A Piano, Microphone, and Worship and Service Hymns of James D. Vaughn 

Sheets of his music: Gospel Chime, Working on the Road, Hills of Tennessee, Jesus Forgives and Forgets, I Believe in the Lord, Jesus is All I Need, Talk it Over with Jesus, Love Lifted Me, My Loved One is waiting on me, Heaven Must be my new home, and O what a blessing he is to me.

Vaughn School of Music 

David Crockett Log Cabin (Closed for Repairs)

Old Jail Museum, Waterloo Street, Lawrenceburg, TN 38464
Opened only 
Tuesday-Friday 10–2 P.M. 
Please call (931-212-1944) 

The jail cells, the Sheriff's office, and the home are upstairs. You can walk inside the cells that once housed prisoners, which Ave didn't like. She would not go inside the prison cell blocks.

Newspaper Article about Sheriff Greg O'Rear killed by a prisoner. 

Inside the cell with the prisoners

The museum featured artifacts about people, places, Military Uniforms, School Uniforms, cameras of every shape and size, famous people from Lawrence County, Old Apple Computers, bicycles, quilts, and more. You just have to come to see for yourself. 

Our historian could go on all day and never cover everything in this building. It is loaded with information about Lawrenceburg and is well worth a visit.

A.L. Cantrell Lawrence Co Confederate Veteran 
I lived to be 112 years old 
Bet he had some stories to tell!

People from Lawrenceburg have gone on to be famous or essential in various fields.

Senior Texas Ranger Captain Bruce Casteel (also Texas Rangers Hall of Fame, Waco, Texas) 

David Crockett 1786-1836 King of the Wild Frontier  

James David Vaughn 1864-1941Gospel Song Writer  

Silas Mercer Beasley 1834-1914 Early Settler 

Rollie D. Beckham (1879-1978)

Fred Dalton Thompson 1942-2015 Actor, politician, attorney, lobbyist, columnist, and radio personality

J.H. Stribling (1863-1951)Church leader, entrepreneur, financier 

2017 April 22, Saturday, Touring the Lairmore House Florence, Alabama Tour guide Billy Warren

One of the sites on the Florence Walking tour was the Larimore House, led by Billy Warren, a retired schoolteacher.

The front side of Larimore and the tour group 

Home of T.B. and Esther Gresham Larimore
Mars Hill Academy, 1871-1887

Behind the Larimore House

The Gothic-style house, built by Theiphilus Brown Larimore and his wife, Esther Gresham Larimore, is located near the site of a foundry and arsenal of the War Between the States.
It served as a school from 1871 to 1887, training ministers and Christian workers of the Church of Christ.
It was used from 1947 to 1968 for classes at Mars Hill Bible School.

Theiphilus Brown Larimore was born July 10, 1843, and died March 18, 1929.
Brother Larimore began preaching after his baptism and did so whenever an opportunity arose. He taught school at Mars Hill and preached three times, sometimes on Sunday.
He preached all over the USA, Canada, Mexico, and Cuba.
Larimore died & is buried in Orange County, California, at Fairhaven Memorial Park Cemetery.
His second wife, Susan Emma Page Larimore, is buried next to her husband, Mr. Larimore.
Susan wrote a column for the Gospel Advocate, Children's Corner, and several books.

His first wife was Julia Esther Gresham Larim, born on July 11, 1845, and died on March 4, 1907

Inscribed on her tombstone 

Went home March 5, 1907

A dutiful daughter, a loyal, helpful, hopeful wife, a model mother, a sweet singer, a truly conscientious, consistent Christian, always consecrated Christian, always consecrated. Faithful to Christ and his cause, she was perfectly prepared for that lovely home where sorrows and said separations are unknown, "where life is eternal and a treasure sublime. Farewell, sweet wife-by grace divine. We'll meet you "over there," your lonely husband. 

They had six children:

Mary Delilah Larimore George 1869-1959

Grandville Lipscomb Larimore 1871-1925

Theiphilus Brown Larimore 1872-1903

William Herschell Larimore 1874-1928

Julia Esther Larimore White 1876-1960

Andrew Virgil Larimore 1879-1972

Article from the Gospel Advocate 1870 Advertising the Mars Hill Academy
For males and females
This Institution situated four miles Northeast of Florence, Alabama on the highway leading from Florence to the justly celebrated "Bailey Springs, " will be ready for the reception of pupils by January 1 1871.
The location is free from all temptation to extravagance, and health and convenience cannot be excelled.
Boarding, washing, lights, and fuel $75.00
Tuition $20
The contingent fee is $5.00

Piano from the family collection

Mantel inside the Larimore Home

Family photos line the wall along the staircase leading upstairs.s

Billy Warren gave a speech about the Larimore House & several Larimore family members toured the house for the first time, there to learn more about their family's history. 

I joined several for a meal in the basement.
We were served pork, green beans, and sweet potato casserole with iced tea. 

I walked outside and took pictures of the Rose bushes in full bloom. 

On July 20, 2018, the Larimore Home caught fire and was severely damaged, leaving its repairability in doubt.
Power to the house was previously cut due to another small fire about ten days before the one in July.

2016 Saturday, June 25, Helen Keller Festival Actives

The Helen Keller Festival honors a woman, Helen Keller, who not only overcame being blind and deaf but also became a great ambassador for America. 

Helen Keller was born to Arthur Keller and Catherine Adams Keller on June 27,1880, and died on June 1, 1968.

Helen learned to read and write with the help of Anne Sullivan, and she graduated from Radcliffe College with honors in 1904. Helen also wrote several books and was an advocate for several causes. Helen Adams Keller is buried in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, DC. 

My first stop was the Car and Truck Show, held on Main Street in Tuscumbia and sponsored by the Shoals Car and Truck Club.

The streets were crowded with people walking around, looking at the vehicles on display. There were vehicles like the Scoobie Doo Volkswagen, to the newest Corvette.

I tried to find a place to park my van, which would be about midway through everything I wanted to do.

I walked down the street to Cold Water Book Store, where the Tuscumbia Walking Tour people were to meet.

I was a little early, so I walked inside to cool off, and there were several more people there. There were several vendors set up inside, so I went by each one and stopped to talk to them.

I talked to a man selling books on how to start a business. I said I was retired, had no interest in starting a business, and liked history. He said that some of my family would like to start a business. I said I have a family member who already owns a company. He laughed and said I guess you are not going to buy a book from me and I said Not unless it is about history. We both laughed. 

Next, I met a woman selling jewelry. She said that she lived in Atlanta but was originally from Tuscumbia, and she came every year for the Helen Keller Festival. 

I stopped at the following table where a man, his wife, and his son were sitting. He was selling a series of books about UFOs. He told me he made the bust statue of Werner von Braun at NASA and that he had worked for Disney.

There was a display of beautiful pictures depicting the early '50s & '60s, and whoever painted these pictures sure did a great job. The woman standing next to me said they were hers. 

She said growing up in the 50s was just like the Happy Days show.

It was getting close to the start of the walking tour, so I walked outside to wait for it to begin.

Three people shared information about how Tuscumbia got started and how it came to be called Tuscumbia. The Old Stage Coach Building was pointed out to us, and we were told that we could tour it on our own later. We walked up Main Street, stopping to listen to the women talk about the train depot where Anne Sullivan was picked up by one of the Kellers' carriages and taken to Ivy Green. A carriage owned by the Kellers is on display at the Tuscumbia Depot. 

We also listened to the women talk about the newspaper building where Mr. Keller worked. 

The streets were still very crowded as we made our way up. 

We stopped just outside the Abernathy House, and one of the women asked if the group could tour the house. 

We were invited inside, and some of the group walked upstairs while others toured the tunnel underneath the house. The tunnel was once used to bring food from the kitchen to the dining room, which was located downstairs.

Everyone walked outside and across the parking lot. Our next stop was in the blazing sun, so I looked for a shady spot while the women talked about the two nearby churches.

Finally, we arrived at the First Presbyterian Church, where we were invited to the Helen Keller Mini Concert. 

Dinie Stone played one song, Jesus Loves Me on the harpsichord.

Brian Beck played a couple of songs on the Organ.

Dinie Stone played a selection of  hymns and classics on the piano 

Dinie played songs about water, about communion, and when Dinie began to play America, everyone stood and joined in the singing. 

In the end, everyone was invited to stay for light refreshments. 

Once I knew only darkness and stillness...
My life was without past or future, but a little word from the fingers of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living. 

Helen Keller Mini-Concert

The letter was written by Helen Keller.

Everyone was given a copy of the letter Helen Keller wrote to Reverend WF Trump. 

I enjoyed two glasses of fresh lemonade and two cookies while I sat and talked with several women. 

It was around 12:30 P.M., and I still had to walk back to my car. 

I was going to the Keller Library to hear Keller Thompson talk about the life of her great-great-aunt, Helen Keller.

I arrived at the Keller Library, but the door was still locked. It was bout fifteen until one. Many other people were waiting. I walked back to my van and cranked it because it was too hot to stand outside. Right after I cranked the van, the door opened. So I got out of my van and walked inside.

I enjoyed listening to Mrs. Thompson's talk and slide show about Helen Keller. 

There were also light refreshments after the talk. I got a bottle of water and a cookie.

It had been a great morning, even though the heat index was over 100 degrees.

2015 ~ Saturday, June 27, Helen Keller Festival Tuscumbia, Alabama

Today I went to the Car Show in Tuscumbia, where on display were a variety of antique cars, 
White & black Rally Sport Camaro, black Belair trimmed in white, several MGBs, Corvettes, trucks, and some motorcycles. There were Mustangs, Camaros, Chevrolets, & Fords. 

Car Show Mustangs 

Driving down Main St to park.

Volkswagen

The New Ford V8 Coupe Utility 

I took the hour-long walking tour, and our guide talked about Tuscumbia's founding. He spoke about the founding of the Railroad, the many hotels in Tuscumbia because of it, and the rivalry between Colbert County and Lauderdale County.

The Colbert County Reporter 

The Train Depot and Museum 

Why would people from Tuscumbia travel by train to Decatur to the bank and shop instead of going to Florence?
John Coffee a surveyor laid out the founding of Tuscumbia in a Commons. Tuscumbia was sold to the US Government by the Indians.
Our guide talked about the different churches on Dickson Street that started out on Main Street.

St John's Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Walking group 

House behind St John's Episcopal Church on Dickson Street 

Touring Bus 

Walking group

The street where the Cold Water Book Store is now was once Grain Row, and Main Street was once Mechanical Row.
This was the main shopping area of Tuscumbia in the early days.
He said the water flowing in Spring Park comes from an underground spring, and the area was once the hunting grounds for the Indians.

Met this adorable dog, and his owner had him sit and pose for me. So cute and lovable

Our tour ended at First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia, where everyone was invited inside to listen to a Helen Keller Festival Mini Concert featuring Dinie Stone, pianist, Blair Reinlie, oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 

First Presbyterian Church in Tuscumbia 1824-1904

Dinie Stone, pianist, Blair Reinlie, oboist, & the great, great, great-nieces and nephews of Helen Keller. 

Guitar player

The great, great, great-nieces of Helen Keller did a solo accompanied by a guitar.

Blair Reinlie oboist

Helen Keller, born June 27, 1880, died June 1, 1968. "Happy Birthday, Helen".
"Once I knew only darkness and stillness... my life was without past or future... but a little word from the finger of another fell into my hand that clutched at emptiness, and my heart leaped to the rapture of living."
Helen Keller
Songs 
Over the rainbow, Etude, To a wild Rose, We gather, We praise, The Lord is in His Holy Temple, Surely The Presence of the Lord is in this place  In your arms Lord Jesus Christ, Children of the Heavenly Father, Down at the River we shall gather, Let us break bread together and remember you, Behold the lamb, Amazing Grace, I dream a dream, You raise me up, God Bless the USA, God Bless America.
Everyone joined in singing God Bless America.
After the concert, everyone was invited to light refreshments.

I stopped at the Tuscumbia Art Museum to view art by disabled students from Alabama and watercolor paintings from all over the USA. There were some exciting pieces on display. 
One of the volunteers came into the museum with a notebook about the art, and we discussed several pieces. 
Ate lunch at Ruby Tuesday with two new friends I met at the Art Museum. I was telling my husband about my day. He laughed and said, "Nothing you do surprises me."

2015 ~ Saturday April 14, Walking Tour, Car Show, Tuscumbia, Al, Grand Opening at CE Pools, & Krisby Kreme Treats

We cooked pancakes and eggs for breakfast, then everyone got ready, and we rode to Rogers High School for the car show.
I thought it started at 8 A.M., but it started at 10 A.M., so we rode to Tuscumbia, where we rode through the park, stopping to visit with Bobbie and Sherry, who always walk in Spring Park.
We were still too early for the walk, so we rode to the Round House and Train Depot.

We saw this rock face at Cold Water Book Store.

I parked and we walked to Cold Water Book Store, where the boys bought a coffee, a cookie, and a brownie.

We left on our Civil War tour at 10 A.M., walking up Main Street to the courthouse, where our guide, Buddy Whitlock, spoke about the Civil War, the Colbert County Courthouse, and the brick house across the street.
He said it was now owned by the adjoining church, and it has an underground tunnel leading into the kitchen from the attached outhouse, which is still standing.

He also mentioned the Deshler family, the loss of Mrs. Deshler, the loss of his young daughter from an unknown illness, the drowning of one son while attending a military college, West Point, and the other son killed during the Civil War; both sons attended West Point.
Mr. Deshler built a girls' school, with no heir; everything he owned he left to the city of Tuscumbia.
There was no room for expansion, so the school was moved up the street to the Winston Family homeplace, and land was donated to the school.
The school name remained the same, "DESHLER".

Picture of Deshler School I took in 2009
This is the Winston House 
We walked to The First Presbyterian Church, built in 1827 and Alabama's oldest house of continuous worship in the Georgian Gothic style.

Helen Keller was baptized in this church in 1880.
The former slave gallery is preserved and offers balcony seating.

Mr. Whitlock talked about the church's history, and afterward, we listened to a local artist play "Lorena" on the banjo.

Lorena is a song loved by both Union and Confederate Soldiers.
Oh, the years creep slowly by, Lorena,
The snow is on the ground again.
The sun's low down in the sky, Lorena,
The frost gleams where the flowers have been.
But the heart beats on as warmly now,
As the summer days were nigh.
Oh, the sun can never dip so low
A-down affection's cloudless sky.
A hundred months have passed, Lorena,
Since last, I held that hand in mine,
And felt the pulse beat fast, Lorena,
Though mine beat faster far than thine.
A hundred months, 'twas flowery May,
When up the hilly slope we climbed,
To watch the dying of the day,
And hear the distant church bells chime.
We loved each other then, Lorena,
Far more than we ever dared to tell;
And what we might have been, Lorena,
Had but our loving prospered well --
But then, 'tis past, the years are gone,
I'll not call up their shadowy forms;
I'll say to them, "Lost years, sleep on!
Sleep on! Nor heed life's pelting storms."
The story of that past, Lorena,
Alas! I care not to repeat,
The hopes that could not last, Lorena,
They lived, but only lived to cheat.
I would not cause e'en one regret
To rankle in your bosom now;
For "if we try, we may forget,"
Were words of thine long years ago.
Yes, these were words of thine, Lorena,
They burn within my memory y.t;
They touched some tender chords, Lorena,
Which thrill and tremble with regret.
'Twas not thy woman's heart that spoke;
Thy heart was always true to me:
A duty, stern, and pressing broke
The tie which linked my soul with thee.
It matters little now, Lorena,
The past is in the eternal past.
Our heads will soon lie low, Lorena,
Life's tide is ebbing out so fast.
There is a Future! OH, thank God!
Of life, this is so small a part!
'Tis dust to dust beneath the sod;
But there, up there, 'tis heart to heart.
https://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=utf-8&fr=aaplw&p=lorena+song+youtube
When the music ended, everyone walked inside to take a look at the interior.
A woman was playing the piano, and all I could see was the top of her head.
We were told that the pipe organs above us are still used today.

Pipe Organs

Playing the piano

walking down the steps from the balcony

We were allowed to walk up the stairs to the balcony.

In the 1800s, Tuscumbia was a thriving town with at least three hotels.
The Pink Palace Restaurant was one of the old hotels that people enjoyed in the 1800s.

The Pink Palace Restaurant was once a hotel where visitors to Tuscumbia stayed.

 We stopped at Krispy Cream for donuts and on to CE Pools for their grand opening, where we enjoyed hamburgers, Cokes, chips, and Dianne's famous banana pudding. 

Donuts from Krispy Kreme 

Then onto the car show at Rogers High School, which ended at 2 P.M., and I thought it ended at 3 P.M. Several cars had already left, but we still saw quite a few. 

Montana in the MG

Nevada in the MG

Nevada and Montana got to sit in an MG Sports Car owned by Linda and John McCoy. Thanks, Linda and John, for letting the boy sit in your car. After a long, fun day, we came home, the boys on one computer and me on another. 

We had a great day.