The leaves are turning, the temperature is cooling, the days are waning. It's fall y'all!
In Union County, fall ushers in the Union County Heritage Festival. This tradition has graced Maynardville for the last 15 years. But this year a coronavirus changed how we celebrate.
In 2020 the Festival Committee has transformed the Heritage Festival into Heritage Crafts for the season!
In the spirit of “Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?” a hit game show that challenges adults to answer grade-school questions, I find myself wondering if the average adult remembers important lessons learned about the historical figures who helped shape our great nation. Recently, I was pondering Abraham Lincoln. Hopefully, we all remember that Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president, delivered the Gettysburg Address, and signed, by Executive Order, the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, however, my thoughts flow beyond historical events and more toward who he was as a person.
Since it is my birthday, I decided to write about my birthplace and the historic sign at its site: the old Ailor Mill on Route 144, Ailor Gap Road. Of course, this is not really my birthplace, but as a four-year-old I did believe my father when he said that it was. My real birthplace was in a 1958 Chevrolet in Claiborne County, but that's another story. It may not have been that mill on that site, but simply a barn constructed there after the old mill was torn down. Regardless, I believed it to be true and now a historic marker commemorates the site.
Union County, by Tennessee's standards, is a small county. With an approximate population of 20,000, we have not grown a great deal in the last few decades, or even during the 20th century. That seems like it is changing and will continue to change in the 21st century.
Union County's population changes as society changes. We have seen an influx of "Rust Belt" refugees, migrant workers and Norris Lake retirees.
We can be assured of these continued changes with increased urbanization, or, more accurately, increased sub-urbanization.
Many of you may know the origins of the name Union County; although there are two possibilities. The first explanation is based on the "union" of land from the 5 surrounding counties: Knox, Grainger, Claiborne, Campbell and Anderson. The second is based on the area's support for remaining in the United States during the secession crises in the 1850's, the decade of formation of our county. Perhaps, it is a mixture of both.
I am going to use the space for this first article to introduce myself and discuss some of the topics and sources I intend to cover and reference. I am Joel Collins, a history teacher at Union County High School for the past several years. I have come to this writing invitation through Aaron Russell and Bonnie Peters, because I've taught Union County history at the high school for a few years. I have to say that I didn't just stumble into this; however, I was kind of born into it.
Deep rooted in the Black Fox community in Union County, Tennessee, sisters Lorene and Goldie Davis share a rich love for the county and an unwavering love of family instilled in them by their parents.
Reflect on Union County’s unique history with a visit to the Union County Museum and Genealogical Library, where you will feel right at home when greeted with a, “Welcome, how may I help you today, and who do I have the pleasure of meeting.” Museum volunteer Wanda Byerley says that many promptly return a smile and a family name that they wish to learn more about.
It begins on the night of Saturday, April 20, 2019 in the Union County High School Auditorium when the announcer introduces the Union County Opry Band to play a musical tribute to entertainers that have come from Union County including Lois Johnson, Carl Smith, Chet Atkins, Roy Acuff and Jim Wyrick. “The good Lord above has poured out a special bucket of talent on Union County,” said Danny Cooke.
My friend Pauline Sharp sent me a picture of Gladys Stooksbury Snoderly riding a jenny. The picture was made near the Dr. F. C. Bradfute home at old Loyston. Pauline fondly recalls opening a gate for Gladys so that she could go visit some of her relatives without having to get off and back on the jenny. Gladys was born July 28, 1908 at old Loyston, the daughter of John Franklin and Mary M. Stooksbury. Pauline thinks she was about nine or ten years old–1917 or 1918–when the picture was taken. Gladys grew up in Union County.