Historic Union County

Spreading the good news of Union County

Human archaeology normally involves the study of things left by an ancient people in an ancient time, but it is also interesting to observe more recent signs that people lived in our area within the last 150 years or so. Many areas that appear to be natural untouched forests were actually greatly impacted by human presence. I find it intriguing to seek out visible clues and try to figure out what took place many years ago. Here are some indicators that humans impacted the landscape, particularly in a forest.

Have you heard of FCE clubs? Perhaps you have heard of the homemaker’s club. Family & Community Education clubs (FCE), formerly known as the homemaker’s group, have been around for a long time.
While 4-H clubs have been a way of building community and skills among youth throughout Tennessee history, FCE clubs have been doing the same for adults. The goal of FCE clubs is to strengthen the home and community by improving the quality of life of individuals and families through continuing education, leadership development and community service.

East TN Lions club is holding their 9th annual Reverse Raffle! In a Reverse Raffle, all the tickets are pulled out one-by-one until there are only 3 tickets left. The third to the last ticket wins $500. The second to the last ticket will win $1000. And the LAST remaining ticket, after all the others have been pulled, is the Grand Prize winner of $2000.

During pregnancy, a woman’s body goes through many changes. obviously, it’s a wonderful phase of life. But it’s also a challenging time. Extra weight brings a shift to the center of gravity. This causes new sensations, and, in some cases, discomfort.

There are many advantages to growing up on a farm. For me, one of those was having well water to drink. But I when I tell people that, some are not sure what to think.

And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me. For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always. She hath done what she could . . . (Mark 14: 6-8a KJV).

What does springtime in Tennessee lack? That’s easy. Smelt. A few years ago I found one package in Food City’s frozen foods. I have searched for them every year since, but to no avail.

Anyone who has hiked and crossed a mountain stream or took a cold drink out of a spring has likely seen periwinkles, which look like small black pebbles scattered about in the water. Closer inspection reveals that they are freshwater snails. I’ve been told by my older kin that seeing these little guys in a stream indicated that the water was clean enough to drink. I wouldn’t go that far about the purity of the water, but they are partially right in that these snails are environmentally sensitive and good indicators of unpolluted streams.

Union County Imagination Library hosted the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library Regional Roundtable on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at the Luttrell Library Community Center. GELF is celebrating 20 years of promoting early literacy since its founding under Governor Phil Bredeson in 2004. Mayor Jerry Lawson of Luttrell warmly welcomed the group and shared some of the events to promote children's activities and how important Imagination Library is to Luttrell as well as his own family.

Thunder Road Printing & Graphic Design kicked off its month long 10th birthday celebration on March , 2024 in Maynardville. Marvin Jeffreys manages the business for Mitch Lester, owner of American Business Equipment, Inc. Everyone enjoyed cake and signing up for door prizes. The door prizes will be given away on March 29.

On March 4th, the Union County Smoky Mountain 4-H made a trip to the Willow Ridge nursing facility in Maynardville. When the 4-Hers got there, they got out the cards they had made previously and some fuzzy, grippy socks attached.

Calling all Easter Egg Hunters in Union County between the ages of 1 and 10 years old!! We have it on good authority that the Easter Bunny will be visiting Wilson Park in Maynardville on Sunday March 31!! All children from anywhere in the county are invited to come help find some of these eggs! The Hunt is sponsored by the American Legion Post 212 and will start at 3:00. To make it fair, the Hunt will be divided into age groups. Kids from 1 to 3 years old will have their own group. Those 4-6 years old will hunt together and young folks 7-10 years old have their own hunt!

It’s good, of course, to keep all your muscles strong and limber. But the strength of the body’s core — the muscles in your belly and mid- and lower back — is one of the keys to long term health and stability as you grow older.

Over 20 Union County Veterans enjoyed another fantastic meal at the American Legion Building at noon on March 4th! Veteran Volunteers Audry Hanken, Bob Horner, Sally Jones, and Carla Moman prepared a most delicious lasagna, garden salad, garlic rolls and a low sugar chocolate pudding with graham cracker dessert! Delicious food all prepared with gratitude and served free to any and all Union County Veterans! Are you a Veteran? Were you there? Be sure to catch the next meal crafted with love and thanks by Margo McCaffery and the Union County Veteran Volunteers!!

It is an old cliché that there are two things no one can escape in this world—death and taxes. Governments throughout history have supported themselves with taxes from their citizens. The Bible references taxation in several places. Jesus was born while his earthly parents were on a journey to be counted in a census in response to a decree that all the world should be taxed. One of Jesus’ disciples was a tax collector. Zacchaeus, who climbed a sycamore tree the Lord for to see, was a tax collector.

As Tim drove the car back down Mine Road, I felt like Wrongway Feldman from the TV series “Gilligan’s Island.” In case you’re unfamiliar with him, he was a pilot who always flew his plane in the wrong direction. While we weren’t traveling in an airplane, we were traveling in the opposite direction from our destination.

This was my first attempt at using giant pasta shells. This recipe is easy to do. The results are spectacular. What a beautiful dish, tasty, too.

Nothing says Springs-a-comin’ like seeing Daffodils spotting the countryside. They are of particular interest to me because I’m a mountain history nerd, and they often point to old cabin sites that I like to check out when I’m out exploring