MYSTERY PICTURE ADVENTURE
by Pete Boody

 

Sometime in August I received a call from our Membership Director, Bill Granade. Bill and his family were going to the Barber Museum in October and he wanted to know if they could spend some time with us and asked if we all could go on a ride in Tennessee before heading on to Barber. Delighted, we told him that we would plan a cool trip to the hills of Tennessee and then on to Kentucky.
Bill, his wife Cathie and daughter Holly arrived in mid October just when the leaves were nearing their peak. The next morning we met at our home and we made ready to set out.

Excited and ready (Ken & Venita) Don't forget your rain suit (Pete)

Enjoying the trip with us were Ken Gray VJMC Chapter member and Haley and Hannah Dew, two of our grand children. We were really looking forward to a great time even though there was a threat of rain for the following day.
I'm ready; lets go.1 (Ken) No rain, no gain (Holly)

The first leg of our trip leads us to Muddy Pond, Tennessee. This community is a fascinating place of rolling hills, plateaus and farmland. The folks here are friendly and they welcome all who wish to visit. Cathie found a friend right away. The country folks here also make sorghum molasses from raw sugar cane.
Cathie and friend How it's done; making sorghum molasses

After an ample purchase of really good stuff, we headed on to the Muddy Pond General store.
General Store Muddy Pond tack shop (Haley in center)

After a snack we once again mounted our bikes and headed north to Kentucky . Our destination was the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. Our route took us through the foothills and valleys of Upper Tennessee and lower Kentucky and some of the coolest twisting roads around.

Excellent roads for VJMs Are we there yet? (Haley and Hannah)
Bridge across the South Fork
We ended the day at the Barthell Coal Mine Camp that was restored in the mid 1990’s to an exceptional level of the condition that it was, in the early 1940’s. Our cabins were located on the exact sites of the miner’s cabins and were very comfortable. That evening we enjoyed a dinner at the Camp restaurant where the service was typically grand. The camp was a part of the Stearns Coal and Lumber Company and is one of two mines in the United States that can be entered safely by visitors. The restoration included many realistic and pretty darned authentic buildings like the Machine Shop, Barber Office, Doctors Office and the Bath House. We especially liked the restored School House and the Company Store
  Buds (Bill & Pete)
Evening dinner at Barthell In the mine showing a typical coal car
The church was also the school Company store

The evening was passed in the company of good friends and family and we could not have enjoyed a better time.

Next morning we all got together at the restaurant for breakfast and set out to the town of Stearns Kentucky to take a ride on the train into the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The ride ended at the National site of the Blue Heron Coal Mine Camp. This camp is part of the preservation effort to show visitors a glimpse into our mining past in the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky. As we disembarked from the train, we could see the impressive structure that was restored by this effort. The structure is the mystery picture on the VJMC home page that you have seen and asked about. This huge building had 6 sets of tracks running beneath it and it was used to deposit the freshly mined coal into rail cars. As many as 18 coal cars could be stationed and filled by this device. It is called a Coal Tipple and is to this day an extremely impressive device.
Getting ready to leave on the train A ride to remember
Beautiful day for a train ride An opportunity to meet new friends

The upper left picture is the restored Tipple as it is now and the upper right picture is as it was in the mid century when the shot was taken. As you can see both pictures were taken from different angles but I believe that the story can almost be seen and felt as you imagine it when it sent coal to the coal cars, after the mine closed and disrepair set in, then the restoration as seen today.
True to the weather report it began to rain as soon as we returned to Stearns Depot. Suiting up we headed home and even took time to drive through some exceptionally gorgeous country on our way.

If you have questions about our trip, please ask Bill or myself and we will provide answers if we can. Pete Boody, vjmcpete@comcast.net or Bill Granade vjmcna@verizon.net.

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