Greenback Historical

Society

Hardware Restoration Has Begun!

Without fanfare the old McCall-Kerr Hardware began first steps to restoration. The fallen in roof and musty contents were removed down to the soil.  Several members went by to watch the process and see if they were any treasures amid the debris.  The old pressed tin roof was not pressed with a design, but several rusty pieces were salvaged to hopefully find a place in the new museum as wall hangings in the planned conference room for the historical society. A number of bricks were salvaged. If not needed in the completion of the back wall, it is hoped they can be sold in fundraising efforts. 

I was fortunate enough to drive by while Ronnie Hudson and Andy McCall were surveying the cleaned-out site.  Andy, former director of maintenance at Maryville College whose, father worked at the hardware and ran a tv repair service from the back corner, was a wealth of information.  He explained how the outside bricks were likely double-fired for better weather resistance while the inside bricks were single-fired. The inside plaster was likely mixed with pig hair for extra durability. The brick on the east side has had the least weather exposure and is in the best shape. There are many areas where the grout is failing and will need tuck and point repair.  If you note the side wall, you will see bricks are laid horizontally for seven layers and on the eighth run the bricks are turned to connect to the inner brick wall. Andy says it is still strong!

Andy was able to point how the merchandise was arranged from shotguns to buttons and seeds. He acknowledged that the process will be expensive and though through the combined efforts of the museum and our organization over $25,000 has been raised, we will need to continue with fund-raising efforts. Let's all pitch in!                      -Cindy Benefield

The Greenback Depot: Renovated 2012

Activities at the depot are increasing monthly. In late summer, Thursday nights at the depot became music driven.  Anyone with an instrument was encouraged to show up at 6:00PM to play and sing.  After the Arts and Crafts Show in September, more and more participants began to arrive. Toes tapped and voices rang out to stringed music.  Thursdays were coordinated with the Greenback Diner which serves dinner each Thursday night.

Halloween brought booths, interactive exhibits, with witches, haunts, ghosts and a cemetery across the street.  In its fifth year, the celebration takes place on the Saturday prior to the traditional day of October 31.  Spear-headed by Laura Del Rio and Colleen and Kittie Ragain, the event gains more each year.  This year we even had a motorized canoe being paddled down Morganton Road, and as usual, candy was plentiful. Children and their parents are encouraged to attend

During the fall four birthdays and two weddings used the Depot as their venue.  Then came exciting December.  Another Arts and Crafts exhibit and sales took place on the 7 and 8 in conjunction with the City Christmas Parade.  So many exhibitors requested a table that there was a waiting list of 20 exhibitors. This is so popular that Wendy Edmondson Tittsworth said another will be held in the spring of 2013. Present plans are now for four exhibits per year. 

A Christmas tree was set up on the area across from the depot. This spot, which also belongs to Edmondson, has been cleared and sewn in new grass.  With a twinkle in his eye, Mayor Tom Peeler told me that he decorated the tree.  For the first time in 20 years, Greenback held its tree lighting on Saturday evening downtown after the Christmas Parade on December 8. The tree was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Avery Rogers, shipped here from North Carolina.  The bow on top was donated by Teresa Robinson and the lights by Peoples Bank.  Rev. Ron Sabo, Pine Grove Presbyterian Church, gave the message. As the lights came on, Christmas carols joyfully rang out, led by song leader, Robin Kizer.

Restoration of the depot continues and one can see changes almost every time you come to town.  The new statute of Firekiller, the Cherokee, was added in the outdoor section of the Depot Property.  Firekiller was a member of the Cherokee Tribe that settled near here, and according to the internet served as Chief for one year.  The wooden statute was carved with a chain saw by prominent artist, Captain Dave LaVoie, who specializes in chain saw art, woodcarving, mantels and pottery in his shop in Townsend.  The statute carved from cedar wood furnished by Mr. Edmondson, who shared the cost of carving with Seth O?Hara as a gift to the community. Our Greenback School Cherokees can be proud to see their namesake honored in the downtown area. A picture of the Cherokee leader is exhibited in the museum.  Firekiller and his mother are buried near Etowah in the Cherokee Burial Grounds there.

The following week, December 15, Niles Ferry Baptist Church held a fund raiser and Angel Tree for children in the area.  New bathrooms and a dressing area have been added to the rear of the building making it possible to host additional events. Edmondson?s dream of not only restoring the building and its grounds but revitalizing the town seems to be coming true. He is on the property most days as he works tirelessly to achieve his dream. He is encouraging groups and individuals to take advantage of the building and he said that Greenback High School plans to host the Junior-Senior Prom in the building next June. He hopes that the property will be placed on the National Register of Historical Places soon. The Depot has been on the watch list of endangered   historical places compiled by the East Tennessee Preservation Alliance, according to Ethiel Garlington, of Knox Heritage.