By Mike Steely Water towers around our nation can be unusual, either in shape or how they are painted. In Collinsville, Illinois, there’s a water tower in the shape of a ketchup bottle. Happy faces smile from water towers in several states and at least two states have tea pot water towers. Rochester, Minnesota, has […]
By Mike Steely Senior Writer steelym@knoxfocus.com Years ago, before the automobile, many bridges in our area were covered to protect them from the elements. Few of those continue to exist but there are some here and there that are still in use. It’s interesting to visit a covered bridge to see how our forefathers constructed […]
By Mike Steely Lots of folks in our state are in search of their roots and many often find their ancestors were basically Scots-Irish with a touch of Northern Europe mixed in. Some find Native American or other races in the mix. Yet, in the founding and early days of our state there were places […]
By Mike Steely I don’t fish very often, not as much as I’d like to. I’ve fished deep sea, from ocean beaches and piers, with my kids and wife or by myself, and caught just about every variety of fish. Nowadays I fish occasionally and usually from the banks of the Tennessee River or in […]
By Mike Steely East Tennessee has numerous Native American mounds including in and around Knox County but nothing in the state compares to Pinson Mounds in West Tennessee’s Madison County. Pinson Mounds State Archeological Park has the second highest Native American mound in the nation. The 72-foot tall Saul’s Mound was discovered in 1820 during […]
By Mike Steely I’ve covered thousands of stories in my many years as a reporter. Some I never wrote about because the facts were too unbelievable. I’d like to share a few with you. The Bootlegger Winked at Me I got a call one afternoon that a raid on a local bootlegger was going […]
By Mike Steely Sometimes you just need to take a break from home and work and get away. My wife, Lettie, and I have been working to restore a little camper and have been cooped up in and around our house for weeks. With government public meetings starting up again I get out now and […]
By Mike Steely If you’re headed east on Interstate 40 beyond Asheville, North Carolina there’s one little town right off the interstate you should take the time to stop and visit. Old Fort is aptly named. It began when George Davidson settled there and incorporated an old pioneer fort into his plantation. The place […]
By Mike Steely Outside of the rush and crowds of Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville there’s a small community that is a breath of fresh air. Pittman Center is a surprise and an almost hidden overnight stay for a growing number of overnight renters and campers. My wife and I discovered the hidden gem while […]
By Mike Steely My wife and I were pleasantly surprised to find a “Storybook Trail” at the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park recently and last week we drove to Frozen Head State Park near Wartburg and discovered another one in that park. There are now 17 Tennessee State Parks with Storybook Trails sponsored by the […]
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