by B.L. Unkel | Jul 10, 2021 | History
A couple of weeks ago, I shared The Legend of Reelfoot Lake. Here are the historical facts about the earthquakes in that legend. Timeline (All times listed are local to where the quakes occurred.) December 16, 1811, 2:15 A.M. – The first quake (7.2-8.2) hit...
by B.L. Unkel | Jul 3, 2021 | History
Tomorrow is July 4th, our country’s birthday. But rather than talk about the American Revolution, let’s jump ahead almost one hundred fifty years to an American hero known simply as “Sergeant York.” For most people, York’s hero status comes from his actions during...
by B.L. Unkel | Jun 26, 2021 | Travel
I can’t conclude the month of June, and the celebration of Tennessee, without sharing the Legend of Reelfoot Lake. The Legend In the early 1800s, in the northwest corner of Tennessee, lived a Chickasaw tribe. The chief’s son was born with a deformed foot, and...
by B.L. Unkel | Jun 20, 2021 | Holidays
Anyone who has heard my dad’s childhood stories knows he was trouble with a capital T. Whether memories of his own escapades had any bearing on his desire to have only daughters, only he can say. The fact is, he got his wish and had four girls. Being his daughters...
by B.L. Unkel | Jun 14, 2021 | Holidays
The phrases, “The Stars and Stripes” and “Old Glory,” both refer to our country’s flag. The reason for the first is obvious, but where did Old Glory come from? I never thought about its origin—until I “met” Captain William Driver on one of...
