Readers of the Memories column did another great job in 2011 of providing me with additional information on the various articles. Let’s open the e-mail Inbox folder, and share some bits and bytes of information that are archived for some of the histories.
YES, MELVILLE WAS NAMED FOR MEL – posted 2/20/2011 – a history of the Melville community near Soddy Daisy, TN
Some history of "Melville Hill"- like many mountainous areas in our region, Melville Hill was a place to find moonshine stills. At least one local family supplemented the income by making and selling illegal whiskey there. There were stories of "revenuers" catching the locals and also of prison sentences for the guilty. Also, near the depot area today stands a small church which was at one time a "Holiness Church" that practiced the handling of poisonous snakes for religious reasons, taking root from the small number of Holiness churches springing up in our region and in counties of east Tennessee.
SOUTHERN ROCKERS ROCKED THE CITY – posted 2/27/2011 – Chattanooga concerts by the artists mentioned in “The South’s Gonna Do It”
(This article tied with the Miller Brothers Subway history for most responses in 2011.)
Many years ago, I think in the late 70's or early 80's, Charlie Daniels played in a parking lot behind the freight depot which is across that side street from Warehouse Row. Of course it is not the Freight Depot anymore.
As I recall, Z.Z. Top use to come to the National Guard Armory in the early seventies. I attended a concert of theirs at that location. I saw Lynyrd Skynyrd, the original lineup, at the Warehouse in Dalton, as well as Ted Nugent. This was the early seventies. If I remember correctly Elvin Bishop played a festival here. I remember going to the Art District and seeing him. It may have been Riverbend? Wet Willie played here at the Hunter Art gallery as well as Riverbend. I am not sure of the years.
Charlie Daniels Band played Memorial Auditorium around 1979. They were on the tour for the “Million Mile Reflections” album which had just been released. Pure Prarie League was the opening act. Apparently Lynyrd Skynyrd played here some time in ’75. There is a live bootleg album “Live Chattanooga ‘75”. Notes I have found give the show date as 3/19/75 but I don’t know the venue.
Charlie Daniels Band played at Engle Stadium around 1973-75 timeframe. I was a member of the warmup Band known as "Ramrod" The bands were setup on a Flat bed trailer as the stage. I have a picture showing Charlies Bus in the background. Charlie Daniels is one the nicest guys around.
The Allman Brothers Band played here four times:
May 7, 1971 -- Maclellan Gym / UTC
August 17, 1980 -- Memorial Auditorium
November 18, 1995 -- Roundhouse
June 17, 2006 -- Riverbend
ZZ Top played here three times:
February 23, 1986 -- Roundhouse
October 12, 1994 -- Roundhouse
June 12, 2008 -- Riverbend
The Elvin Bishop Group played for the opening of the Walnut Street Bridge on May 1, 1993
The Dickie Betts Band played Riverbend on June 8, 2002
Wet Willie Played Riverbend on June 16, 2004 and played a New Year's Eve concert at the Convention and Trade Center in either 2004 or 2005
The Charlie Daniels Band played Riverbend on June 15, 1997
I'm a Chattanooga native but have lived in Nashville for 30 years, working in the music business. I was in high school and college in the 70's and attended many concerts at the auditorium and other area venues. I recall several shows in Chattanooga by some of the artists you mentioned. The first one that comes to mind, though I was too young to attend has become quite well-known among old-time music lovers in the area. The original Allman Brothers Band, consisting of the late Duane Allman and Berry Oakley appeared at the old National Gaurd Armery on Holtzclaw Ave. in 1971. The opening act was a new, then unknown Texas trio called ZZ Top. Wet Willie played the auditorium many times during their heyday in the 70's. I saw them open for Grand Funk Railroad there in 1973. I also saw them open for Poco there, though I don't recall the exact year.
The Charlie Daniels Band also played the auditorium many times in the 70's. After one show that I attended, Charlie came to the old Yesterday's after the show and sat in with Overland Express. Word had leaked that Charlie might be there and there was a line around Patten Parkway waiting to get in. The Marshall Tucker Band also played the auditorium several times. I attended one show around 1973 or 74.
BRAINERD’S BEDFORD BUICK BUSINESS – posted 3/20/2011
I enjoyed your article in Chattanoogan.com that reminded me of four businesses in the Brainerd area within a few blocks of each other: Bedfords, Redfords, Ledfords and Thedfords [car dealer/shop, five and dime store, Texaco service station and hardware store]. Then, of course, Leonards that seated 250, 25 at a time!
I recently read your article on Bedford's Buick in The Chattanoogan with great interest. My grandparents lived in the Glenwood neighborhood back in the 60's and always owned Buick automobiles. My earliest memories include taking trips in their old Roadmaster and later in their 1963 LaSabre Station Wagon. My grandfather was a retired truck driver for the former Atlanta Motor Lines so he was keen on keeping the vehicles in tip top shape. To that end, there were many days spent driving up through the tunnel from Glenwood to see "BC" to work on the cars. I remember walking around the shop and observing the work being performed on the various cars in there for service. In addition to Mr. BC, his brother worked there as well and he handled all of the body work for the shop. I cannot recall his name but I remember him being quite a jovial personality. In his later years, I recall seeing Mr. BC on Sunday mornings as we attended First Cumberland Presbyterian Church together. For many years, my grandfather would always seek him out for conversation about the bygone days. I will always fondly remember Mr. "BC" and his shop and especially how they had the coldest Coca-Cola drinks in their "old timey" vending machine there in the shop.......I think they were a quarter back then.
BRAINERD BEACON COVERED COMMUNITY NEWS OF THE 1950’S – posted 4/17/2011
I got my start delivering the Beacon and later the Sun-Beacon in an area from Belvoir to S. Moore Rd and Brainerd Road to Ringgold Road. I rode an Allstate Moped. (there was no interstate then). We would pick up the papers at the office, roll them, and put a rubber band on them. We put them in a bag with a strap over our shoulders and threw them in the driveways. I received $.01 each for each paper that I delivered. As I recall the Sun was originally the East Ridge Sun, but merged with the Beacon. This was in 1958. I believe the paper quit publishing near the end of the summer.
LITTLE ART SHOP WAS FRAZIER AVENUE LANDMARK – posted 5/8/2011
(Many readers shared that they still own and treasure prints of George Little’s artwork.)
WILLIE’S AUTO PARTS KEPT CHATTANOOGANS ROLLING ALONG – posted 6/14/2011
I remember back in the 1980 ~ 1990's, two sisters ran it, and could locate any part you needed.
They were so familiar with the 1000's of parts and location of the parts, they could take you right to whatever you were looking for. They were good at pricing the parts. Always fair.
I bought a steering wheel for my 1970 Chevy pickup truck there. Also, bought many hubcaps from them. One of the sisters had the nick name of "HubCap Annie.” They were very friendly ladies.
(One e-mail was from one of the daughters of James Willie Powell)
We had a house in the middle of the Salvage Yard and I grew up watching my father build transmissions, motors, generators. starters, etc. He also built race car motors. The Powell family had a very different life style, very unique. The greatest thing about my father was he rendered a service to the area and helped many people and churches. He also has a family history that is unreal. His ancestors came from Wales royalty, he is also related to many famous people that have contributed to pioneering America. One of the jobs, I performed as a child was putting up inventory and stacking used carburetors and other parts to be repaired or sold.
THEY SOLD THE KEYS TO THE CITY – posted 6/21/2011 – an article on local keyboard dealers
I live in Nashville and a friend in Chattanooga sent me your article. What a walk down memory lane. I really enjoyed it. I started my piano lessons in 1959 with Dickie Matthews and then went to Mr. Miller at Allen's Music on Dodd's Ave. I ended up playing 30 years for a living.
REMEMBERING SERVICE MERCHANDISE – posted 7/26/2011
(from the Chief Operating Officer of the current Web-based Service Merchandise) We recently saw your article on Service Merchandise and appreciate your views and memories.
We are still out here and Raymond Zimmerman is still the company owner. In fact the company is redoing its web site, expanding its assortments and working to be in a growth mode again this Holiday season.
REMEMBERING STEVE CONRAD – posted 8/11/2011 – late news anchor and elected official
When he was Commissioner, Steve called me ( GM of Moccasin Bend Golf Club at the time ) to ask if it was okay to plant some small pine trees along the Tenn River on # 13, trees that he had acquired from a source unnamed. Of course, it did need some erosion control as well as improve the hole's beauty as one looked toward Lookout Mtn. Steve and his wife played the course at least once a week and oftentimes made pertinent suggestions. The loblolly pines grew to over 30' as years went by. They acted as an erosion control until the TVA had to raise and lower the Tenn River to control flooding which caused the bank to collapse several feet each year. The Federal Govt under a grant arranged by Zach Wanp is currently stablilizing all the banks along Moccasin Bend. So. one might say that Steve Conrad played a small part in the need for the current job.
(from Kevin Conrad, son of Mr. Conrad) I am just now getting to this email thanking you for the very nice article you posted about my dad. It reflected his life as you remembered it and I am grateful to you. My dad impacted the City of Chattanooga in many ways and I was particularly interested in your mention of street lights. I remember that period very well. He was instrumental in lighting the town and actually took some heat for doing so. The newer street lights made a significant difference in Chattanooga and made the town a much safer place to live.
My dad had a particular interest in St. Elmo and East Lake trying to improve the neighborhoods and parks. Along with creating Montague Park, improving Warner Park and spearheaded Ross’s L:anding, his impact is still felt today. He was a man of amazing integrity and courage which he demonstrated during his public service years both with the City Commission and as County Registrar. I thank you for writing about him and what he did for Chattanooga.
W.S. DICKEY CLAY MANUFACTURING – posted 8/16/2011
I bought a house (that) had five chimney pots which we had to take down for a while to extend the chimney. The chimney pots where made by, you guessed it--- Dickey Clay. The house was built in around 1915 and only two of the original pots survived
CHATTANOOGA CHEROKEES – posted 10/12/2011
(Several readers sent e-mails that mentioned former members of this semi-pro football team who still live in the area.)
REMEMBERING THE MILLER BROTHERS SUBWAY – posted 12/27/2011
(It must have been cool to many children and adults to walk under Broad Street, and shop along the way. This article was tied with the aforementioned “Southern Rockers” for most responses. Here are just some of the e-mails.)
My father was the electrician for Miller Brothers from before I was born (1951) until about 1962. Their office was in the basement very near the subway under Broad Street. I would visit on Saturdays and was free to run anywhere in the store. My father and I would often go on the roof and look down at the edestrians. He also had a rose garden on the roof. Great memories! Thank you for writing this article.
I worked in the advertising department in the 70's. One of our special times was Dollar Days when each department would put out items that hadn't sold and price most of them for one dollar. We would take a coffee break, sit on the mezzanine and watch the women dash for the bargans as soon as the doors opened. About the subway. The entrance from the main building was next to the door from Broad Street. The housewares department had one power lawn mower left and had priced it at five dollars. There was a hand rail seperating people from the subway steps. One gentleman came through the door, jumped the hand rail, broke his ankle but got the mower.
Days like that truly made our coffee breaks a joy.
I was 9 when it opened and went through it every time my mother took us shopping there.
I don't remember what all was down there but it was a fun experience for us kids.
Is it still open and usable? I had not thought of the subway in several years
I well remember the tunnel at Miller's, and walked it many a time from when I was a small child with my mother and grandparents to my adult years. It always fascinated me. I really enjoyed their cafeteria too. We would shop there and have lunch. Really enjoyed the article bringing it back to mind.
If I remember correctly, there was a small lunch counter in the
middle, I was young and remember walking through there with my mom.
On my very first day at work at Provident, (my supervisor) took me to lunch at the luncheonette in the Miller Brothers subway. He called it "the tunnel." I had lived in Chattanooga for only a couple of weeks, but that's when I was first introduced to downtown Chattanooga.
My parents bought my first 35mm camera at Millers which had the camera department in the subway at that time. A Mamiya 35mm fixed lens SLR with selinium (no battery required) meter. The 'fixed' or non-interchangeable lens was normally a negative but turned out to be a blessing as I learned to be very creative by having to use make-shift items in front of lens for different effects. Still have it.
HAPPY 2012!
I appreciate all of the e-mails and welcome your suggestions for future histories. Here’s wishing all a happy 2012, filled with only pleasant memories.