Scenic Tennessee
protecting our public views
Announcing the winners of
THE 2008-2009 SCENIC TENNESSEE PHOTO CONTEST
"Lands Worth Preserving"
cosponsored by The Land Trust for Tennessee
Winners will be recognized at a reception and exhibit opening, held in conjunction with Scenic Tennessee's annual membership meeting, on November 6, 2009, from 6-9 pm EDT at the East Tennessee History Center, 601 S. Gay Street in downtown Knoxville. For more information, contact Marge Davis at margedavis@comcast.net.
CONTEST OBJECTIVES
--To celebrate Tennessee’s dwindling farmlands and other vulnerable open spaces and scenic landscapes
--To highlight the role of land trusts in protecting such lands
--To showcase the photographer’s art in framing these views and capturing their meaning
CRITERIA, ENTRANT CATEGORIES AND AWARDS
Submissions to Scenic Tennessee photo contests are judged for originality, photographic quality and the degree to which they fulfill the contest’s stated objectives. Winners may be named in first ($100), second ($50) and third ($25) places in five divisions (adult professional, adult amateur, middle-school student, high-school student and college/trade-school student), with up to three honorable mentions also named per division. In addition, "special subjects" may be created by the judges to recognize a recurring theme. (This year's submissions prompted the special subject "Falling Waters.")
JUDGES
--Jeanie Nelson, Executive Director, The Land Trust for Tennessee
--Joy McKenzie, chair, Department of Photography, Watkins College of Art & Design
--Nancy Rhoda, Tennessean photographer (retired) and freelancer
Note: Framed exhibits of Scenic Tennessee's 2006-2007 and 2008-2009 photo contests may be available for display by museums, libraries and other public venues. For information, please contact Marge Davis at margedavis@comcast.net.
To see the winners of
Scenic Tennessee's
2006-2007 contest,
"Viewing History,"
click here
Carter Shields Cabin
by Larry Anderson, St. Louis, MO,
honorable mention,
adult amateur division,
Scenic Tennessee's
2006-2007 photo contest
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
First Place:
Adult Professional Division
First Light
Little Turnbull Creek, Bowie Nature Park, Williamson County
Photographer:
Wade Hooper,
Fairview, TN
Photographer's statement:
This image symbolizes the beauty of western Williamson County. The uniqueness of the park compelled the community of Fairview to preserve it forever under the protection of a conservation easement. This is an example of what can be accomplished when a community works together to preserve a lasting heritage.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Second Place:
Adult Professional Division (tie)
Summer Harvest
Sulfur Creek Farm, Bells Bend, Davidson County
Winding into the Morning Mist
Bells Bend
Photographer (both):
Paul Schatzkin, Pegram, TN
Photographer's statement:
Bells Bend is Davidson County's last large spread of undeveloped, rural farmland. It is isolated from the rest of the county by a loop in the Cumberland River that makes it inaccessible except by a single two-lane road. As the world's home of "Country Music," Nashville needs to preserve some of its authentic "country" landscape.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Third Place:
Adult Professional Division
Kemmer Farm, Grassy Cove
Near Crossville, Cumberland County
Photographer:
Joe Allen, Nashville, TN
Contest coordinator's statement:
R.E. Kemmer founded this farm in 1860; his descendants still work the land today, making it one of a growing number of working family farms designated as "century farms" by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. The Grassy Cove community itself, a natural sinkhole ringed by mountains, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1973.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Professional Division
Large Flowered Trillium
Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail,
Gatlinburg, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photographer:
Steven Faucette,
Williamston, SC
Contest coordinator's statement:
Established in 1934, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was the first large-scale public-lands protection project in Tennessee. Important not only for preserving stunning natural landscapes, the park also ensures that the Southern Appalachians' rich plant life continues to thrive.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Professional Division
Summer Sunrise
Bells Bend, Davidson County
Photographer:
Paul Schatzkin, Pegram, TN
Photographer's statement:
Bells Bend is Davidson County's last large spread of undeveloped, rural farmland. It is isolated from the rest of the county by a loop in the Cumberland River that makes it inaccessible except by a single two-lane road. As the world's home of "Country Music," Nashville needs to preserve some of its authentic "country" landscape.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Professional Division
Lake Van in Spring
Bowie Nature Park, Williamson County
Photographer:
Wade Hooper,
Fairview, TN
Photographer's statement:
This image symbolizes the beauty of western Williamson County. The uniqueness of the park compelled the community of Fairview to preserve it forever under the protection of a conservation easement. This is an example of what can be accomplished when a community works together to preserve a lasting heritage.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
First Place:
Adult Amateur Division
Fisherman's Dream
Linger Lake, Crossville
Photographer:
Dave Shannon,
Crossville, TN
Photographer's statement:
I took this picture early in the morning from my front porch. I had just let my dog out, and I saw this single fisherman heading toward a tree, and I ran and got my camera.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Second Place:
Adult Amateur Division
Springtime Splendor
Shelby Farms Recreational Area, Shelby County
Photographer:
Eli Watts, Memphis, TN
Photographer's statement:
Shelby Farms is one of the few areas in Memphis to get away from the hustle and
bustle of city life. Areas like this should be more abundant, especially in large metropolitan areas. This land could easily have been developed into apartments or shopping centers—instead, it’s a place where families can picnic, ride bikes together and otherwise build stronger and healthier families. For that reason alone it is worth preserving.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Third Place:
Adult Amateur Division
Misty Morning on the Tennessee River
Knox County
Photographer:
Rob Howard, Knoxville, TN
Photographer's statement:
The pristine banks of the Tennessee River have been dotted through the years by homes, industries, recreational areas and more. Conservation of at least a portion of this beautiful aspect of Tennessee is a key to the state's survival as a picturesque home.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Amateur Division
Waterfowl Wonderland
Shelby County
Photographer:
Eli Watts, Memphis, TN
Photographer's statement:
Wetlands are essential natural filters as well as prime habitat for waterfowl. Unfortunately, these important places are disapppearing in many areas of the country. To have this site in urban Shelby County is a privilege. We should preserve all wetland areas, especially the ones close to home.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Amateur Division
After the Rain
Byrdstown, Pickett County
Photographer:
Serena Matthews Hightower,
Murfreesboro, TN
Photographer's statement:
This field is across the road from my old house in Byrdstown, where I was raised. I can see this from the front porch. I worry so badly that real estate agents will someday buy this land from my grandfather and turn it into a subdivision. I see this happening all too often in Tennessee. It doesn't happen so much in Byrdstown, that I am aware of—at least not yet. Yet it seems it's almost inevitable.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
Adult Amateur Division
Till the Cows Come Home
Monroe County
Photographer:
Mike Rice, Hixson, TN
Photographer's statement:
This old barn and field are located along Highway 39 going toward Tellico Plains.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
First Place:
Middle School Division
Cades Cove
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photographer:
Kara Ziler, Seymour, TN
8th grade
Colonial Heights Middle School
Photographer's statement:
Cades Cove is a very important land to preserve because there are many animals here. Within the park, the animals roam free. Without their natural habitat, some of these animals would most likely be dead. With the economy in the situation it is, national parks are getting less money to operate, and some are simply closing. Keeping Cades Cove open is important for future generations.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Second Place:
Middle School Division
Dead Hemlocks
Cherokee National Forest
Photographer:
Rebekah Champion, Lilburn, GA
8th grade
Alton C. Crews Middle School
Photographer's statement:
I photographed these trees from a trail just off the Cherohala Skyway.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Third Place:
Middle School Division
Down the Duck River
Cheeks Bend Bluff Trail, Maury County
Photographer:
Casey C. Gage, Spring Hill, TN
5th grade
Homeschooled
Photographer's statement:
This photo was taken from the Cheeks Bend Bluff Trail in Columbia, Tennessee, looking down upon the Duck River at about noon.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
First Place (tie):
High School Division
Early Morning at Basswood Farm
Brentwood, Williamson County
Gentle Horse at Basswood Farm
Brentwood, Williamson County
Photographer (both):
Emily Murphy, Franklin, TN
10th grade,
Independence High School,
Thompson's Station
Photographer's statement:
In 2008, Basswood Farm entered into a permanent agreement with The Land Trust for Tennessee, assuring that it will be protected for generations. Owner Brenda Bass was kind enough to allow me to visit the farm. I wanted to take pictures that would motivate someone to support land conservation. All around this area more and more land is being developed. I hate to see fields full of animals that I have grown up looking at suddenly disappear.
I arrived at 5 a.m. to be able to take advantage of the morning light. There was a lot of mist still over the farm, especially over the pond. The pre-dawn light is still over the hills, but the sun is just starting to light up the foreground. I love the reflection!
The horse followed me around the upper farm. Basswood is a horse farm on a beautiful country road next to Owl’s Hill Nature Center. The horses are strolling around the fields and there is nothing more beautiful.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Second Place:
High School Division
Where the Roads May Take Us....
Sunset over Cowan, Franklin County
Photographer:
Adam Stuart,
Tullahoma, TN
10th grade
Tullahoma High School
Photographer's statement:
This photo was taken from Morgan's Steep near the University of the South in Sewanee. You are truly lucky if you can walk from your dorm to a view like this.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Third Place:
High School Division
Natchez Trace Overlook
Middle Tennessee
Photographer:
Katy Lane, Spring Hill, TN
12th grade
Independence High School
Photographer's statement:
Natchez Trace, the first road in Tennessee to be named a National Scenic Byway, is one of my personal favorite spots in Tennessee. There are so many wonderful landscapes to see. Watching sunsets over the hills is easily the best thing ever.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
First Place:
College/Technical School Division
Rolling Waterfall
Cumberland Trail, Soddy-Daisy, Hamilton County
Photographer:
Thomas Coby Hart,
Soddy-Daisy, TN
Freshman
Middle Tennessee State University
Photographer's statement:
This waterfall is on the Cumberland Trail, a place where people can get away from city life and come see nature's real beauty. The people of the Soddy-Daisy community and other towns near and far come to hike this trail and to see nature like this. Without preserved lands, people would lose touch as to what real natural beauty looks like.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Second Place:
College/Technical School Division
A View of Maney Springs
Murfreesboro, Rutherford County
Photographer:
Kevin Cason, Tullahoma, TN
Graduate Student
Middle Tennessee State University
Located in Murfreesboro on what was once known as Oaklands Plantation, Maney Springs is named after the Maney family, prominent residents of the area in the nineteenth century. Sallie Murfree Maney, the daughter of the city's namesake Colonel Hardee Murfree, lived with her husband Dr. James Maney in what is now Oaklands Historic House Museum. Maney Springs served as a water source for the plantation and was a gathering place for family and community events. The springs was also used by troops during the Civil War. With such rich connections, Maney Springs deserves to be protected from water pollution and encroachment from urban and residential development.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Third Place:
College/Technical School Division
Fall's Reflection
Clinch River, Anderson County
Photographer:
Marvyl Cockrell,
Clinton, TN
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Photographer's statement:
This landscape is worth preserving not only for the beauty it offers us each season, but for the dignity it enables us to feel in living harmoniously with our surroundings. Technology may dominate the cities, but nature still rules on the rivers and hills.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
Honorable Mention:
College/Technical School Division
Cows on an East Tennessee Farm
Photographer:
Jeremy Langford, Knoxville, TN
Pellissippi State Technical Community College
Photographer's statement:
The rolling hills of farmland in East Tennessee remind us of a simpler time. The lowing of the cattle invite us to a beautiful study of the serene.
Lands Worth Preserving, Special Subject: Falling Waters
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Tranquility
Tremont Trail,
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photographer:
Seth Shaffer, Collegedale, TN
College/Technical School Division Freshman
Southern Adventist University
Photographer's statement:
These falls are in the GSMNP, and as such they are protected. We need to ensure that places like this are always available for future generations to view and enjoy.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Greeter Falls
Savage Gulf State Natural Area (part of South Cumberland State Park), Grundy County
Photographer:
J. Orrand, Smyrna, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
This has to be one of the best kept secrets of middle TN camping, as every time I visit this area it seems I’m the only one there.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Waterfalls on a Duck River Tributary Coffee County
Photographer:
Mary Toliver, Manchester, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
These falls are located on private property, about a ten-minute drive from my home. The owners are kind enough to share their beauty with local residents. I love to photograph family there and have done so many times. I have been there at times and seen trash that others have left behind. It is so important to teach this generation and future generations to respect nature, so that areas like these will remain beautiful.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Tom Dula's Spot on Doe Creek
Near Pandora, Johnson County
Photographer:
Robert Benfield, Powell, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
Designated a Naturally Reproducing Trout Stream, Doe Creek is also known for the part
it played in the legend of Tom Dula, made famous in the folk ballad Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley. The story is that Dula, having fled North Carolina after the murder of his girlfriend Laura Foster, had had new boots made in Tennessee. A posse caught up
with him as he cooled his blistered feet in the spring-fed Doe Creek.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Falls Branch Falls
Cherohala Skyway, Cherokee National Park
Photographer:
Rebekah Champion, Lilburn, GA
Middle School Division
8th grade, Alton C. Crews Middle School
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Rainbow Falls
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Photographer:
J. Orrand, Smyrna, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
This area is preserved and should continue to be, as it is at the root of what Tennessee “is.” The park has rustic areas and natural beauty not found anywhere else in the country.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
The Big Falls
Burgess Falls State Park, Cookeville
Photographer:
Vickie Tafoya,
Antioch, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
The Falling Water River played a central role in the nearby logging and farming community, powering a grist mill and sawmill at the turn of the 20th century. In the early 1920s, the City of Cookeville
recognized the potential of the river for power production, and a dam below the Big Falls operated until 1944, when it was rendered obsolete by TVA.
The trail to the Big Falls is beautiful, but you might see litter along the way. We should be proud of our Tennessee State Parks and help to keep them clean.
LANDS WORTH PRESERVING
SPECIAL SUBJECT:
FALLING WATERS
Savage Falls
Savage Gulf State Natural Area, Grundy County, TN
Photographer:
Mary Toliver, Manchester, TN
Adult Amateur Division
Photographer's statement:
My husband and I have taken several hikes to Savage Falls. The hike there is easy and beautiful, with lots of wildflowers sprinkled about. Locations such as this one must be taken care of so that future generations can enjoy its beauty and tranquility.
BELOW: Winners of the 2006-2007 Scenic Tennessee Photo Contest
"VIEWING HISTORY:
CELEBRATING THE SCENIC CHARACTER
OF TENNESSEE’S HISTORIC PLACES"
co-sponsored by the Tennessee Preservation Trust
Division 1: Adult Professional
WINNER, adult professional
Falls Mill, Belvidere
By Joe Allen, Nashville (joeallenphotography.com)
Built in 1873 as a cotton and woolen factory, Falls Mill was later converted for use as a cotton gin, then as a woodworking shop. Today the water wheel drives millstones that produce cornmeal, grits and stoneground flour. The mill, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, is the centerpiece of the Falls Mill Historic District. It is open to the public (www.fallsmill.com).
HONORABLE MENTION #1, adult professional
Hale Springs Inn at Christmas
By Randy Ball, Rogersville, Tennessee
Hale Springs Inn, built in the 1820s on the Courthouse Square in Rogersville, was the oldest continuously-operating inn in Tennessee unitl it closed in 1998. The inn, which hosted presidents Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson and James K. Polk, is now being renovated by the Rogersville Heritage Association. The inn is on the National Register of Historic Places.
HONORABLE MENTION #2, adult professional
Hay Barn, Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Lucinda Turbeville, Powell, Tennessee*
Photographer's statement: This barn, which is used by the National Park Service to store hay, was included on a "history hike" led by the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club last February as part of our regular Wednesday morning hikes. It was February and there was a dusting of snow.
*Ms. Turbeville notes that she is considered a professional only by the hiking club, having placed first in their photo contests.
HONORABLE MENTION #3, adult professional
Bransford Place, Union City
By Emily Timm Elliston, Union City
Photographer's statement: Entered on the National Register of Historic Places on August 5, 1995, this 1887 Victorian brick house has been the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Nohsey since 1986. Each year they entertain their friends at an old-fashioned Christmas Open House. People come from miles around to enjoy this festive occasion. I always go unless I'm out of town. It just doesn't seem as much like the holiday season without attending this particular party!
Division 2: Adult Amateur
WINNER, adult amateur
Harlinsdale Farm, Franklin
By Dick Dougall, Franklin
An iconic symbol of the Tennessee Walking Horse industry, this 1935 farm was purchased by the city of Franklin in 2004 to preserve the area's agrarian heritage as well as the scenic northern approach into the city along US 31. The property, which continues to function as a working farm, is slated to open as a public park in September 2007.
HONORABLE MENTION #1, adult amateur
CCC bridge, Cumberland Mountain State Park, near Crossville
By Jenny Orten, Nashville
This 347-foot-long bridge and dam, constructed of local Crab Orchard stone between 1935 and 1938, is the largest masonry structure built by the New Deal-era Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). When it was finished, the federal government deeded the property and surrounding acres to the state to form Cumberland Mountain State Park.
HONORABLE MENTION #2a, adult amateur
"Little House on the Prairie"
(Cabin in Seymour)
By Larry Anderson, St. Louis, MO
We're not sure how old this iconic cabin is, but according to some folks who once owned adjacent property on Walter Davis Road in Blount County, it was the original dwelling of a homestead that has long since been divided. The cabin is often the subject of photographers, and at least one local family has used it as the setting for a Christmas card. Descendants of the original homesteaders are said to still live on the farm property.
HONORABLE MENTION #2b, adult amateur
"Cabin Fever"
(Carter Shields Cabin, Cades Cove)
By Larry Anderson, St. Louis, MO
George Washington "Carter" Shields bought this land and cabin from John Sparks in 1910. The cabin dates to the 1830s or '40s.
Contest coordinator's note: The jury was hopelessly deadlocked between this image and the preceding one. Since they are by the same photographer, we decided to feature them both.
HONORABLE MENTION #3, adult amateur
Boiling Spring Academy and Indian mounds, Brentwood
By Dick Dougall, Franklin
From the mid-19th century until the Civil War, Boiling Spring Academy served as a prep school for the privileged sons of Williamson County. Unused for many years, it was donated to the city of Brentwood by the Primm family in 2003. Today, as part of Primm Historic Park, the building has become a living-history lesson for school groups and others.
Division 3: High School
FIRST PLACE, High School
Burwell Building, Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville
By Corey Seaton, Knoxville
11th grade, South Doyle High School
(Lee Ann Jenkins-Freels, teacher)
Built in 1927, Knoxville's grand downtown theatre welcomed such icons as Helen Hayes and Glenn Miller during its heyday; it also screened scores of films and premieres as well as Saturday morning "meetings" of "the Popeye Club." Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 and named the Official State Theatre of Tennessee in 1999, the theatre was extensively renovated in 2003-2005. Today it is considered the jewel of Knoxville's arts and entertainment community.
SECOND PLACE, High School
Methodist Church, Cades Cove
By Seth Shaffer, Collegedale
10th grade, home school
Erected in 1902 to serve the growing number of Methodists in Cades Cove, this church featured a two-door entrance and a physical divider to segregate males and females. Along with the earlier Missionary Baptist and Primitive Baptist churches, this structure has received attention from the Cades Cove Preservation Association.
THIRD PLACE, High School
Blair's Ferry Storehouse, Loudon
By Michael Charles Vineyard, Greenback
11th grade, Greenback School
(Mrs. Kelly Sampely, teacher)
In the first part of the 19th century, the Blair family built a steamboat landing on the Tennessee River, at what is now Loudon. James Blair added this storehouse in 1834, and soon more steamboats were landing at Blair's Ferry. The structure is sometimes called the Pathkiller storehouse, because a Cherokee Indian named Pathkiller soon claimed the property under the terms of the Hiwasee purchase. After a 15-year court battle, the property was returned to James Blair.
In 1977, the storehouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
HONORABLE MENTION, High School
Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville
By Alle Harrison, Knoxville
12th grade, Central High School
(Ms. Betty Maloy, teacher)
Another view of the historic theater.
Division 4: Middle School
WINNER, Middle School A
Grist Mill at Norris Dam State Park, near Clinton
By Caitlin Taylor, Powell
8th grade,
Powell Middle School
(Mr. Tom Jursik, teacher)
This 1798 grist mill, formerly located in the reservoir area behind the TVA's Norris Dam along Lost Creek, was operated by four generations of the Rice family. At various times the mill was rigged to power a sawmill, a cotton gin, a trip hammer, and even the Rice's electrical lights. WHen TVA flooded the area to create Norris Lake in the 1930s, the mill was disassembled and rebuilt in its present location by the CCC.
SECOND PLACE, Middle School (tie)
Mason Place, Loudon
By Corey Lynn Vineyard, Greenback
8th grade, Greenback School, Greenback
(Mr. Jeffrey Patty,
teacher)
Photographer's statement: This 1865 Greek Revival plantation house, now a bed-and-breakfast, is located at 600 Commerce Street in Loudon. If you look closely at the top railing, you will notice that it is in the shape of the Confederate "Stars-&-Bars" flag. When originally built, it sat on 1,200 acres of land. During the Civil War, both the Northern and Southern armies occupied the home. My great-grandfather used to live here, so it has an historic link to my family.
SECOND PLACE, Middle School (tie)
"We All Scream for Ice Cream!"
(Bobbie's Dairy Dip, Nashville)
By Rachel Livsey, Nashville
8th grade,
Martin Luther King Magnet School, Nashville
Photographer's statement: Bobbie's is one of the oldest and best ice cream places in Nashville.
THIRD PLACE, Middle School
Eternal Flame at Red Clay State Historic Park, near Cleveland
By Jessie Bruce, Knoxville
7th grade,
West Valley Middle School, Knoxville
(Ms. Suzanne Wedekind, teacher)
Red Clay State Historic Park commemorates the last council of the Cherokee in Tennessee in 1837 before they were forced westward along what is now known as the Trail of Tears. The historical park today contains only replica structures, as a way to educate present and future generations about this sad chapter in Tennessee's history. However, according to at least one historian, the flame that burns continuously at the park came from the original fire pots that survived the journey.
Special Division: The Case for Historic Preservation
McClung Warehouse Fire, Knoxville
By Dale E. Smith, adult amateur, Knoxville
Photographer's statement: This image shows the lack of historic preservation. It is of the fire that burned down most of the McClung warehouse buildings on Jackson Avenue in Knoxville. These were shot the morning of February 7, 2007. The city has been trying for years, unsuccessfully, to get the owner of the buildings to renovate and protect them. Obviously, he didn't. He was illegally living in one of the buildings when this fire started.
Cotton Row, Memphis, 1976
By Stoy Bailey, adult amateur, Memphis
Photographer's statement (expanded): Front Street was the center of Memphis' cotton industry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with riverboats unloading into the back of the buildings, and cotton factors buying and selling cotton from their offices along the Front Street side. When this picture was taken, it was still a common sight to see "snakes" of cotton in front of the offices, waiting to be graded before a price was established. Today, though the cotton houses are gone, the Cotton Row Historic District helps recall this bustling, bygone era.
Townsend Place, Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By John D. Tipton, adult amateur, Powell
Originally established in 1908 as a base for logging operations, Elkmont had become a flourishing retreat for well-to-do families by the time the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was created in 1934. Today, the area belongs to the National Park Service; NPS is debating what to do with the five dozen bedraggled buildings and structures that remain, including this one. The district was placed on the National Register in 1994; in 2006 it was named one of the "Most Endangered Places" in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Wonderland Hotel (demolished), Elkmont Historic District, Great Smoky Mountains National Park
By Lucinda Turbeville, adult professional*, Powell
Opened in 1912, the rambling Wonderland Hotel was the centerpiece of the Elkmont resort, as many of the sportsmen who stayed there decided to build private cabins of their own. By the time the National Park Service took over ownership in 1992, however, the building was sadly derelict; in 2005 part of it collapsed; and in late 2006, after months of debate over the feasibility and costs of renovation, a contractor began the task of salvage and demolition.
"No Parking"
(Historic Presbyterian Church Cemetery, downtown Knoxville)
By Alle Harrison, student group B (Central High School), Knoxville
Encroachment--the creeping pressure from surrounding commercial and residential development, rising property values and sprawling population centers--is one of the greatest threats to historic integrity. (Even historic cemeteries are not immune!) And even though there might be a certain charm in the juxtaposition of past and present, it's ultimately the future we must think about. That's why there's historic preservation--and groups like the Tennessee Preservation Trust! If you would like to help save properties and vistas like the ones pictured here, please visit www.tennesseepreservationtrust.org.
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