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Weekend Exposure - A Trip to the Contraversial Past....

Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:44 PM EST

not-news, photography, newsvine-photographers, courthouse, scopes-monkey-trial, church-windows, dayton-tn

By Dare To Hope

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I had the occasion today to take my dad to a coin show in Dayton, TN. Home of the infamous Scopes Monkey Trial. While he was checking out coins, I was checking out history and as you can see from the photo, nothing has changed much with the Courthouse or the town. It's a very small town that seems to choose to remain small, old buildings and churches. They have added a park for children to play in and a few tennis courts, but that's about it.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4723956

I didn't have much time, but I couldn't find any information on the fire truck pictured, it just sits on the side of the road going into Dayton.

Courthouse taken in 1925

Same Courthouse today

For sure!

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Public Discussion (38)

It's strange to live so close to such an infamous little town that never changes and know so little about it. I guess I should make time to take time.

9 votes

#1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:44 PM EST

Pat from Montana

Wonderful pictures Dare. I feel like I just visited the town : )

8 votes

#1.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:48 PM EST

Thanks Pat...that's actually about how long it takes to see the whole town, lol.

8 votes

#1.2 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:50 PM EST

Dare, what an enjoyable little visit in Dayton, Tn! Are the close ups of those windows a Church or some other side of the court house? Great fire truck! And the ivy covered trees!! I have some of those for Timber 2 next Friday. Love them! Thanks.

6 votes

#2 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:57 PM EST

Anna, it was cold but not too long of a walk. The windows are of a little church there, I didn't get the whole church because it looked like it had had some remodeling to the outside, so I just got the old sides. There were several of those trees around the town but I couldn't get good shots of them, they were really huge and covered with ivy.

Thanks for taking a look.

6 votes

#2.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:46 PM EST

Wow these are great pictures of a historical place Dare. The courthouse is fascinating especially that you have the early view and the new one you took. I love the stained glass windows. It looks like you had a great time there.

7 votes

#3 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 6:59 PM EST

Thanks Soov. It's amazing how nothing has changed on that courthouse in 87 years. The bell still rings, if you look at the clock it was right at 12 and they were ringing. The stained glass was really unique but the maintenance is sorely lacking as you can see from the framing.

Thanks for coming by.

7 votes

#3.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:51 PM EST

I wondered if the bell tower and clock were still working Dare. I saw the time was 12 but didn't know if that was actual time or stopped time. lols I love to hear bells chiming.

7 votes

#3.2 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 9:15 AM EST

That court house reminds me of the one in "Back to the Future". I like being to compare the old photo with the older courthouse of today.

7 votes

#4 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:12 PM EST

LOL! I had not thought about it but you're right, now if there had been a DeLorean out there I might have gotten excited!

7 votes

#4.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:52 PM EST

Shelby Davenport

That was really interesting. I like small towns who retain their history and character. While some may say they don't grow or progress, I think it is a tribute to them to retain their heritage.

Nicely done!

7 votes

#5 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:22 PM EST

Thanks Shelby. They have retained their history but I can't speak for the character. Most of the little town looks run down and sad. No growth has not helped them keep the old buildings up, it was kind of depressing to see what could have been refurbished to it's original state but it looks like that's not happening.

Thanks for dropping by!

5 votes

#5.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 7:58 PM EST

Shelby Davenport

Yeah, with a town that small, you'd think they'd have a local historical society that could do some of the refurbishing. I don't suppose it would be all THAT hard - a little sandpaper, putty, paint, and of course, elbow grease.

I know what you mean about a small town and everyone knowing everyone - consequently knowing who DOESN'T belong there. That's my little town. But...we're friendly!

They do some of the filming for the series, Justified, here and the locals bring their lawn chairs out and watch the out-of-towners doing their work. A lot of times, they bring sodas, water, and popcorn out for everyone.

6 votes

#5.2 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:29 PM EST

Absolutely!

5 votes

#5.3 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:32 PM EST

That is actually very nice Dare, I'll bet it would have been a trip to grow up there, but respect the seemingly changeless atmosphere.

Up keep, nothing a little elbow grease and paint wouldn't fix. I really enjoyed your pictures on this neat little tour. Thanks :o)

5 votes

#6 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:20 PM EST

Thanks Leb, it seems like you go thru a time warp when you go there. You know you are out of your element when people give you the stink eye because they don't recognize you, lol.

I wish they would put the effort into fixing it up, if it's going to be a landmark, it should look good for visitors. AND....they should be friendly!!!

5 votes

#6.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 8:27 PM EST

What a wonderful pictorial of an American city! I love your images especially the one of the Courthouse, having the image from 1925 makes even cooler!

7 votes

#7 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:03 PM EST

Thanks for taking a look rottlady, the town has definitely remained in the past.

6 votes

#7.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 9:16 PM EST

A self-fulfilling notion ... that things do not evolve ...

Ignorance is bliss.

6 votes

#7.2 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 10:32 AM EST

Thanks for stopping by AMac.

Ignorance is bliss.

..... that's a big AMEN!

6 votes

#7.3 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:19 PM EST

nice pictures Dare, the glass in the church is great.

7 votes

#8 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:01 PM EST

Thanks 58! The glass was pretty but they really need some work done on them.

6 votes

#8.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:16 PM EST

Love the pictures, DtH. :)

6 votes

#9 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:43 PM EST

Thanks Grish!! It's always a pleasure to see you!

5 votes

#9.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:09 PM EST

Nice, quite, and peaceful place. I am sure that the residents will get to those routine maintenance projects soon. Maybe next year or the one after.

Reminds me of some of the towns you see out of the Amtrak window as you travel the east coast.

6 votes

#10 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:07 PM EST

It looks that way doesn't it Al? If I can get back up that way I'm going to try to get all the barns that are falling in before they tear them down. I saw quite a few on the way.

Thanks for stopping by!

5 votes

#10.1 - Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:11 PM EST

Well, if you go to Monteagle, get off there, go right, go through town, keep going till you hit Highway 64, then take that off the mountain, you'll be basically following the route that Forest took running from the Yankees only he took it from Winchester back up the mountain and then down to ChooChoo. But they did this back and forth several times, until both Generals were wanting to blow a big ole gap through the Cumberland Plateau. It's paved now and goes into Cowan.

Now in Monteagle, there's the gated summer community of some very rich folks from Nashville. (you can drive around it though in the winter) From Wiki of course: And The town is home to the Monteagle Sunday School Assembly. The Highlander Folk School, long involved in the labor and civil rights movements, was located here from 1932 to 1961. Rosa Parks attended workshops there shortly before the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

There's also Sewanee and the University of the South, (1860) which is Way Awesome to visit. They have all kinds of activities going on in the Spring for visitors or use too. Here is where you'll find their calendar of events. The local airstrip hosts rides for kids once a year too. :)

6 votes

#11 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:24 AM EST

These are gorgeous pic's! Thanks for the history to go along with them. How far away from Manchester, Tenn. is this place? My younger sister lives in Manchester.

7 votes

#12 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 12:21 PM EST

Hi tzia! It's good to see you getting back to normal :)

If she comes across the mountain thru Dunlap I would say it's a 2 hour drive maybe. I'm in Chattanooga and it takes me 2 hours going across Monteagle to get to Nashville so I don't know which way would be the quickest for her.

Thanks for stopping by!

5 votes

#12.1 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:26 PM EST

DTH♥.. this is so awesome to view a photo of the 1925 courthouse and your photo of today. WOW! The church windows and the trees are amazing views. It seems that life can "stand still". :)

7 votes

#13 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 2:50 PM EST

Thanks Mrs D. It's amazing, but life can actually stand still. It has there anyway. I think the strangest thing was to be looked at like an intruder as I walked around the town. Maybe they were just paranoid because I had a camera in my hand, I don't know. There is new section of interstate that runs right along the edge of Dayton, but instead of opening up the town, it seems they have closed ranks even tighter.

I once visited a Menonite (sp) town in Andersonville, GA that was open and friendly and waved from their carriages, wonderful people and GREAT food! The Daytonites could take a lesson from them, lol.

7 votes

#13.1 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:09 PM EST

Small towns or groups can be intimidating as they have the tendency to close ranks. No outsiders allowed in. My ex-in-laws are Amish and they and the Mennonites are great people. However, if you are not one of them, you are treated well.. just not one of them. :)

7 votes

#13.2 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 3:21 PM EST

Thanks for taking me to town Dare! Nice photos as usual. My mom gave me a 2012 calendar of Humming birds yesterday. It reminded me me of you and your photo's. :)

5 votes

#14 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 4:50 PM EST

Thanks for coming with me bobby. There was not alot to see because I didn't take any shots of the run down buildings and there's not much new.

That was sweet of you to think of me when you got the calendar. If I could focus on one thing long enough I might give it a try, maybe someday, sigh.

7 votes

#14.1 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 5:29 PM EST

Don't sigh Dare, your photos of Hummers are better than the ones in the calender!

6 votes

#14.2 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:00 PM EST

Awww, thank you!

5 votes

#14.3 - Sun Jan 29, 2012 8:29 PM EST

Interesting article, DTH! I love seeing these reminders of our history. :)

4 votes

#15 - Wed Feb 1, 2012 7:40 AM EST

Thanks Holly, I'm glad you stopped by!

1 vote

#15.1 - Wed Feb 1, 2012 7:57 PM EST

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