JACKIE SHECKLER FINCH - TENNESSEE OFF THE BEATEN PATH®

Many thanks to Tennessee residents, public relations officials, and business owners who took the time to help me update this book. Thanks especially to the folks at Tennessee Tourism who shared little nooks and crannies in this wonderfully diverse state. Im grateful to my editor Sarah Parke, production editor Meredith Dias, and the friendly and professional staff at Globe Pequot.

My gratitude to my family for their encouragement: Kelly Rose; Sean Rose; Stefanie, Will, Trey, and Arianna Scott; and Logan Peters. And a special remembrance to my husband, Bill Finch, who taught me to value every day on this earth.

Jackie Sheckler Finch

Bristolis about as far north as one can go in the state and stay in Tennessee. In fact, about half the city is in Virginia. The state line runs down the middle of State Street in the heart of the downtown shopping district. But other than the small state markers embedded in the street between the double yellow lines, theres little evidence that the city has two mayors, two city councils, and two telephone area codes.

A big, old-fashioned neon sign forms an archway across State Street, near Randall Street, and proclaims Bristol is a good place to live. It was erected in 1910 as a symbol of unity between the two Bristols. Arrows point to the Tennessee and Virginia sides.

Although Nashville, about 300 miles to the west, gets credit for being the center of country music, it was here in Bristol that the Carter Familyand Jimmie Rodgersrecorded the first country-and-western music that was distributed nationwide. That recording took place on August 2, 1927, and put the area on the musical map. A monument honoring those musical pioneers stands at Edgemont Avenue and State Street. Farther

down State Street, a large mural on the side of a building presents a visual memorial to that event.

The performing arts are alive and well in Bristol at the historic Paramount Center for the Arts(518 State St.; 423-274-8920; paramountbristol.org ). Its a circa 1931 theater restored to its original art deco style and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Theatre Bristol calls the Paramount home for its own productions, and the venue is the site of other touring shows and concerts, as well as local meetings and seminars. Its a great place to watch a show.

Tennessee Ernie Fordwas born Ernest Jennings Ford on February 13, 1919, in Bristol, and before he became the booming voice behind many hit country songs, including Sixteen Tons, The Shot Gun Boogie, and Mule Train, he was a radio staff announcer and a bombardier during World War II. He earned the nickname The Ol Pea-Picker due to his catchphrase, Bless your pea-pickin heart, which he began using during his disc jockey days on KXLA in Pasadena, California. He was elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1990 and died in October 1991.

Today the house where Ernie Ford was born has opened as a lasting memorial to the citys favorite son. Located at 1223 Anderson Street, the home is garnished with memorabilia of his long musical and television career. The home isnt open on a regular basis; contact the Bristol CVB(423-989-4850; bristolchamber.com ) for hours and more information.

If you feel like stepping over the state line, visit the Birthplace of Country Music Museum(101 Country Music Way; 423-573-1927; birthplaceofcountrymusic.org ) in Bristol, Virginia. Opened on August 1, 2014, the museum is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution and houses interesting artifacts related to the famous 1927 Bristol Sessions. Just two months after Charles Lindbergh made the first flight across the Atlantic in his Spirit of St. Louis, record producer Ralph Peer was conducting important recording sessions that would preserve the precious music of Bristolboth Tennessee and Virginiafor posterity. During those sessions, Peer recorded 19 performers (or groups of performers) doing 76 songs. Considered the Big Bang of modern country music, the Bristol Sessions were once described by Johnny Cash as The most important event in the history of country music.

The museum also features special exhibits and has a performance theater, radio station, learning center, and museum store. Since 2012, the museum has hosted the Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion during the third weekend in September. The festival usually hosts more than 130 bands on 20 stages in downtown Bristol.

AUTHORSTOP TEN PICKS