AmericanPressTravelNews- July 3rd, Bob and Barb NOT “On the Road Again” today!
We are at our Goose Holler’s farm/ranch in TN., and with this post want to invite everyone to the idea that we all need to fight for our independence by being good, yet wary Americans concerning all aspects of what too much government can mean for our continuing independence. This is NOT a political statement, it is a warning to never be complacent, as we have seen for the past nearly two years. Now again, not being political, but being an American first, I wish everyone as much peace as possible for our quiet and happiness in our homes, neighborhoods, state and nation. Respect our flag symbol, respect our President, respect our veterans and by all means possible, show your support for our law enforcement folks all over the great U.S.A.
The beginning of making a nation! “Go West young man” was once the mantra, but now today “make America Great Again” is the mantra.
Miss Kitty the horse at Goose Holler’ and Jesse the dog love each other and live in peace, why can’t we?Our holiday lunch!
AmericanPressTravelNews–May 25th, Commentary–By Bob Epstein, Publisher—-Memorial Day is coming up on Monday. We have too many horrible Memorial Days! No I won’t list them here. All smart and decent people older than far too many college age youth, increasingly being taught by some incredibly poor and foolish teachers- even those that call themselves “Professors” (liberal all and socialist leaning, heavily leaning) know what I mean, and have the list burned into their memories. Lest anyone think that all those that have come before and confronted life and death as soldiers for “the Good” not the evil, paid dearly in blood, limb, mental disarray for life, and unfortunately death as well. So, having just been to a children’s science museum in Oak Ridge (home of the nuclear bomb development) TN, and noticing a sculpture created out of steel taken from the Twin Towers horrors, I felt everyone always needs to remember and say never again!
Barb stands at the Memorial Monument and we asked a few of the children that entered the museum what it was, and none of them bothered to read the plaque. They just wanted to play games at the museum. So I asked their teachers why did they dismiss the opportunity to teach their charges about this. Answer: “not very appropriate for their students” by most of them. I should have been stunned. But, I was not! We all live in a nation that has had a dollar become close to worthless, and an educational system amongst many systems, that have become devalued to disastrous depths.
Trapped with no way out, 197 miners and several young boys ran out of air. Many wrote letters that can be seen at the museum. But I warn you, when you visit the letters are heart rending!Upon entering you will meet some wonderful and dedicated folks that are always willing to share their knowledge about the coal mining disaster and the history of the leasing program that was defeated!
AmericanPressTravelNews-May 22nd, Rocky Top, TN.-Bob and Barb “On the Road Again” and “Stopping to Smell the Roses” this time at the Coal Creek Miners Museum-The Museum tells the story of the miners that lived, worked and died in Coal Creek, Fraterville and Briceville TN> The museum also tells about the historically important events that changed the mining industry. The story starts in the late 1800’s when the “free” miners fought against the convict lease system, a struggle that ultimately ended the system in this southern state. The story goes on to depict how these communities not only survived one mining disaster but two that killed almost every man in the community along with many young boys who were taken to work by their fathers. Say hi to Sandee or Boomer (in picture with T-shirts) Visit when you can:located at Militia Hill, Circle Cemetary in Rocky Top; 201 S. Main St. Rocky Top, TN.www.coalcreekminersmuseum.com
Next door to the museum is where we did barbeque brisket at the Coal Creek Smokehouse BBQ. Very friendly accommodating folks all the way around!
An overview photograph of Oak Ridge.Women working the equipment that enriches uranium to weapons grade nuclear fuel.Entrance to museum.Little Boy Nuclear Bomb on display!Everywhere you look Einstein’s image is displayed. He was the scientist that worked out the theories that morphed to a nuclear atomic reaction.
AmericanPressTravelNews-May 16th,–Bob and Barb “On the Road Again” & “Stopping to Smell the Roses”- this time in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. High security still is de rigueur in Oak Ridge’s tech centers and buildings.
The once little burg of just farmers and land scratchers for their daily living, known as Oak Ridge was established by the US government in 1942 to serve as a home base to the Manhattan Project.
The entire city had to be built almost from scratch to handle the influx of employee/residents, which mushroomed from about 3,000 to 75,000 within 3 years. Only a few of the employees, mostly women, knew what was being built at the time, or exactly what they were getting into.
Oak Ridge back then was, in a lot of ways, like about any neat little southern city—there was plenty of leisure activities including swimming, a library, 13 grocery stores, an orchestra, and swing dancing. Besides the required badges, guard towers and giant perimeter fence, it was practically a wartime Mayberry. Everyone was quarantined, and their duties left the actual project a mystery. It wasn’t until we dropped the atomic bomb on Japan that the nice citizens of Oak Ridge realized what they had become a part of.
Two years after WWII ended, the city was relinquished to civilians. When visiting the city today, you can still see some of the old guard towers on the edges of the city, and experience one of the nation’s largest swimming pools still in operation. For $5 with valid US photo identification, you can go on a tour hosted by the American Museum of Science and Energy which includes the old graphite reactors as well as the Y-12 museum in an operational government facility with a billboard right outside that reminds employees to keep secrets a secret.
For a special treat, stop in the museum afterwards to see the brilliant photos of Ed Westcott, the official photographer during wartime.
The Secret City Festival, complete with WWII reenactors, happens every June. For more information go: www.amse.org and visit or head to Anderson County Tourism Council Welcome Center 115 Welcome Lane, Clinton, TN. 865-457-4547
Solar display and entry to alternative energy displays just adjacent to museum entrance.Schools both in the area and elsewhere make special trips to the museum that has several interactive science options that children can learn about.Education is key! Youngsters and adults can really learn about up to date science specialties.James photo documented all facets of the Secret City!
