STEM Names Lamborn as New Vicar

The Southeast Tennessee Episcopal Ministry (STEM) recently announced that the Rev. Amy Bentley Lamborn has accepted the call to be vicar of STEM. She began her work on Jan. 1. STEM was founded in 2002 and now includes Epiphany, Sherwood; Christ Church, Alto; Holy Comforter, Monteagle; Christ Church, Tracy City; and Trinity, Winchester. 

Lamborn was ordained in 1996 and has served the Episcopal church in a variety of ways: as a deacon in a small college town, on a diocesan staff, as a curate in a large urban cathedral and as a rector of a suburban parish. She served as a hospital chaplain and a supply priest in the Diocese of New York. She served on the faculty of the General Theological Seminary, 2011–15, as professor of pastoral theology. She has also done clinical training in psychotherapy at the National Institute for the Psychotherapies and the Jungian Psychoanalytic Association and spiritual direction training at the Haden Institute.

A 1996 graduate of the School of Theology at Sewanee, Lamborn returned to Sewanee when her husband, Rob, accepted the call to be rector at Otey Parish. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature from Union University; she earned her Ph.D. in psychiatry and religion at the Union Theological Seminary in 2009. The Lamborns have a 12 year-old daughter, Caroline, who is a seventh-grader at St. Andrew’s-Sewanee. 

“I am so excited about serving as vicar of STEM,” Lamborn said. “The people in each of the individual churches are committed to their communities of faith. They are resilient folks, and so many of them are eager to deepen the life of faith and spiritual practice. 

“Together, the STEM churches are poised to work collaboratively and to join in creative ways with other Episcopal institutions and ministries around the Cumberland Plateau. I look forward to discerning with them the ways we are called to be God’s people in this place and time.” For more information or to contact Lamborn, email < stemvicar@gmail.com>.

Tracy City Gets Funds to Make New Paths For Pedestrians and Bicyclists Through Downtown

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development State Director Bobby Goode announced a $70,000 grant and $180,000 loan to help the town of Tracy City make downtown more accessible, in a statement issued on Aug. 24.

“Accessible facilities and downtown infrastructure make it a lot easier for people to come together for the good of the community.” Goode said. “USDA’s Strike Force for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative aims to increase investments in rural communities through intensive outreach and strong partnerships. Today we see the benefit of engaging with local leaders and community members to develop long-term economic plans to leverage limited resources through close collaboration with state and federal partners.”

The Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant program funds will be used to provide a multi-modal transportation path for pedestrians and bicyclists through the heart of downtown Tracy City, connecting with Tracy City Elementary School (and the proposed location of the Mountain Goat Trail pathway from Monteagle to Tracy City) to the north side of downtown at the intersection of Highway 41 and Nathurst Street. The path is a combination of approximately 1.2 miles of sidewalks and walkways. American with Disabilities Act-compliant trailhead parking will be created downtown at the intersection of Railroad Avenue and Highway 41.

USDA Rural Development is making investments in rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty. Since 2009, the agency has assisted more than 1.5 million Tennessee families and businesses in 230 communities in all 95 counties of Tennessee, investing more than $5.4 billion through affordable loans, loan guarantees and grants. For more information call (423) 756.2239 or go online to <www.rd.usda.gov/TN>.

Community-Building Focus of Civic Association / Call for Nominations for Person of the Year

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

Community-building was the theme of the evening at the Feb. 11 dinner meeting of the Sewanee Civic Association. Following updates on the Community Chest fund drive and Elliott Park renovation, members and guests learned about two new Grundy County initiatives born of a desire to improve the quality of life for residents on the Plateau.

Civic Association president Kiki Beavers announced the Community Chest fund drive was within $2,200 of reaching its goal.

Beavers also announced the Civic Association had regained tax-exempt status after losing the designation a number of years ago for failure to file the required IRS documentation. The Community Chest has separate tax-exempt status and was not affected.

Parks Committee chair Stephen Burnett said the playground company designing the Elliott Park renovation recommended a larger “footprint.” The committee met with University Physical Plant Services to discuss increasing the area designated for the park and erecting a retaining wall using local Sewanee stone. Fund raising will begin as soon as design plans are final, with an estimated cost of $75,000–$80,000. A fund-raising chair is needed, Burnett said. The committee will apply for financial assistance from the Community Council project fund.

Part of the construction for the park will be done in a “community build,” Burnett said. Historically, all Sewanee parks have been community-driven initiatives, Beavers said, citing a 40-year history of complaints about lack of an adequate park system in Sewanee. Civic Association treasurer Lisa Rung said she wanted a written guarantee from the University the park would not be “torn down.” Burnett said the guarantee would take the form of a Memorandum of Understanding with the University.

Beavers called for nominations for the Person of the Year award, which recognizes organizations or individuals for “good work” in Sewanee and the surrounding vicinity. Nominations can be made by email <sewaneecommunitychest@gmail.com> or postal mail to P.O. Box 99, Sewanee, TN 37375. The deadline is March 2. The Person of the Year will be announced at the next meeting on April 15. The Civic Association will also vote on officers for the 2015–16 academic year.

Members and guests learned about two new community-inspired initiatives from the evening’s guest speakers, Lucas Finney, creator of the Guitarsome Project, and Micah Sparacio, owner and director of Tenacity Adventure Fitness Center in Tracy City.

A visiting instructor of guitar at the University, Finney saw a need for music instruction in Grundy County, where elementary school children have limited or no exposure to music in their school day.

The Guitarsome Project is an after-school program in which Finney teaches guitar via Skype. The computer technology allows Finney and the students to see and hear one another. On-site assistants offer backup support. Finney launched the program last spring, offering classes at Tracy City and Coalmont elementary schools. Every child learned at least one song and several chords.

Funding is a problem, Finney said. Implementing the program at two schools cost $3,000 for the technology and to pay assistants. This past fall, Finney offered instruction at Monteagle and North Elementary. He hopes to expand the program to Sewanee Elementary and other Plateau area schools. The Community Chest awarded Finney $500. To learn more or make a donation visit <www.sewaneeguitar.com>.

Micah Sparacio and his family moved to Tracy City five years ago. Sparacio learned about the benefits of physical fitness as a graduate student, when he suffered from depression. Sparacio saw the need for a local facility that would make physical fitness fun and confidence-building.

Adventure-inspiring equipment at Tenacity includes a vertical ramp, rope climbing, a rock wall, and for kids, a trampoline and a room filled with huge foam objects for bouncing on and into. Instruction is offered in martial arts, tumbling, yoga, Zumba, Parkour and self defense.

Sparacio said the biggest challenge is making the gym affordable in a community where many residents live paycheck-to-paycheck. The gym does not bind users to a long-term contract. Visitors pay by the day or month. 

The gym sponsors 20 local children who participate in all activities fee-free.

Reincarnation of Old GCHS in Tracy City -- A Dream on the Verge of Coming True

by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

What had seemed like a lost cause may soon become a reality with reincarnation of the old Grundy County High School building in Tracy City as the South Cumberland Learning and Development Center. The center will focus on workforce development, helping local people get ready for local work by providing the skills needed to fill jobs in Grundy County and the surrounding vicinity. Julie Willems Keel, associate executive director of Mountain T.O.P., a local nonprofit agency, and Emily Partin, a Grundy County native, serve as project co-chairs. But the story that gave birth to the initiative, an effort plagued with obstacles and misfortune, began long before Partin and Keel became involved.

In 2006, the Southeast Development District of Chattanooga applied for a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) on behalf of Tracy City to establish a trade school in the old high school building. Grundy County mayor LaDue Bouldin spearheaded the effort on the local level, along with Tracy City mayor Barry Rollins. ARC awarded Tracy City $500,000 with the city required to supply $100,000 in matching funds.

With the grant in place, oversight fell to the Tracy City mayor, but Rollins was not re-elected, and his successor died in office. The onset of the 2008 recession left Grundy County struggling with day-to-day survival, and efforts focused on programs meeting immediate needs, such as the Grundy County Food Bank.

Keel’s work with Mountain T.O.P. stresses capacity-building for groups awarded grants for community development.

“It’s not uncommon for small communities to be granted large sums without a mechanism in place for planning and implementing the project,” Keel said.

Keel credits Emily Partin with reviving the ARC grant and getting the project back on track.

As a mental health professional, Partin worked off the Mountain until a job with the Grundy County School system brought her back home. Partin first learned about the ARC grant in 2011 from Tracy City mayor Jimmy Campbell. Campbell didn’t know the status of the grant. He was in ill health and soon after, resigned from office. Then in early 2012 at a Grundy County Rotary Club meeting, a visitor asked if Tracy City intended to pursue the project outlined in the ARC grant. The visitor was Tara Nichols, a representative from the Southeast Development District (SDD), the organization that had originally applied for the grant on Tracy City’s behalf.

Partin met with Nichols and took her to visit the old high school. The original grant was to cover the cost of a roof for the library wing of the school and to purchase equipment to teach carpentry skills. In the six intervening years, water damage to the library wing rendered it irreparable. Nichols insisted the money could not be used for other purposes, but Partin persuaded her to request the grant be refocused to fund renovation of the front portion of the building for use in technical education rather than as a trade school.

Unfortunately, Nichols left SDD, and her successor served only a short time, relocating to another state before he succeeded in getting authorization to repurpose the grant. But, finally, in the summer of 2014 the granting agency, ARC, gave permission for the funds to be used to renovate the front portion of the building.

Bid requests went out for the project for window repair; upgrading the wiring, technical specifications, and heating and cooling unit; and installation of a required sprinkler system. Then doom again reared its head. All the bids came back dramatically over budget. There just wasn’t enough money.

Almost coincidentally, though, another door opened. Grundy County officials completed a Community Development Block Grant project, making the county eligible to apply for another grant. On Jan. 26, 2015, the County Commission voted to apply for a $315,000 Block Grant to flesh out the budget for the old high school project. Partin also plans to apply for a grant to help offset the cost of window repair and the heating and cooling unit.

Partin and Keel have secured pledges to cover 100 percent of the $100,000 in matching grant money, with donors ranging from the South Cumberland Community Fund to individuals pledging in-kind contributions in the form of labor.

Festival of Trees at Heritage Center

The fifth annual Festival of Trees is now on display at the Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center. There will be an open house and reception to celebrate the festival, noon–4 p.m., today (Friday), Dec. 19. The display of 10 decorated Christmas trees will remain through the month of December. 

In addition to the trees, there are displays of a Victorian Dickens village and a Beersheba Springs village made of birdhouses by Bud Whitman. 

Several organizations have worked with the staff at the Heritage Center in developing the displays. Mountain Heritage Preservation Society, Myers Hill Methodist Church and Discover Together have provided trees that reflect their respective missions. 

A tree representing a snowman has been decorated by Janelle Taylor of Pelham. Neil Price of Foggy Mountain Liquors has provided a tree decorated with antique ornaments. The anchor tree of the display was decorated by Barbara Myers of the Heritage Center.

The displays extend from the Lulu Estelle Robbins and E.L. Hampton Assembly Hall to the Donald G. and Marian V. Savage Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall includes a miniature Victorian Dickens village. There is also a display of birdhouses depicting historical buildings in Beersheba Springs designed and constructed by Whitman.

The Heritage Center is open 10 a.m.–4 p.m., weekdays, and 10 a.m.–2 p.m., Saturdays; it is located at 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. There is no admission fee for the festival.

The Festival of Trees has been organized by Barbara Myers, Heritage Center library staffer. For more information or to participate in the festival, contact Myers at (931) 592-6008. The Lulu Estelle Robbins and E.L. Hampton Assembly Hall is available for use by area organizations; contact the Heritage Center for scheduling and other information. 

Grundy County Chosen for Local Foods, Local Places Program

The White House Rural Council announced on Dec. 3 that Grundy County/Tracy City was among 26 communities in the United States named to its Local Foods, Local Places initiative.

This effort is designed to help rural communities as they seek creative approaches to integrating entrepreneurship, environmental management, public health and other place-based considerations into successful economic planning. Local food development is often a key part of the strategy.

Local Food, Local Places will provide technical support to integrate local food systems into community economic action plans, help revitalize struggling downtowns and preserve farms and undeveloped land.

The local effort was developed and submitted under the auspices of the municipality of Tracy City and Grundy County, and builds on the work of South Cumberland Community Development Partnership, Grundy County Health Council and Diabetes Coalition, Tracy City Farmer’s Market, South Cumberland Food Hub, Downtown Sidewalk/Mountain Goat Trail Connector Project, Tennessee Main Street program, the University of the South’s program and the Chattanooga Area Regional Council of Governments-Southeast Tennessee Development District.

“This award means that in the coming months, a team of experts will visit and have workshops to help us design concrete steps to improve our community,” said Emily Partin of the Tracy City Business Club. Among the pieces of the project will be local food, tourism and travel, and health issues.

The 26 communities were chosen from among 316 applicants.

A team of agricultural, transportation, environmental, health and regional economic consultants will work directly with the communities to develop local food projects they proposed. 

Local Foods, Local Places is a federal initiative providing direct technical support and expertise to community partners integrating local food systems into regional economic action plans. Under this effort, a team of federal agricultural, transportation, environmental, public health and regional economic experts will work directly with communities to develop specific local food projects. These efforts will make a significant impact in the communities participating in the Local Foods, Local Places initiative. 

Local Foods, Local Places is a unique partnership among the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The initiative draws on the Administration’s Partnership for Sustainable Communities, USDA’s Seven Strategies for Economic Development, and other place-based strategies to address regional challenges. 

Local Foods, Local Places will provide direct technical support to selected communities to help them develop and implement action plans promoting local food and downtown revitalization. 

Governor Haslam Comes to Plateau to Announce Major Grants

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Department of Transportation Commissioner John Schroer were on the Mountain on July 8 to announce two transportation alternative grants for Monteagle and Tracy City, connecting downtown districts to trails and making other enhancements. A large crowd, including city officials from Monteagle and Tracy City, friends and community leaders gathered on the breezy morning to welcome the governor and the good news. 

The town of Monteagle was awarded a $216,320 grant for the Pedestrian Corridor Extension Project. The project will install approximately 2,000 feet of 5-foot sidewalks on the east side of Highway 64 beginning at Dubose Street heading south to Elgin Drive. The sidewalk will extend access to the multiuse trail and park in downtown Monteagle. A new pedestrian crosswalk will also be created across Highway 64 at the Monteagle City Ball Park.

Tracy City received a $603,569 grant to fund the Downtown Sidewalk and Mountain Goat Trail Connector Project. The project will provide pedestrian and bicycle enhancements to the historic downtown business district, including a multi-use path and trailhead parking. The grant will also fund a key section of the Mountain Goat Trail, a projected 35-plus mile trail linking Franklin and Grundy Counties. 

“This is a lot of hard work,” Haslam said, “but it is significant to the area. I think this will make people want to live here.”

The transportation alternative grant is made possible through a federally funded program formerly known as transportation enhancement and is administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT).

“The Mountain Goat Trail Alliance is honored to have been asked by the Town of Tracy City to collaborate on this grant proposal,” said Janice Thomas, board president of the MGTA. “Our thanks to Gov. Haslam for coming here to recognize the value of the Mountain Goat Trail to Tracy City, Grundy County and the whole South Cumberland Plateau.”

The Tracy City project will create  a 10-foot wide asphalt trail beginning at Tracy City Elementary School and following the railbed into downtown Tracy City to Altamont Street (Highway 41/150). The project will turn north and follow Altamont Street across Laurel and Colyar Streets and end at Nathurst Street, from which point future projects will reconnect it to the railbed.

“Enhancing transportation options and connections,” Haslam said, “will increase pedestrian and visitor traffic to businesses and recreation areas. Tennessee’s downtowns are the heart of our communities, and improvements like these improve our cities’ and towns’ livability and the quality of life for residents.”

Through these grants, TDOT has funded more than $306 million in non-traditional transportation projects,” Schroer said. “This program has assisted communities all over the state in their efforts to revitalize downtowns, highlight historic areas, provide alternative means of transportation and increase opportunities for economic development,” Schroer said.

A variety of activities, such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects, are eligible for grant funds under the federal program. 

Additional reporting by Patrick Dean and Rhonda Pilkington

Camp Discover Completes Third Year, Children Learn about Community

For two weeks in June, Camp Discover students explored their community, learned about the stories and music of the area, read books about community and recorded their thoughts in special camp journals. More than 80 children from Tracy Elementary and the surrounding area completed their camp experience on Friday, June 13, with a final celebration and barbecue lunch at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor’s Center that included community and family members.

This marked the third year of Camp Discover, based at Tracy Elementary School. The community-based partnership is a project led by members of the Grundy County community in partnership with Scholastic, Yale Child Study Center and Sewanee. Local organizations also generously contribute to make it possible for Camp Discover to provide its rich program, including Tracy City Elementary, the Friends of the South Cumberland, Morton Memorial Methodist Church and Mountain TOP.

The Camp’s head teacher, Sherry Guyear, working with Tracy Elementary teacher Jan Roberts, brought together a remarkable team of more than 30 local, talented volunteers. Former Tracy City Principal Russell Ladd returned to lead older campers this year. Naturalist Mary Priestley shared her talent and time, working with children on nature journals. The fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders spent time on the Fiery Gizzard trail and learning about the trees, wildflowers and water creatures of the area. 

Local musicians Cameron, Ruth and Sophie Swallow, Betty Carpenter and Barbara Prunty sang traditional Appalachian songs and helped children create their own music. Campers enjoyed learning folk songs and singing, dancing and making musical instruments.

University art professor Pradip Malde and a number of University and St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School students continued their ongoing work helping campers tell their stories through photography. Digital cameras were donated for all campers to use, recording their observations on field trips to Grundy County attractions.

These field trips were connected to Camp Discover’s theme of community. Campers visited the Cowan Railroad Museum; St. Mary’s Convent and Gardens; the Highlander Folk School; the birthplace of the Tennessee Walking Horse in Pelham, where they listened to stories from Miss Janie Belle; Beersheba Springs, where they heard the music and stories of Big Don Hill and saw one of the old homes; and Coolidge Park in Chattanooga, where they rode the carousel with scenes painted by local artist Lisa Turner.

On days in Tracy, campers read a variety of books together and enjoyed projects related to the literature, to the local region and to the themes of friends, family and community. 

The Discover Together Partnership runs both Camp Discover and the Discover Together Family Co-op for children birth-5 and their families. For more information contact Emily Partin by email, <epartin1@k12tn.net>.

MGTA and Land Trust Reach Campaign Goal: New Land Adds 22 Acres to Monteagle-Tracy City Segment of the Trail

The Mountain Goat Trail Alliance (MGTA) and the Land Trust for Tennessee (LTTN) announced on Jan. 8 the successful completion of a capital campaign. As a result, 22 acres of the former Mountain Goat Railroad bed between Monteagle and Tracy City are now owned by the MGTA.

“The acquisition of this important section of railroad bed puts us closer to our ultimate goal: a multi-use path from Cowan to Palmer. We are so grateful to the Land Trust for Tennessee for collaborating with us on this effort,” said Janice Thomas, board president of the MGTA.

“The Mountain Goat Trail is an excellent economic development opportunity for the South Cumberland region,” said Jeanie Nelson, executive director of LTTN. “It also connects several amazing cultural and natural resources that are so important to the area.” 

The acquired property constitutes approximately 60 percent of the rail bed between Monteagle and Tracy City. When constructed, the trail between Monteagle and Tracy City will be approximately 5.6 miles long. Construction is due to begin this year on a three-mile section between Sewanee and Monteagle as well as two one-mile sections between Tracy City and Palmer.

The campaign raised more than $83,000 to acquire the property. Challenge gifts from the Cammack Family Foundation and Doug Ferris were instrumental in reaching the campaign goal.

A recent study by Sewanee’s Babson Center for Global Commerce predicts the trail will add $1.2 million in annual revenue to the economy of the South Cumberland Plateau. The supporting data includes studies of other rail-trail projects, local demographic statistics and formulas for calculating effects of tourism on a local economy. “The construction of the trail benefits the local communities in many ways ranging from offering a habitat for better outdoor education for local schools to offering community members a place to exercise,” the report concluded.

The Mountain Goat Trail is a rail-to-trail community outdoor recreation project to convert an abandoned railroad right-of-way into a multi-use recreational corridor between Grundy and Franklin Counties on the Cumberland Plateau. For more information visit <www.mountaingoattrail.org>.

The Land Trust for Tennessee is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, founded in 1999. Its mission is to preserve the unique character of Tennessee’s natural and historic landscapes for future generations. To date, The Land Trust for Tennessee has protected more than 91,000 acres statewide. For more information go to <www.landtrusttn.org>.

Partin Announces for Grundy County Mayor

Emily Carol Partin has announced her candidacy for the office of Grundy County Mayor. 

“I believe the person holding this office is in the position to craft and pursue a vision for a better future for us all.” Partin said. “Grundy County is at a major crossroads. Adverse circumstances, such as unemployment, poor health, substance abuse and poverty, have weakened us. It would be tempting to stay on this same course, hoping for a better outcome. It won’t happen. We must all begin to accept responsibility for where we are and hold each other accountable for a better tomorrow. I want to be a part of this solution and I believe I am qualified for the task.” 

Partin graduated from Grundy County High School and has a master’s degree in clinical psychology. Her studies and vocation took her away from the Mountain for almost 20 years until the year 2000 when she returned home to care for her father. 

Once back on the Mountain, Partin worked as a mental health counselor serving Grundy County. 

“I was so dismayed at the extent of hurt and illness that I attributed to poverty, poor health and substance abuse” Partin said. “I began praying for the opportunity to bring about a broader reaching, deeper healing to our whole County, for the hometown I remembered as being a quaint place in which to live had changed dramatically. I found this could only happen if I and others became involved in the process.”

For the past three years Partin has worked for the Grundy County Schools as family resource director. She is a board member of two new projects on the Mountain: the Community Fund of the South Cumberland Plateau; and Discover Together, a collaboration between Yale University, Scholastic, Inc., the University of the South and Tracy City Elementary. Partin is an active member of the Grundy County Health Council working to reverse poor health outcomes in our area. She is the president of the Rotary Club of Grundy County and attends Tracy City First United Methodist Church serving as choir director.

“Being a part of these larger initiatives proved to me that positive change is possible when people work together,” she said.

Partin was elected to the Grundy County Commission in 2012. In that role she works to get at the root cause of issues that impact the County. “I ask questions in order to make wise decisions for the people,” she added.

“If elected Grundy County Mayor, I would tackle our economic issues, seeking to develop an infrastructure that would support growth and opportunity for all. I would continue to work on our health issues and the revolving door issue at our county jail. Most importantly, I will work to get more people of the County involved in the solutions. I believe in investing in ourselves and in our future. I believe for great things and will work to make them happen. My name is Emily Partin and I would appreciate your vote.” Partin concluded. 

For more information go to <www.facebook.com/epartinforgrundymayor>.

Families Share Camp Discover Reunion

Tracy Elementary School students who participated in the 2013 Camp Discover in June gathered with their families and community members on Nov. 11 to share memories of camp and enjoy a variety of activities. 

The mission of Camp Discover is part of an ongoing community partnership project designed around the natural connections that exist between literacy and the development of social connectedness, with an emphasis on exploring, sharing and celebrating the community’s stories and heritage.

“The excitement about the reunion had been building for weeks at Tracy,” said Emily Partin, coordinator of the Grundy County Schools Family Resource Center and a community partner. “The kids remember so much about the summer camp and can tell wonderful stories about their time in the community. They are already anxious to learn where we will visit next year!” 

Community volunteers who participated in the reunion also included wildlife rehabilitator Margaret Matens, who brought snakes and turtles for students to hold; State Park Ranger George Shinn, who provided information about their different habitats on the Plateau; and A.J. Gulley, who cooked up a large kettle of mulligan stew for the group to sample and told the history of frontier cooking.

Photographs were collected to create a community calendar that celebrates the camp and provides additional information on locations campers visited and books they read for families that may want to visit or read together. Students and their families had a chance to see the calendar on Monday for the first time and were encouraged to reflect on and write about some of their special memories.

In addition, student photographs were on display in an exhibit in Tracy Elementary’s new Learning Lab. Sewanee art professor Pradip Malde and College student Chandler Sowden worked with students this fall to write reflections on the photos they took. The exhibit will move to the University in January for a show at Stirling’s. In the future, the Learning Lab will offer a space for students and families to complete school project assignments in a supportive environment.

University of the South Executive Chef Rick Wright shared a no-bake apple cookie activity, and Christopher Faults told stories of Tracy’s history as students rode a hay wagon around the town.

The evening ended with a barbecue dinner for everyone prepared by Priscilla Graham, while the Bazzania band provided entertainment. Sherry Guyear, one of the camp’s lead teachers, shared the book “Owl Babies,” and all students received a bag of books and calendar provided by Scholastic, along with some special treats.

More than 60 Tracy Elementary students in grades 1–7 participated in the 2013 Camp Discover, which is part of an ongoing collaboration between the University, Yale Child Study Center, Scholastic and Tracy Elementary. Funding from the Friends of the South Cumberland and University of the South Environmental Studies, rangers from South Cumberland State Park, and curriculum, program materials, and books supplied by Scholastic supported the two-week program.  Plans are underway for the 2014 Camp program. For more information email <southcumberland​families@gmail.com>. 

—Special to the Messenger

Serviceman’s Lost Documents Offer Mystery for Local Man

by Seth Layne, Special to the Messenger

What can be found in a dumpster? About 12 years ago, my brother was working in Chattanooga. While throwing some trash out, he noticed a box in a dumpster. It was full of old books. He and I had often looked for old copyrights when we went to flea markets and yard sales. 

In the box that day, he found several items that belonged to a U.S. serviceman named A.A. Lyman. Knowing that I was a huge history buff, he gave them to me. The items included a 1940 “Blue Jacket’s Manual,” two sets of licenses from the Merchant Marines, and a Continuous Discharge Book. All of the items had Lyman’s name on them. 

Over the years, I treasured these items. I would look at them from time to time and admire everything that they were. The “Blue Jacket’s Manual” was essentially the textbook for new seamen. It taught recruits the basics of conduct, hygiene and procedures, as well as weapon systems, knot-tying first aid, and how to fight while swimming in water. The two licenses were also impressive. 

I could see from the dates that Albie Alton Lyman had been in the service for a very long time. One document was from 1958 and another was from 1983. The final piece was my favorite. It was his Continuous Discharge Book. Upon opening its green cover, I saw a black-and-white picture of the man, his left thumbprint, his height, weight, address and the date that he signed his signature to the book—January 5, 1945. Turning the pages revealed page after page of the names of the vessels that carried him, whether the trip was foreign or “coast wise,” his rank while on board, the date he departed on the vessel and the date he returned. For 12 years after that first entry, A.A. Lyman made many journeys.

Reading these documents, the life and career of a man that I would never know became very real to me. For several years I enjoyed my collection and would show them to my history classes at Tracy City Elementary and to friends, relatives and other history buffs. Everyone was impressed, and everyone loved them. It was an honor for me to hold such a cool piece of history in my hand. They were some of my most treasured things.

About five years ago, I started to look for ways to get them to someone who would appreciate them as much as I do. At first I looked for Lyman’s family. I searched the Internet and found nothing. I contacted the National Archives. Nothing. I contacted the Coast Guard and the Navy, and I looked on Ancestry.com. Still nothing. I wanted to find somewhere to send these treasured pieces of history but with no luck, I gave up the search and tucked the things away for safekeeping. 

Time passed and I decided to revisit my attempt to find Lyman’s family. Last year I contacted the History Department at Towson University in Maryland. I knew that Lyman was born in Towson, so I hoped someone there might know of a museum or local historical society that would be interested. Again, every attempt I made resulted in failure. Disheartened again, I stopped my search. I resolved to just keep the documents and continue to enjoy them.

Monday, Oct. 21, was not a special day. It was downright ordinary. Nothing interesting happened, nothing crazy, nothing remotely remarkable. My evening habit is to search the Internet for useless information to pass the time. It came across my mind that night to check again for information about Lyman. I started looking. I searched and searched. I looked up every name combination I could think of for Albie Alton Lyman. I searched for a good 45 minutes until I found a phone number for a residence in Dayton, Tenn. The website said that Martha Lyman was 89, and Alton Lyman was 86. Realizing that this could be the big break I was looking for, I bookmarked the page and went to bed. 

The next day I completely forgot about the previous night’s discovery. While sitting at lunch, a little girl said something that reminded me of it. I went to my classroom as quickly as I could, found the number and called. After the phone rang several times, an elderly lady picked up the phone. She said her name was Martha Lyman. My heart pounded with excitement as I told her who I was and why I was calling. She told me that she and her husband, Alton, had been looking for the items for several years. She was so surprised. She couldn’t believe that this was really happening. Neither could I. They had never intended for any of his things to be thrown away. We talked for quite a while and decided to arrange a meeting so that I could give Lyman his belongings.

I hung up the phone and I was on cloud nine. So many times, I had thought my search was hopeless, and then all of a sudden it was resolved. I had never imagined that Lyman would still be alive. I quickly told the story to everyone I worked with, and they were all amazed. It thrilled me to be able to share it. I felt so honored to be a part of something so unique and improbable.

As the days came closer to deliver the goods to Lyman, I became more and more curious about the name of one of the ships on which he’d served. The first boat he was on was the Rockhill Victory. I knew that I had heard that name before but I couldn’t place it. I began to research the vessel. The Rockhill Victory was delivered to port on May 5, 1945. This was Alton Lyman’s first day on the boat and the boat’s first day on duty. Lyman was 18 years old when he became part of the crew. Less than a year into Lyman’s service, in mid-December, the Rockhill made a journey to Marseille, France, to pick up soldiers to bring home. Looking in Lyman’s Continuous Discharge Book, I could see that he was on the vessel at the time of its departure to France. 

Before the Rockhill Victory could load up its cargo of soldiers, it was accidentally rammed by a cargo ship. The incident caused a gaping hole, about a 20-foot-square gash, in the side of the Rockhill. The hole was filled and patched with concrete. One first-hand account from a soldier on the Rockhill said, “Don’t these Frenchies know how to weld metal onto metal?” 

The terrible journey home lasted two weeks, 13 days of which, was in violent storms. The journey home was riddled with fractured bones, bruises, a broken mast that crushed several lifeboats and a broken steel girder. The ship’s master, Captain N.D. Scull, said that the troops were, “the sickest bunch of men I have seen in three voyages as a troop transport commander.” The Rockhill Victory brought home 1,543 troops, including cannon company, headquarters and headquarters company 3rd Battalion, and companies G, H, I, K and L of the 104th Infantry Regiment; anti-tank company and cannon company of the 328th Infantry Regiment. 

Albie Alton Lyman Jr. was a part of the crew that brought some of our bravest back home. He was just an 18-year-old boy who had less than a year’s experience. At the age of 18, it’s rare to see anyone with the maturity of an adult, but Albie Alton Lyman Jr., no matter how ready he was, traveled halfway around the world to bring his fellow patriots home.

We traveled to Dayton last week and delivered Lyman his things. I got to listen to him tell story after story about his adventures in the Navy and the Merchant Marines. His wonderful wife, Martha, was also full of stories. 

Their journey is even more interesting when you consider they have been married only 26 years. She is 89, and he is 86. She had been married three times previously, all of which ended when each of her husbands died of a heart attack. She was 26 when she was married to her first husband. He died suddenly just three months into their marriage. Lyman had also experienced hardship. His first wife battled cancer for 16 years before passing away. This entire process has been one from a storybook. Unlikely, to impossible, to incredible. I feel very fortunate, blessed and honored to have been a part of it. 

The Lymans will be joining us as honored guests at the Veteran’s Day assembly on Monday, Nov. 11, at Tracy City Elementary. Please join us in celebrating this amazing American hero and his bride.

Seth Layne teaches first grade at Tracy City Elementary and is a Tracy City councilman. He was raised in Palmer. He and his wife, Laura, have two children, Bella and Ezra.

Camp Discover Hosts Second Event

Children from Tracy City Elementary School, along with their families and community members, gathered at the South Cumberland State Park Visitor’s Center on June 14 to celebrate the end of the second annual Camp Discover, a two-week summer program for schoolchildren in grades 1–6. Students explored the region, participated in literacy activities and engaged in experiences designed to inspire questions and celebrate the community’s history.
More than 75 students participated and visited sites such as the Dutch Maid Bakery, the Silverbait Worm Farm, Beersheba Springs Assembly and the Coal Miner’s Museum. Campers in grades 1–3 learned photography from Pradip Malde, a professor at the University of the South, and older campers completed a Junior Ranger curriculum with support from the South Cumberland State Park, Sewanee’s Environmental Studies Program and the Friends of the South Cumberland. All students read books to build community connections through literacy, including, for the younger group, “Dad’s Railroad: The Mountain Goat” by Mary Priestley and, for the older campers, “My Side of the Mountain” by Jean Craighead George.
Camp Discover is a partnership between Yale Child Study Center, Scholastic, Inc., Tracy City Elementary and the University of the South. The University Dining Services and Morton Memorial Methodist Church volunteers provided food for each day of camp. Mountain T.O.P. also helped support the event.

Tracy City Looks Ahead to a Bright Future

by Seth Layne, Special to the Messenger

What would $1.5 million do for a community such as Tracy City? We will soon have an answer to this question. For the last several months, individuals have been working tirelessly. The city has been awarded  grants that total about $1.2 million. With a $300,000 loan that fulfills the matching requirements of the grants, the small town of Tracy City could see a life-altering amount of money used for the mutual benefit of its citizens. The grants include renovations to the old Grundy County High School, new sidewalks and street lamps in downtown and the construction of Tracy’s portion of the Mountain Goat Trail.

The old, beautiful building that was Grundy County High School is dear to many people. The grant for renovations to the facility would focus on bringing the building up to code, renovating the front wing and restoring the gymnasium. The city hopes the building will be used for a variety of purposes, such as sporting events and rental space for the public. The classrooms will also be available for lease for anything from doctor’s and lawyer’s offices, to clinics and shops and parties, as well as vocational classes from local technical schools.

Tracy City was accepted recently to the Tennessee Main Street Program. This highly competitive program accepted only six towns in the state this year. The city has two grants for sidewalks and street lamps to beautify downtown and to make it easier for citizens and tourists to enjoy the many opportunities. These grants will be instrumental in helping Tracy’s Revitalization Committee achieve its goals of enhancing Main Street and making the city a great place to visit.

The Mountain Goat Trail is a remarkable venture. Many remember the train that used to come from Cowan to Palmer, the Mountain Goat. Many have told about how the conductor would throw candy and gum to children as it passed through town. The railroad in Grundy County used to be a vital part of the area’s culture. With the leadership of the Mountain Goat Trail Alliance, Tracy City has approved funds for easements and construction of walking and bike trails for the five-mile portion in Tracy City. This paved trail will preserve the history of the great Mountain Goat and will provide the citizens of Tracy and the surrounding area with a beautiful place to exercise and to enjoy their town. 

The process of attaining a loan has not been easy. A $300,000 loan for a small town such as Tracy City can be a risky thing. It has been met with stiff opposition by some in our community. A primary argument against the loan is that the city simply cannot afford it, while others argue that it will do nothing to improve the city. Upon my [author Seth Layne’s] request, Brad Harris from the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) visited from Knoxville to look at the city’s 2012 audit. After reviewing the city’s finances, Harris assured the Board of Mayor and Aldermen that the loan is feasible, given the city’s current financial standing. Upon approval from the state comptroller’s office, Tracy City will proceed with all necessary measures to accomplish these goals.

The Board of Mayor and Aldermen of Tracy City requests that the public partner with them in this revitalization of Tracy City. As a community, Tracy City has never been more ready for positive change. The city has been given an extraordinary opportunity to make this into what its citizens already know that it is—a wonderful place to live and a beautiful place to visit. For more information, please visit the Facebook page at <www.facebook.com/TracyCityTn>. 

Seth Layne is a Tracy City Alderman.

Tracy City Chosen for Tennessee Downtowns

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced on Feb. 6 that Tracy City has been admitted to its Tennessee Downtowns Program. A community assessment meeting is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m., Thursday, March 7, at Tracy City’s City Hall. The public is welcome to attend and meet with the Tracy City Steering Committee for downtown revitalization, the mayor and board of aldermen.

 Tennessee Downtowns is a competitive community improvement program for cities and counties seeking to revitalize traditional commercial districts. The program follows the National Main Street Center’s “Main Street Four-Point Approach to Downtown Revitalization.” This is an 18-month tier program that guides steering committees through the steps of launching a downtown revitalization effort.

The other communities selected this year are Clifton, Greenfield, Portland, Waynesboro and White Bluff. 

As part of the program, members of the steering committee will teach citizens about comprehensive, sustainable downtown revitalization and historic preservation through regional workshops and webinars, technical assistance and a $15,000 grant to complete individualized downtown development projects.

 The steering committee has been active since it was appointed in October 2012 by the mayor and board of aldermen. Research by the committee found there are 55 active businesses and organizations in the downtown area of Tracy City and 19 commercial buildings vacant, leaving a vacancy rate in excess of 25 percent. The committee’s study will strive to address the high rate of business vacancies. 

There are two buildings in the downtown area that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

There are an additional five sites that have value as historic or recreational areas. These are the vacant gymnasium of the former Grundy County High School, the site of the former Tracy City depot, roundhouse and engine repair shop, along with the contiguous Boy Scouts of America Park, the site of the former Shook School with remaining gymnasium, the site of the Wooten Mine and Coke Ovens and the site of the former Sam Werner Lumber Company. The committee has found significant current tourist trade in the downtown area that is being developed by existing businesses and organizations.

 The committee encourages community input in the downtown revitalization study process. The steering committee members are: Jeremy Fultz (president of Tracy City Business Club), Nadene Moore (chairperson of Water Board of Tracy City Utility District), Sue B. Parrott (Grundy County member of Southeast Tennessee Tourism Board), Emily Partin (Commissioner, Grundy County Board of Commissioners) and Larry Phipps (mayor of Tracy City).

The Tennessee Downtowns application submitted by Tracy City is available for viewing by interested persons at Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center, 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. People interested in providing comments or learning more can contact Nadene Moore, secretary for the committee, at (931) 592-6437 or (931) 592-6008.

Tracy City Looks at Downtown Renewal

A steering committee in Tracy City is developing a downtown revitalization plan. On Oct. 11, the mayor and board of aldermen of Tracy City approved the plan. Members of the committee are Jeremy Fultz, president of Tracy City Business Club; Nadene Moore, chairman of the water board of Tracy City Utility District; Sue Parrott, Grundy County member of Southeast Tennessee Tourism Board; Emily Partin, commissioner, Grundy County Board of Commissioners; and Larry Phipps, mayor of Tracy City.

The steering committee applied to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for admission to its Tennessee Downtowns program; the group hopes to learn if it has been accepted by the end of 2012. Tennessee Downtowns is designed to help communities as they embark on a comprehensive revitalization effort. In developing its Tennessee Downtowns application, members of the steering committee have seen great enthusiasm within the downtown business community for revitalization.

There are 55 active businesses and organizations in the downtown area of Tracy City and 19 commercial buildings vacant, leaving a vacancy rate in excess of 25 percent. There are two buildings in the downtown area that have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are five additional sites that have historical or recreational value: the gymnasium of the former Grundy County High School; the former Tracy City depot, roundhouse and engine repair shop, along with the contiguous Boy Scouts of America park, the site of the former Shook School with the remaining gymnasium; the site of the Wooten Mine and Coke Ovens; and the site of the former Sam Werner Lumber Company.

Tracy City’s application is available for review at the Grundy County Historical Society Heritage Center, 465 Railroad Ave., Tracy City. To provide comments or for more information, contact Parrott at (931) 592-5201 or (931) 592-6008.