It's been an exciting two weeks here at the Center. First with the 2nd Annual Exit 56 Blues Fest last week (pictures posted soon) and now this week we've moved the Flagg Grove School.
The one-room school was previously located in Nutbush, yes... the real Nutbush that Tina Turner sings about. As a matter of fact, she attended Flagg Grove School. To add to the history of the school, her great uncle, Benjamin Flagg, sold the land to the school's trustees for $25 an acre. I understand the going price at that time (1889) was $75 an acre. The school closed in 1968 and had been used as a barn since that time.
It's a journey that began several months ago and yesterday the school finally made it to our Center and now sits beside the home of Bluesman "Sleepy" John Estes. While the size of the school kind of dwarfs Sleepy John's, we are very proud of this addition to the collection and look forward to highlighting early education in Haywood County and, of course, the fantastic singing career of Tina Turner.
Here's a few photos of the school's journey.
 |
| Inside the School |
 |
| A few desk and benches were still in the school. Notice the stage in the background. You just know Tina had to have sung on that stage at some time during her school days there. |
 |
| Bracing the building for the move. |
 |
| Positioning the skids. |
 |
| Ready to go! Pulling out from the field on Elm Tree Road. |
 |
| Traveling down Highway 19, aka Tina Turner Highway |
 |
| Navigating the power lines on Anderson ... almost there. |
 |
| Welcome! Just a little ways more.... |
 |
| It's here ... sitting beside the Sleepy John Estes home on the grounds of the West Tennessee Delta Heritage Center. |
As you can see from the pictures, there is some restoration work to be done. Tax deductible donations to help restore the school can be sent to:
Friends of the Delta Heritage Center
P.O. Box 1358
Brownsville, TN 38012
No comments:
Post a Comment