Gorgeous brick building. Spooky brick building. I'm fascinated by this brick and mortar landmark of…read morethe temperance movement. Harriman was originally a planned alcohol-free city that would set an example for the nation. Built in 1891, this was actually the main hall, Temperance Hall, for the American Temperance University. I mean, could you imagine the entrance essay required for admissions? Teehee. Okay, all jokes aside this building is in very good shape on the outside. I love the stone arch entryway. And the turrets are super cool. After it closed the building became a jail and now serves as a museum/offices holding a host of archives. To the locals, it's the coolest building for Christmas lighting. Its all locked up for safety as it get's renovated. but you can still peer inside the windows and see a lot. You like ghost stories? All I remember is...I'm taking pics and next thing you know I get this very bad feeling. VERY VERY VERY BAD FEELING. Like in a sixth sense kind of way. Like someone or something is following me. Total goosebumps. Feels like someone inside waiting to zombie attack me. I think I stepped a little too close to the window. Or maybe they don't want their picture taken? Holy beejezus I ran away from this building like a wee little girl. Days later I did a little research. Turns out there's a huge following that his place is haunted. Was featured in several ghost hunter publications. Check it out. Or don't. Me? I prefer to sleep at night. If I still can. That was WAY too real.

Andrew gave us a great tour! So much to see and many interesting facts! The guys working there…read moreenjoyed telling us information as much as we enjoyed hearing them. There were artifacts donated from all over the world. We will go back again to see things that I'm sure we missed!

Small museum with history buffs showing you around. We spent a couple of hours as there was so much…read moreto see.

Tony and I was out driving on the backroads of Tennessee, after we left Fall Creek Falls State…read morePark. We entered the town of Pikeville, TN and had lunch and decided to explore and found this historical home. There was not much information there about the home on signs, so when I got home I had to look it up. I found a little bit of history about it. History: This two-story 1815 home next to the courthouse in Pikeville, TN was owned by John Bidgeman. Bridgeman was a local civic and business leader who outfitted a company of Confederate infantry from Bledsoe County. A federal-style house built in 1815, the John Bridgman House was one of the earliest dwellings in Pikeville. John Bridgeman was the founder of Pikeville and named the town after his home in North Carolina, Pike. The land that the John Bridgman house sits on is part of the original 30 acres purchased in 1816 to establish the city of Pikeville. The house was sold in 1992 to the First National Bank of Pikeville who helped restore it to its original glory. The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1993. John migrated to Tennessee about 1811. Military records show that John joined the East Tennessee Militia at Washington, Rhea County, Tennessee during the War of 1812, where he served as a Sergeant. He was discharged May 14, 1814 after serving four months and eleven days. John was in Campbell County, Tennessee in December 1815, when he gave a power of attorney to collect any payments due him for his military service. John married Lavenia Cox at Bridgman's Mill, in Knox County, Tennessee John settled in Bledsoe County, Tennessee, where he appeared in the Bledsoe County court records in 1818, as a Commissioner for the town of Pikeville. Court records indicate that John bought and sold thousands of acres of land between the years 1818 and 1847. He also bought and sold a number of slaves between 1821 and 1837. John was elected to the House of Representatives for Bledsoe County, for the 13th General Assembly in 1819-1821

You are passing through old mining towns. Back when railroad was king, people in these parts were…read morebustling and working hard in the coal mines. Nowadays, most people overlook this small museum when passing through. It's rather unpretentious. But if you are a history nerd like me you'll see that there is so much to this small section house and slam on your breaks so you can take a look. I was so lucky to pass through on a day when the museum was open. Inside you'll find this is an archivist's dream. There are annals and books and records by the dozen. If you have any curiosity at all about coal, railroading, local geography or county history or looking up an old family member than you have come to the right place. Community leaders, family members, retired workers, people who have settled here for years donated historical things to this museum. And what the museum has done is replicated what an old home in the area might look like. And it has replicated the feeling you get in a small town when all fathers, brothers, sons, husbands and uncles are working in mines for a living. The illnesses and hospital records. The old maps trekking railroad connections. The pride in you work. Gosh, stepping in you realize this 'replica' of a mountain home and the 'replica' of a miner's life is not really a faraway idea. After all, you are walking all around it. In fact, it's so close that the son or granddaughter of all the people showcased on the walls are actually standing in front of you giving you a tour. And you realize you have stepped inside living history and the heart of the local community. And that railroading was not that long ago actually. Progress and innovation aside, coal mining is damn hard work, for sure. Visit to the museum = free. Getting to know the community sharing oral history =free. The cost for thanking a coal miner = free. The whole experience = priceless.

VA Lies. When I enlisted on Dec 11, 1962 the recruiters offered lifetime medical services and other…read morebenefits. In the last few years, as I neared retirement, I researched VA medical benefits. The first liar I talked with, was quite nasty in his attitude and told me that I did not serve in 'nam so I was not eligible (I was sent to Germany where I served honorably to the end of my enlistment). Now retired, I applied again. This time the disrespectful person told me that I made too much money during my retirement and was not qualified for VA assistance. Then he tells me that was what I was told the first time I applied for assistance. Wrong ... but I was told one thing and the liar wrote down something else. VA appears to be full of liars .... from the recruiters to those who answer the phone. VA, shame on you!

Staff is knowledgeable and are more than willing to help very patient and are definitely underpaid…read morei would pay increase for them if it all possible

Good team. If there is a problem in your area, direct it to the proper area and it will taken care…read moreof. May take a minute for them to respond, but remember the call before yours may have been more intense than yours.

The food here is horrible. The environment is also less than ideal. The weight staff can be a…read morelittle grumpy, but are consistent with her treatment of their customer. The sleeping arrangements also less something to be desired. The beds are hard. There are no pillows and it is cold all the time. You don't seem to be to me able