Cable Country

11

Fred’s General Mercantile

 Nov 28, 2006

It all started in the late 1970’s when Fred Pfohl had a late night hankering for a can of tuna. 

There’s no Walmart on Beech Mountain.

“Well you know, I tell people that it’s 24 miles down the road in Boone”, says General Mercantile Owner, Fred Pfohl. “Probably, there’ll never be a Walmart on Beech Mountain”.

But that’s okay..as long as there’s Fred’s.

“If you don’t see it ask us and if we don’t have it you don’t need it”, says Fred with a laugh.

That’s the Fred’s philosophy. He’s been called the “Ike Godsey” of Beech Mountain.

“Ike Godsey wasn’t too bad a fellow in The Waltons”, Fred says. “So I don’t mind being compared to him”.

Ike..uh, Fred first opened the store in 1979.

“Actually, we haven’t been closed a single day in the 27 years that we’ve been open”, he says proudly. “The idea was we wanted to have groceries, hardware, clothing and a deli. Those seemed to be the things that were most needed on the mountain”.

Since then, stock is up. Selection has been pumped way up. Everything from candy to clothing..and shoes to screwdrivers.

“If they need to find a part to fix a toilet we can usually find the float or the nut or the bolt or whatever that they need”, says Fred. “We try real hard to be not just a convenience store but a store that people can live out of”.

From washtubs to watching movies..and deli sandwiches to sourwood honey..they’re ever ready Freddy.

“We could provide you with just about everything that you would want or need”, Fred says.

And for a lot of folks that makes Fred’s the hub of Beech Mountain.

“I don’t want to brag about it”, continues Fred.."But I think it’s pretty much the place that things do happen as far as folks gathering together or meeting each other. It’s pretty easy to find and..most of the folks, full timers on the mountain come and go through the store you know almost daily”.

Yep, things are never dead around Fred’s. Ike Godsey would be proud.

“Country stores in small towns have always kind of served a purpose of being the focal point of the community”, says Fred. “And that was an idea we had to begin with and it’s materialized”. 



Posted by Tim Cable

Christmas Pyramid

 Nov 27, 2006

Inside Dollywood Theme Park, at the head of Craftsman’s Valley, things are really stacking up for the Christmas season. 

A Smoky Mountain Christmas is shaping, up.

“IT’S JUST A BIG WOW FACTOR”, SAYS DOLLYWOOD DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL OPERATIONS, DAVE ANDERSON.

A giant German Christmas Pyramid is wowing ‘em at Dollywood.

“WHEN WE SET OUT TO FIND AN ICON AND DE’COR PIECE THAT WAS JUST A REAL STATEMENT OF GERMAN CHRISTMAS TIME WE FOUND THE GERMAN CHRISTMAS PYRAMID WHICH WAS TRADITIONALLY A TABLE TOP SIZE DE’COR ELEMENT”, DAVE SAYS.

“PYRAMIDS WERE ORIGINALLY MADE FOR THE MINERS WHO WORKED IN THE OREN MOUNTAIN ON THE EASTERN PART OF GERMANY”, SAYS CHRISTMAS PYRAMID EXPERT, DIETER HUNDT. “MADE BY THE WIVES TO WISH THEIR HUSBANDS WHO WORKED FOR 12 TO 14 HOURS IN THE MINES FOR COAL OR SILVER THAT NOTHING HAPPEN TO THEM”.

Many of the actual pyramids that you’ll find in Dollywood’s Olde World Christmas Market feature the miners themselves. Others have different themes..the Nativity’s a popular one..like in Dollywood’s big pyramid. Their colossal Christmas Pyramid is quite an impressive and imposing sight.

“WE SET OUT TO BUILD THE LARGEST ONE OF ITS KIND IN NORTH AMERICA”, SAYS DAVE. “SO THE GERMAN CHRISTMAS PYRAMID IS 45 FEET TALL, 25 FEET ACROSS AT THE BASE AND WEIGHS APPROXIMATELY 20 TONS”.

Made of steel, wood and fiberglass coated sculpted foam..the pyramid’s surrounded by candles to represent light and warmth..and as for the propeller on top.

“IN A TRADITIONAL TABLE TOP DECOR PIECE, THE CANDLES WOULD BE REAL”, DAVE ADDS. “THE HEAT OF THE CANDLES ACTUALLY TURNS THE PROPELLER WHICH THEN TURNS A CENTER SHAFT WHICH THEN GIVES IT SOME MOTION AND ROTATION AND BRINGS IT TO LIFE”.

Now traditionally, these figurines would have been very small but that’s not the case with these, amazingly, they’re life size. As soon as you see them, you’ll probably think: Fisher-Price.

“THAT’S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST AMERICAN REFERENCE IS FISHER-PRICE PEOPLE”, SAYS DAVE. “BUT THEY’RE PATTERNED AFTER TRADITIONAL GERMAN FIGURES. A LOT OF THE PEOPLE THAT NOW MAKE NUTCRACKERS AND PYRAMIDS AND THINGS STARTED AS TOYMAKERS”.

“WE HAD A LOT OF HOMEMADE CHRISTMASES, OUR DAD WAS REAL BIG ON MAKING HOMEMADE TOYS FOR US”, SAYS DOLLY PARTON.

This four and a half story pyramid is turning heads..putting a unique spin on Christmas time at Dollywood.

“IT’S A NICE, SOOTHING, GREAT PLACE TO JUST SIT AND RELAX AND WATCH IT TURN”, DAVE SAYS. 



Posted by Tim Cable

Miss Erin

 Nov 20, 2006

We profile the new Miss Historic Jonesborough. 

Erin Eberhart’s been competing in pageants for a half a dozen years.

“Since I was about 16”, Erin says.

The third time was the charm when she finally won a crown in the Miss Johnson City/Miss Historic Jonesborough pageant.

“Ever since I was a little girl I had a former baby sitter who was actually Miss Johnson City and I just always wanted to have one of these titles and be able to get myself a ticket to go to Miss Tennessee”, says Erin. “And so the first year I did it, I won Miss Congeniality and I took a year off just to kind of perfect some things and I went back last year and won second runner up and Miss Congeniality and then this year I actually won Miss Historic Jonesborough”.

Now Erin doesn’t necessarily look at herself as a typical pageant type.

“I definitely think there are pageant types”, she says. “I don’t know if I am the pageant type but I think pageants have really evolved to more of the girl next door because it’s so important to be able to go into classrooms and speak to children”.

On this day, she speaks and reads to a fourth grade class at Cherokee Elementary.

“My platform is H.O.R.S.E. saddle up”, says Erin. “It stands for helping others read stronger everyday. It’s really important to be able to help students read who have problems because reading is so widely spread throughout the curriculum that if students struggle in reading they’re more than likely going to struggle in every subject. It really makes me feel good that I’m promoting my platform”.

Basically, she looks at herself as just an East Tennessee girl.

“Yeah, just a hometown girl”, Erin laughs.

Representing a down home town like Jonesborough.

“Well, it’s definitely an honor”, she adds. “Because it is the oldest town in Tennessee”.

The Cherokee School alum is returning to her old stomping grounds today.

“I actually hope that when I graduate and get my degree that I can actually teach here”, Erin says.

She looks forward to the experience of competing in the Miss Tennessee pageant next June. She says she’ll enjoy the atmosphere..winning would just be icing on the cake.

“Oh yeah, that would be great”, says Erin. “If I could just top ten at Miss Tennessee that would tickle me to death. But I would definitely love to go back I’m not gonna stop here”. 



Posted by Tim Cable

Crazy Cajun Jukebox

 Nov 16, 2006

There’s a little extra spice at the Crazy Cajun Restaurant. A vintage model jukebox is also on the menu. 

At the Crazy Cajun Restaurant, you can play with your food. Play selection 133, 143 or another choice or two..on the Crazy Cajun jukebox.

“It’s a Rock-Ola it’s a 1970 model Rock-Ola”, says Owner, Ed Michel. “It’s all old 45 records which is pretty rare you don’t see much of that anymore”.

How rare is this record player?

“I don’t know of any other 45 jukebox in the entire area other than in private collections”, Ed says.

This one was part of Ed’s private collection but he decided to make it public and put it in his restaurant.

“I think people enjoyed playing the jukeboxes”, adds Ed. “And we get people play it a lot in here. The biggest thing I’m finding Tim, is the young people, they love the old music and I’ve asked them why and they said, well you can understand the words and it’s got a good beat to it. We even get people who get up and dance. They just like the old music I guess it brings back memories from the past”.

In a new C-D and I-pod world, this old timer is fascinating to watch work.

“Yeah, it goes all the way back”, says Ed. “You know, way, way back to the old style”.

He’s got some real golden oldies in the stacks of hot wax.

“This real golden oldie”, Ed laughs. “It seems there’s a gentleman in this area, I think he happens to work with you, Mr. Bob Lewis, it’s called The Bob Lewis Band. I have one of his 45’s on there and that’s a real old one it has to be from way, way back. Number 116 is What’d I Say by Jerry Lee Lewis and that’s actually on the Sun label. That record goes all the way back into the 50’s and it’s actually it’s not a reproduction it is the real record. Most of them on here are not reproductions they’re all the original records. The old 45’s they just keep on chugging along”.

He guesses he’s got a collection of around 5,000 records of vintage vinyl.

“And it ranges from the 40’s, the Big Band era through about 1972”, says Ed. “I grew up in a home that had a jukebox in the den and that was when I started collecting 45’s when I was about 10 years old and I’ve collected them ever since. So, it’s kind of jukeboxes and 45’s have kind of been a part of my life”.

And Ed just wants these Crazy Cajun concerts to continue to rock his world.

“Hopefully, we can keep it rocking on for years and years and years”, Ed says. “It won’t be like American Pie, you know?..when the music died”. 



Posted by Tim Cable

Sycamore Shoals History

 Nov 14, 2006

There’s a lot of historical significance at this 75 acre State Historic Area. 

When you’re standing at Sycamore Shoals, you’re standing on major historic ground.

“This is the land, the very grounds that the Overmountain Men mustered during the American Revolution”, says Park Manager, Jennifer Bauer. “At that time they came here, they gathered with a common cause they dropped their lives, didn’t know if they’d ever return, it’s just amazing to think about and they came here over a thousand strong, they crossed the river down here at Sycamore Shoals and they met and then they moved on, walked for many, many days in all types of environmental conditions until they got to King’s Mountain where they battled Ferguson during the Revolution and won their battle, he was down in less than one hour, it was just a monumental event in the history of the American Revolution”.

Eight years prior to that, this is also the area where the very first settlement outside of the 13 colonies was organized and this determined group of settlers formed their own government.

“So they came together and brain stormed out what was considered the first free democratic voting government”, Jennifer continues. “They called it The Watauga Association in 1772 which was four years before the Declaration of Independence was signed now that’s pretty amazing also”.

A couple of weeks after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the settlers at Watauga Fort faced one of their biggest challenges but repulsed a Cherokee attack and Lieutenant John Sevier rescued Bonny Kate Sherrell. A historic account that comes to life every Summer in the outdoor drama, “The Wataugans”. A pair of major land deals were also made here..The Transylvania Purchase and the Watauga Purchase. So, if you’re a big history buff, you don’t want to bypass a visit to Sycamore Shoals.

“Some people come because they’re curious and they want to see the fort”, says Jennifer. “Because they know we have a replicated Fort Watauga which was actually built on archaeological evidence. We’re definitely one of the, well I don’t want to say best kept secrets, that’s not the way to put it, we are a secret to many and when folks get here and see what’s going on, we usually have friends for life, they continue to come back”. 



Posted by Tim Cable

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