Blount and Beyond Online Magazine - Magazine - Page 44
Our Neck of the Woods Alive
By Dana Lund, 2023
The onset of Spring awakens Our Neck of the Woods. Dazzling wildflowers start the show blanketing the mountains. The
little hints of yellow and purples just open to the beautiful blossoms that will soon be popping out. Drive down the local
roads, hike the trails...just watch each week the beauty will unfold more. The whole town awakes from its winter nap.
Local businesses that were closed during winter season open. You can now see the line forming at Burger Master and we
hear Black Bear plans to open for the season soon. Park roads and trails that were closed during winter weather conditions
open back. Soon enough we will see and hear excitement on the river. The locals and tourists alike come to enjoy and
begin adding upcoming fun and festivals to their calendars. As the season opens in full and the mountains become alive,
we are seeing new about town too.
We were devastated last year to see the Townsend Shopping Center that had served our community for more than 80 years
destroyed by fire. Our hearts broke with the Sullivan family. Seeing the barren ground and not knowing the fate of the
place we considered a landmark. It was rough, hard to swallow unexplainable pain but with Spring we watch as life is
coming back. The building is being rebuilt. They look to be coming along nicely with construction and we look forward to
seeing the new complete soon.
Across from the Parkway Grocery Gulf station another construction is being built. Watching its progress each morning
from across the road with the breakfast crew has been fun. As the original beams were raised and construction began
much discussion was had as to what it was going to be. Some of those predictions being quite entertaining and at times I
wondered if they were in jest, or those thoughts were serious. We will continue to watch and await as the reported
residence / art studio emerges.
What? I do not think we are that nosy. Attendance at the town9s business meeting might reveal the answers to all the
questions but we are just a quiet town here in the sleepy winter months and without much activity. Discussing fills our
conversations and talking a bit of mystery gives something to look forward to and figure out. Have you all seen
newspapers from times gone by? These mystery talks are mild compared to those gossip columns. Read some of those and
you will know who was visiting where, who fought with whom, what sickness was about, what the Preacher had to say
and all the other crops of tidbits.
Speaking of figuring out mysteries, there has also been much chatter about the remodeling of the old movie rental place
(just past the Dollar General, Bear Grounds and before the IGA). Just as everyone thought they had it figured out they
heard a new story. So, are the stories changing for mere entertainment or what is it to be? We do not know for sure until
whoever is constructing it has a housewarming or Grand Opening. However, we do know that whatever is being
constructed is a fine beautiful building.
Have you seen the former US Bank location at 7971 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway (at the entrance of IGA)? It is seeing
remodel work too. Happy to see that old building get some life back. Soon to open there is the Townsend Mercantile
Company, a specialty gift store. Their website describes it as a place to find locally branded merchandise. Owner Brooke
says