Growing up, I heard the stories of my grandfather, Emary “Jitney” Blankenbecler, and others from Kingsport riding a train throughout the Appalachian Mountains handing out gifts and candies. He missed the first year of train because he was in World War II. He did this until 1995. He passed in 1998 at the age of 91.
The tradition of the Santa Train continues today.
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Built in 1937 by the Black community, this school was in use until 1963 when it consolidated with another Pulaski County school. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.
Built in 1930, this mill sits outside of Pulaski, Tennessee, over Choate Creek. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.
Founded as the New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church prior to 1850, the church changes it’s name to Boonshill in 1949. It’s located on top of a mountain in a picturesque area of Tennessee.
