Loved this video! That is my dad's barn in Grainger County. Never really knew the story behind the barns but was very proud to be able to say "that is our barn".
I live on the very western tip of N.C. We used to have a few barns painted goin down hwy64/74. Not anymore unfortunately. Such an awesome place to take kids round Christmas time.
I remember when I was younger and so many barns had See Rock City painted on them. I was so intrigued that I had to go pay a visit to Rock City. It’s a magical place on its own and you can still see for miles and miles. The nomes are scattered throughout in whimsical poses. It was really a very memorable visit. I hope you can take your son one day, he would get a real kick out of it. Have a blessed evening and thank you for sharing.
I knew some of this history because the Cincinnati Sign Museum has a huge sign that is an actual side of a barn and it tells about how Rock City pays for the barns to be painted. It doesn’t tell the entire story though. My husband and I really enjoyed this.
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I grew up in the Ozarks of North-West Arkansas. Thank you for posting this stuff. I'm convinced that that the people of the vAppalachian mountains were the forerunners of the people the Ozarks.
Learned something new today! I love old barns in general. They are hauntingly beautiful just like the old antebellum homes of the past. I live and breathe historical places.
That’s a great story! I love how people were so creative back then!! Tennessee is such a beautiful state!! How blessed are you to have a 10 yr old son that will have such a rich life and love of History.. so much better then videos games !
I remember these. You can still buy the "See Rock City" birdhouse barns at Home Depot and Amazon. I've bought several through the years as gifts. I wonder if there's a map out there of the ones still standing. It's awesome that you are able to share this history with your young son.
Oh wow hey man I'm new to your channel Thanks for sharing the stories I love old abandon houses and old barns love the old abandon barns never been in the rock city barns love to though man Appalachian stuff interests me very interesting love hearing the stories and the history this makes me want to go to an old barn and work out in them thanks for sharing man great video bud👍👍👍👍👍
We moved to East Tennessee about a month ago and there was a See Rock City birdhouse in one of our oak trees. I had no idea what the reference was to until now. I'm enjoying your channel and learning about the new area I now call home. 🙂
Growing up exploring abandoned houses was a huge part of my childhood! You should go check out Copper Hill, it’s a really cool small mining town with lots of abandoned stuff to explore.
Growing up in Grainger Co. I see the one in Avondale near Grainger High School almost daily. Always understood where Lookout Mountain was located but never knew the whole story. Thank you for passing this down. Our young people need to know their heritage. I'm 36 now and I'm seeing the importance of giving this heritage to my 7 year old daughter. So she understands how lucky we are to come from East Tennessee.
I am related to the Carters.. our grandfather drew the state lines for TN on the eastern border for the U.S. Gov. He was awarded 100's of thousands of acres for his work. The book is called the Life and Times of Moses Fisk -Tim Barlow
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller no, my dad gifted the last 100 acres back to the family that lived there, it was in the blue tip mountain, not too certain where exactly.. but I know we owned most of the counties land.. That book is the earliest account of the land and ancient burial site or "mounds" as described by him in his writings...he was one of the first professors of Dartmouth University and chose to survey land for the US gov't he pioneered his way down , even started the first Girls school in Appalachia.. some real interesting writings about that area...Standing Stone Park still has one of our homes at the entrance to it. Our family was personal friends with Andrew Jackson "He called my Grandfather the smartest Southerner" at the time. He also spent the night in out road house and played cards with my family. One of our family members was blind in one eye (Denison) and was also known to cheat at cards. President Jackson said , " I am going to get my set of cards from my buggy, if anyone should try to cheat again, I will carve out his other eye.. cool history and that is all recorded. I still talk to the Carters and they live not too far, I live in Detroit now, we are the Terry family..we owned Stores in Hilham and Cookeville, clothes I believe. I would love to know more. Any suggestions?
Hi JD, loved the vid - never knew the story of barn ads. Very interesting. Loved your music also. Your son will never forget these times. I know I remember all the times spent with my dad. Those memories will never be forgotten by your son. My dad has been gone for many years but those memories are still crystal clear in my mind. Nice to find you and your son spend lots of time together. Thanks for the vid!
I enjoy your storytelling.. You do a great job of doing so.. This on actually hits home.. You see I worked for Clark Byers.. My dad, brother & other kin folk worked helping Mr. Clark keeping the Barn's up.. In 1969 Mr. Clark bought a parcel of land that my Great Granmother Mary Gatlin she had raised her family at the Cave that Clark and his business partner from the Carter family.. As we all grew up in and around Sulphur Spring's area we would work at the cave giving tours as Mr. Clark had managed to turn the Caverns into a tourist attraction they named after a well knows native that created the native alphabet.. Clark knew that if he created an attraction about our local history folks would come from all around to get a glemps of day's gone by.. I gave tours threw that cave for several years.. Started out @ $2.00 an hour making bumper signs & attaching them to every vehicle in the parking area.. I also hauled hay for Mr. Clark.. Eventually I worked up to tour guide & made a hole $2.50 an hour!.. Mr. Clark sold the Caverns to Mr. Ken Pennington around 1982ish & I continued working for Ken untill I was 18.. Year's later I would go & sit with Mr. Clark & take my daughter.. I would sit in his sunroom and record him talking about his time's threw history the people & places he had been and seen.. It was all fine well and wonderful story's he spoke of threw history.. I'm very blessed to say.. I was a small part of that history. Keep up the great work.. & If'n you ever want to swap story's.. Just give me a shout! Take good care & Keep Shining Bright!! ✌💜🙏😎🎼
I'm quite sure I remember seeing some of these barns while on some of our Southern road trips in the 70s. I know we went to Lookout Mountain and rode the incline railway at least once.
Grew up seeing Rock City signs and Burma Shave signs. I knew the story of the painter but couldn't remember his name. Another great video, thank you for sharing 🙏
One of the most-chosen "deals" for potential barn owners was the offer to paint the barn itself in exchange for allowing Mr. Byers to paint three words on it when done: "See Rock City". He stopped in my fathers' old restaurant a couple of times on his journeys later in his career to eat on his way to maintenance duties at the next barn up the highway (we have two in our area, including one in this video). I met him once at my dads' place; an amazingly kind and likeable gentleman indeed. - Ed on the Ridge
This is interesting, never knew this story. The beginning Reminded me of me & my son when he was 10-12, he's 42 now, but those questions & memories are still etched into my mind. Wish you & your son many many more days like you described.
Didn’t know all of that, but I remember when I moved here in 1982 as a kid and finding out about these iconic barns. I loved that you put names to the story. Definitely sharing this video on Facebook
My mom and i were just talking about this last weekend. It's amazing what they thought up back in the olde days. Love the story of you and your son... one of my earliest memories is me riding in my dads full size blazer. Good times!
Appropriate donkey placement 😂. You've answered a question I've had since childhood...we used to count the number of barns on vacation.. good times! Thanks JD ✌️😎👍❤️❤️
Thank you JD. Ironic they beautified the roadways by covering the Rock City barns. Yet plastered the Interstate with billboards. I95 from Va to Florida is plastered with visit, “ South of the Border” signs. Visit Wall Drug, when you head West. Powerful advertising. Still a few visit Rock City bill boards here in central to northern Alabama.
Makes me want to visit today! You make these places so interesting. Think we’ll take a trip to the mountains this year. Being from NC & now living in AL, it’s hard to believe I’ve not been to Cherokee NP Gatlinburg Nashville Knoxville or Pigeon Forge. Shame since I’ve been to Europe, TX, CA, FL, NY … mostly, we’re beach lovers but that’s about to change. 😂
Papa's barn (McAfee land is in Giles County TN) is on the front cover of this book. See Rock City Barns: A Tennessee Tradition Hardcover - April 1, 1997 by Anita Armstrong Capps (Author)
Yep,as a matter of fact,you did a story awhile back with my little brother,he’s the veterinarian who reconstructed a couple of log cabins in Bean Station,our family farm was the one in several of your shots
@@Siggyroka Yes Sir, I recognized your name and made the connection. Thats Right, while I filmed the cabins, I took time to take a few shots of the cows in the pasture, they made a guest appearance in this video. I have a huge collection stock footage like that. Good eye my friend for catching that small detail in the video
I grew up in East Tennessee back in the 50's and 60's and we drove all those backroads ( then the main highways) and would see those See Rock City barns all over. We had some near us too. There were others like Ruby Falls and the Windsor Hotel ( of Johnson City). When I think of home and those hills I think of those barns. Thanks for the story.
Loved this video! That is my dad's barn in Grainger County. Never really knew the story behind the barns but was very proud to be able to say "that is our barn".
Very cool!
It’s amazing how these videos unlock memories for me I remember my mammaw and papaw having a birdhouse with see rock city painted on the roof of it
Wonderful memories of days gone by
I love finding out about the barns that I saw as a child. I remember going to Rock City. I love your stories. Thank you!
Thank you 🙏
I live on the very western tip of N.C. We used to have a few barns painted goin down hwy64/74. Not anymore unfortunately. Such an awesome place to take kids round Christmas time.
Those were the days my friend
I'm 60, saw these off I-75 when I was a 9 yr old heading from Ohio to Fla.
Great memories
Seen these my entire life, & had no idea.
It’s a great story most folks never heard of
I was raised on short mountian and can remember seeing several of these barns, and the closer you got the more you saw.
Never heard of short mountain- cool name
I do remember these barns and love rock city
💜
I was asked to paint a bird house, so I painted it in a “see rock city” scheme. Thanks for the history 😊
Love those bird houses
We printed a book on these barns years ago at The Kingsport Press. FASCINATING!! ❤
I remember when I was younger and so many barns had See Rock City painted on them. I was so intrigued that I had to go pay a visit to Rock City. It’s a magical place on its own and you can still see for miles and miles. The nomes are scattered throughout in whimsical poses. It was really a very memorable visit. I hope you can take your son one day, he would get a real kick out of it. Have a blessed evening and thank you for sharing.
Indeed , thanks for sharing my friend, I enjoyed your story
I pass one of these every day on Chapman highway going to and from work up in Sevierville.
Awesome
I knew some of this history because the Cincinnati Sign Museum has a huge sign that is an actual side of a barn and it tells about how Rock City pays for the barns to be painted. It doesn’t tell the entire story though. My husband and I really enjoyed this.
Thanks my friend
Help Support the Preservation of Appalachian History by Subscribing to this channel. Support this channel by clicking the "Thanks" button below or by visiting www.theappalachianstoryteller.com for official merchandise. Follow The Appalachian Storyteller on Facebook facebook.com/TheAppalachianStoryteller
Great story that I never knew about.
Also thanks to all the commentors that add a little extra.
Glad you enjoyed it
I grew up in the Ozarks of North-West Arkansas. Thank you for posting this stuff. I'm convinced that that the people of the vAppalachian mountains were the forerunners of the people the Ozarks.
I believe you are correct Sir
Very cool! As a lookout mtn resident this is truly well done.
Thank you my friend, I appreciate your kind words
Glad someone finally covered this topic I always wondered
Thank you my friend, God Bless
I grew up in Memphis in the 1960’s and remember seeing these and visiting Rock City… I never knew this story but I’m so glad I do now!!!
Thanks for watching Cindy
Just found your channel! I love listening to good story tellers. Enjoyed hearing the story behind the barns. I always wondered about those barns.
Thank you ma’am and welcome to the channel
Learned something new today! I love old barns in general. They are hauntingly beautiful just like the old antebellum homes of the past. I live and breathe historical places.
I’m a sucker for old barns- be sure to check out my “barns of Appalachia “ video
That’s a great story! I love how people were so creative back then!! Tennessee is such a beautiful state!! How blessed are you to have a 10 yr old son that will have such a rich life and love of History.. so much better then videos games !
Yes ma'am, Im bless to have this little boy
I remember seeing these while growing up in NC
Had family on mom's side in TN went there on vacation every other year and these barns along the way
Great Memories my Friend
I remember these. You can still buy the "See Rock City" birdhouse barns at Home Depot and Amazon. I've bought several through the years as gifts. I wonder if there's a map out there of the ones still standing. It's awesome that you are able to share this history with your young son.
There IS a map! I’ll share it below
Here is a map to the barns that are left www.seerockcity.com/barns-map/
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Thanks!
@@realification6827 no problem
You know what my backyard needs? A See Rock City birdhouse. Thank you! I just got one from Home Depot with free shipping.
Oh wow hey man I'm new to your channel Thanks for sharing the stories I love old abandon houses and old barns love the old abandon barns never been in the rock city barns love to though man Appalachian stuff interests me very interesting love hearing the stories and the history this makes me want to go to an old barn and work out in them thanks for sharing man great video bud👍👍👍👍👍
Thanks friend, and welcome to the channel. Pull up a chair and stay a while
Your welcome man thanks happy to be here on the channel yep I'll do that pull up a chair and stay a while indeed
@@cadeevans4623 appreciate you brother
Thanks man my pleasure
I’ve been to rock city before and it’s a fun place
Me too, the history in this video is really cool
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller definitely
We moved to East Tennessee about a month ago and there was a See Rock City birdhouse in one of our oak trees. I had no idea what the reference was to until now. I'm enjoying your channel and learning about the new area I now call home. 🙂
Welcome to East Tennessee my friend, the greatest place in America.
Great video JD. Back home there's one of those barns. Just outside Abbeville SC.
Awesome
Growing up exploring abandoned houses was a huge part of my childhood! You should go check out Copper Hill, it’s a really cool small mining town with lots of abandoned stuff to explore.
Thanks for the tip my friend
Growing up in Grainger Co. I see the one in Avondale near Grainger High School almost daily. Always understood where Lookout Mountain was located but never knew the whole story. Thank you for passing this down. Our young people need to know their heritage. I'm 36 now and I'm seeing the importance of giving this heritage to my 7 year old daughter. So she understands how lucky we are to come from East Tennessee.
Yes indeed- you nailed it
I am related to the Carters.. our grandfather drew the state lines for TN on the eastern border for the U.S. Gov. He was awarded 100's of thousands of acres for his work. The book is called the Life and Times of Moses Fisk -Tim Barlow
You still have the land?
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller no, my dad gifted the last 100 acres back to the family that lived there, it was in the blue tip mountain, not too certain where exactly.. but I know we owned most of the counties land.. That book is the earliest account of the land and ancient burial site or "mounds" as described by him in his writings...he was one of the first professors of Dartmouth University and chose to survey land for the US gov't he pioneered his way down , even started the first Girls school in Appalachia.. some real interesting writings about that area...Standing Stone Park still has one of our homes at the entrance to it. Our family was personal friends with Andrew Jackson "He called my Grandfather the smartest Southerner" at the time. He also spent the night in out road house and played cards with my family.
One of our family members was blind in one eye (Denison) and was also known to cheat at cards. President Jackson said , " I am going to get my set of cards from my buggy, if anyone should try to cheat again, I will carve out his other eye..
cool history and that is all recorded.
I still talk to the Carters and they live not too far, I live in Detroit now, we are the Terry family..we owned Stores in Hilham and Cookeville, clothes I believe. I would love to know more. Any suggestions?
Thanks Doug. I grew up in Chattanooga and never heard that story.
It’s a great story, I enjoyed researching this one
Yep I've seen those painted barns when driving semi truck.
Indeed, always a special treat
Hi JD, loved the vid - never knew the story of barn ads. Very interesting. Loved your music also. Your son will never forget these times. I know I remember all the times spent with my dad. Those memories will never be forgotten by your son. My dad has been gone for many years but those memories are still crystal clear in my mind. Nice to find you and your son spend lots of time together. Thanks for the vid!
Thank you friend- indeed- nothing better than riding and telling stories to your young son
New to your channe l, this is great!
Thank you friend, welcome to the channel. Pull up a chair and make yourself right at home
I enjoy your storytelling..
You do a great job of doing so..
This on actually hits home..
You see I worked for Clark Byers..
My dad, brother & other kin folk worked helping Mr. Clark keeping the Barn's up..
In 1969 Mr. Clark bought a parcel of land that my Great Granmother Mary Gatlin she had raised her family at the Cave that Clark and his business partner from the Carter family..
As we all grew up in and around Sulphur Spring's area we would work at the cave giving tours as Mr. Clark had managed to turn the Caverns into a tourist attraction they named after a well knows native that created the native alphabet..
Clark knew that if he created an attraction about our local history folks would come from all around to get a glemps of day's gone by..
I gave tours threw that cave for several years..
Started out @ $2.00 an hour making bumper signs & attaching them to every vehicle in the parking area..
I also hauled hay for Mr. Clark..
Eventually I worked up to tour guide & made a hole $2.50 an hour!..
Mr. Clark sold the Caverns to Mr. Ken Pennington around 1982ish & I continued working for Ken untill I was 18..
Year's later I would go & sit with Mr. Clark & take my daughter..
I would sit in his sunroom and record him talking about his time's threw history the people & places he had been and seen..
It was all fine well and wonderful story's he spoke of threw history..
I'm very blessed to say..
I was a small part of that history.
Keep up the great work..
& If'n you ever want to swap story's..
Just give me a shout!
Take good care &
Keep Shining Bright!!
✌💜🙏😎🎼
I enjoyed reading your story, really cool . You have any photos of mr. Clark?
I'm quite sure I remember seeing some of these barns while on some of our Southern road trips in the 70s. I know we went to Lookout Mountain and rode the incline railway at least once.
I’m sure you did
Grew up seeing Rock City signs and Burma Shave signs. I knew the story of the painter but couldn't remember his name. Another great video, thank you for sharing 🙏
Indeed, thanks for sharing friend
I had always wondered about those barns but never knew the story until now. Thanks for posting!
Thank you for watching :)
I have a old birdhouse that says see rock city to this day
Indeed- they still make them
One of the most-chosen "deals" for potential barn owners was the offer to paint the barn itself in exchange
for allowing Mr. Byers to paint three words on it when done: "See Rock City".
He stopped in my fathers' old restaurant a couple of times on his journeys later in his career to eat on his
way to maintenance duties at the next barn up the highway (we have two in our area, including one in this
video).
I met him once at my dads' place; an amazingly kind and likeable gentleman indeed.
- Ed on the Ridge
Thanks for sharing my friend
This is interesting, never knew this story. The beginning Reminded me of me & my son when he was 10-12, he's 42 now, but those questions & memories are still etched into my mind. Wish you & your son many many more days like you described.
Thank you so much- indeed these memories are precious
Didn’t know all of that, but I remember when I moved here in 1982 as a kid and finding out about these iconic barns. I loved that you put names to the story.
Definitely sharing this video on Facebook
Thanks for your support James
Cool.
Thanks man
My mom and i were just talking about this last weekend. It's amazing what they thought up back in the olde days. Love the story of you and your son... one of my earliest memories is me riding in my dads full size blazer. Good times!
Indeed my friend
Love that you and your son are in this together.
I'm always speaking family, history, and old stories to our son and grands.❤
yes, he is like my shadow, always with me!
Appropriate donkey placement 😂. You've answered a question I've had since childhood...we used to count the number of barns on vacation.. good times! Thanks JD
✌️😎👍❤️❤️
Thank you !
Great storytelling, and Now the rest of the story more things I didn't know and learned something new today. Well done !
Thanks Jim, i really love this story
Awesome story thank you.
Thank you Stella
That was one heck of a good story! I have seen many of those old barns, but didn’t know much about them. Thank you very much.👍
Thank you Richard, Its really an incredible story
Love the video! Thank you, for it.
Thank you ma’am
Used to be a Rock city barn down the road a mile or so. Chambersburg Indiana. Not many I can remember much farther north.
Indeed, most are gone from that area now
Thank you JD.
Ironic they beautified the roadways by covering the Rock City barns. Yet plastered the Interstate with billboards. I95 from Va to Florida is plastered with visit, “ South of the Border” signs. Visit Wall Drug, when you head West. Powerful advertising. Still a few visit Rock City bill boards here in central to northern Alabama.
Indeed- that bill was a waste of taxpayer money
Thank you for a wonderful story. I learned from this video and I enjoy history.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you my friend!
You were in our neighborhood!
❤️
Love this video I lived on sand mountain Alabama I been to lookout mountain Love all the history
I wish we could pack sack lunches and all of us viewers get in family wagon and ride and daydream with you guys!
That’d be cool
Exelent thank you
Thank you ma’am
Great video
Thanks Joe
They use to be bunch of those See Rock City Barns between Memphis and Jackson TN on Interstate 40
Indeed, I’ve seen many of them myself
Hey story teller great video now
🙏
There was one by my grandma's house on 25e
Awesome
Makes me want to visit today! You make these places so interesting. Think we’ll take a trip to the mountains this year. Being from NC & now living in AL, it’s hard to believe I’ve not been to Cherokee NP Gatlinburg Nashville Knoxville or Pigeon Forge. Shame since I’ve been to Europe, TX, CA, FL, NY … mostly, we’re beach lovers but that’s about to change. 😂
its worth the trip!
Papa's barn (McAfee land is in Giles County TN) is on the front cover of this book.
See Rock City Barns: A Tennessee Tradition
Hardcover - April 1, 1997
by Anita Armstrong Capps (Author)
It’s a great barn
This i didn't know, I pass by 1 of these barns everytime I go to KY. by state line where I live..an my madan name is Carter..hmmm
Great story
We used to “work” tobacco in the first barn you showed
Thats awesome my friend, you from Grainger County?
Yep,as a matter of fact,you did a story awhile back with my little brother,he’s the veterinarian who reconstructed a couple of log cabins in Bean Station,our family farm was the one in several of your shots
@@Siggyroka Yes Sir, I recognized your name and made the connection. Thats Right, while I filmed the cabins, I took time to take a few shots of the cows in the pasture, they made a guest appearance in this video. I have a huge collection stock footage like that. Good eye my friend for catching that small detail in the video
See Ruby Falls too
Yup 👍
New sub ! Liked
Nice 🇨🇦 ❤
Barn quilts!
I have a story about barns quilts I’m gonna share one day
@@TheAppalachianStoryteller Looking forward to it! 😃
I recognized the one on hwy 411 in seveir county
awesome!
i grew up in new market the one there is gone now
That’s a shame
I grew up in East Tennessee back in the 50's and 60's and we drove all those backroads ( then the main highways) and would see those See Rock City barns all over. We had some near us too. There were others like Ruby Falls and the Windsor Hotel ( of Johnson City). When I think of home and those hills I think of those barns. Thanks for the story.
Indeed, thanks for sharing your story my friend
❤
I have a birdhouse that says See Rock City.
awesome
Geez. If only LBJ had concentrated on some more important issues, instead of interfering with free enterprise.
💯
Ha, pllbbbtttt government
Indeed