What/Who is Knoxville Famous For--Other Than The World's Fair? (Farragut: high school, vs)

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by knoxgarden

Author James Agee is from Knoxville. His book, Death in the Family, is set in Knoxville.

This was the first book I read when I moved to Knoxville. It's surprising how many natives don't know about it. It also won the Pulitzer.

[itsajourney]

Originally Posted by weisgarber1

No real claim to fame, imo. Odd question. Why would there need to be?

I'm trying to figure out why this is an "odd" question???

I grew up in a little, itty bitty town of 5000 people in central Illinois. Not much most people would say exiting happens there--but boy, I sure was proud of my hometown when growing up there. We had some of the best basketball and football teams in the entire state of Illinois. Each year I was in high school we went to state playoffs for both sports..

Famous or perhaps infamous--Watseka is also known for the "Watseka Wonder". An early documented case of a young girl being possessed by another young girl who had died years earlier. You can search for the book "Watseka Wonder". This case of Possession has also been mentioned in shows which re-enact ghost stories and that sort of thing.

Little ole Watseka isn't renouned for much--but us locals like to have something we can say happened there. Watseka, county seat of Iroquois County--something like the 3rd largest county area wise in the state--and Watseka--largest "city" in the county.

A few years ago, we had some major flooding in the town--made national news on all of the major news stations. I about dropped my britches when I heard my town mentioned on Weather Channel, CNN, MSNBC & Fox news.

I will have to ponder for a while to remember if there is anyone famous/noteworthy on a national level--even though we had our own "local heros".

I guess it's all a matter of perspective and hometown pride. Obviously, you don't have to have a claim to fame if you don't want one.

I could list other things that wouldn't mean much to a lot of people, but it sure did to us--and that is what makes SMALL TOWN LIVING SPECIAL!

Oh yea--I just remembered, I've heard stories of Al Capone having some hideouts in the area. We were 80-90 miles south of Chicago. It's been rumored you might find some of his buried treasure around--don't know that anyone ever has--but anything is possible....

I am finding all of the above interesting. It's always fun to find out all of the little and/or big things are important to the people who live in an area.

Myself, I know I was super impressed that Knoxville got the World's Fair...I kept thinking Knoxville--of all places in the world--why Knoxville? Does anyone remember the story behind Knoxville getting that prestigous claim to fame? Did you have to compete--and how so?

The Dogwood festival--now that would be something that I would have to check out. I miss the dogwood trees terribly.
Boomsday--thaat sounds like fun too.

I am not familiar with Johnny Knoxville--and not sure from the responses if that's a good thing or not. Please enlighten me.

and the body farm--oh my goodness....yes, I've become very familiar with that due to having so many major criminal cases from Orlando in the news during the past few years. References to the tremendous amount of forensic info that comes from there. In another lifetime I was probably a sleuth of some sort--as I am very fascinated with mystery. I have to admit though, I really don't want the body farm as my next door neighbor...Where exactly is it so I can keep that in mind. I would kind of think it's not highly publicized and rightly so.

[Beretta]

The Body Farm is well known to be behind UT Medical Center and below the Cherokee Bluff Condos.

The Worlds Fair coming to Knoxville was due to a bid that was led by a group with Jake Butcher at the helm.

Brett Carroll is a Bearden Grad that is playing in MLB right now. He just scored a home run last week for the Florida Marlins.

The City-Data Knoxville forum is pretty famous.

[knoxgarden]

Dr. Bass has a local "cult" following. He's quite popular here and gets out and meets people. There was a good story about him in February's Metropulse.
The Cult of Forensics Expert Dr. Bill Bass : Features : Metro Pulse
UT from time to time offers non-credit forensic anthropology courses. I've taken one, it was fascinating.

[itsajourney]

ok--so if the body farm is highly publicized and everyone knows where it's at--how do they maintain security at the place? Is it fenced in like a prison or what? I would not want to risk the integrity of any of the research with any of the nutcases that are out there today.

and thanks for letting me know exactly where it is...I don't mind visiting the dead--I would just prefer to do so under a different setting.

[Beretta]

Originally Posted by itsajourney

ok--so if the body farm is highly publicized and everyone knows where it's at--how do they maintain security at the place? Is it fenced in like a prison or what? I would not want to risk the integrity of any of the research with any of the nutcases that are out there today.

and thanks for letting me know exactly where it is...I don't mind visiting the dead--I would just prefer to do so under a different setting.

It is fenced in (Patricia Cornwall paid for the fence) and there is Security in place. While there was a recent break in, for the most part people are very respectful.

[goodbyehollywood]

The Body Farm doesn't give tours. I'm still wondering who would want one?

For something quintessentially Knoxville, Smoky Mountain Market chili dogs and Roosters Running Through the Garden get my vote. Still the best hangover cure I ever had! The therapeutic value, alone, should have kept them in business.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by goodbyehollywood

The Body Farm doesn't give tours. I'm still wondering who would want one?

For something quintessentially Knoxville, Smoky Mountain Market chili dogs and Roosters Running Through the Garden get my vote. Still the best hangover cure I ever had! The therapeutic value, alone, should have kept them in business.

Okay, you need to explain this one!

[creeksitter]

Sadly the Smoky Mtn Market is out of business. People were busy renovating the store a year back but it stopped. I guess it's not a good business plan to open up just before the Henley St bridge is slated to be closed for repairs. Hopefully after that's completed we'll get another landmark hot dog stand.

I don't remember roosters in the garden. Explain please?

[goodbyehollywood]

Oh, sorry! A Rooster was Smoky Mtn Market's chicken sandwich. When you ordered it with everything (lettuce, tomato, pickles), they called it a Rooster Running Through the Garden. It was the pinnacle of fast food. On Sundays, there would be a line out the door of the UT campus location. People ordered it with a carton of chocolate milk. I know, I know, but it was the best hangover cure EVER.

As for the hot dogs, they were about as legendary here as Pinks is in L.A. When we were kids, we used to drive all the way across town on Sunday nights to get chili dogs and french fries for dinner. It was such a treat.

How could such a landmark go out of business?