MORE OF TENNESSEE before GOING TO OHIO

JULY 14 thru 19, 2014   (posted much later).

Leaving Agricenter RV Park in Memphis, we traveled east to Bolivar to Big Buck RV Park. 

Though this looks nice and quiet with good amenities, it turned out to have pour electric service and no sewer hook-up on our site.  They had given our full hook-up site to someone else before we got there, so they used their honey dipper for the week of our stay.  No sweat to us, since they did the work.  And we were so busy sight seeing that we worked with the black-outs.  They have only owned the park for one year, so they have a lot of work ahead of them.
Our first full day there, we drove in to Jackson, the state capital, to drop our computer off at Best Buy for the Geek Squad to work on it.  We then went on to the Casey Jones RR Museum

and the Brook Shaw Store and Restaurant for their buffet.  No trouble finding plenty to eat!!

With an hour drive each way, we were happy with our day and headed home.

Did you ever see the movie, Walking Tall, the story of one sheriff's struggle to control crime on the Mississippi and Tennessee border of McNaury County?  The crime was the mafia of Mississippi connection, and sheriff Pusser was determined to wipe it out.  It was based on the fact that he hated crime that prayed on others.  We began the next day checking out his former office in the basement of the county courthouse

Sheriff's office in county courthouse.

McNaury County's sheriff's car.

and then went on to his home which his daughter has since turned into the Bufford Pusser Museum.

I have read a biography, Walking On, that the daughter has written since she has become an adult when she did a lot of research throughout the community.  It proved to be very interesting.  She said that Bufford was a kind hearted man and only used force when all else failed.  However, he did not use a club to do it, but used whatever was handy at the time and always carried a gun.  The club that was focused on in the movie was only because the people of the community had presented him with a club when he retired.  It has since become an icon for his fight on crime. She said that there has been seven different movies made about him, but the first one was the closest to fact by 80%.  He did not drive the official car very often, but rather drove souped up cars that his friend kept him supplied with.  Fast cars was a love of life for him and no one would know when he was coming.

Room in the basement of the home, where Bufford
spent his spare time after his wife's untimely death..

The Corvette that he was killed in
is now kept in the basement garage.



 

The family car that he had been to Jackson with
the last day of his life.  He came home and switched
cars for a joy ride.  No one knows what caused
the accident, but there was no sign of tampering. 
It was checked out by law enforcement
as well as by General Motors.

The rest of the house was kept as it had been when he was alive, except for the wall that has been used to honor any law enforcement people who send memorabilia to them.

 

The day of his funeral, his friend Elvis, visited the family but remained in the son's bedroom so that he would not draw attention to his presence.  Yes, that was Elvis Presley!! Their young lives were much alike.
From Adamsville we went on to lunch at Pat's Cafe' home of the Slugburger.

We had previously had breakfast in this little cafe' and decided to try out the Slugburger.  Think that we will stick to a regular hamburger though.  Many ordered the slugburgers while we were there though. 
Then we went on to the Tennessee River Museum and Shiloh.  Shiloh reminded us of the National Battlefield Park of Vicksburg, so will spare you the pictures.  After that we stopped for dinner at Hagy's Restaurant for fish and watched a tugboat from the window view moving along the Tennessee River.

Saturday we had breakfast in our RV Park after doing laundry.  Then in the evening we drove in to Jackson again to go to a Gospel Concert at the Civic Center. 

Lines going out and around the building,
both directions.

Entertainer's motor coaches
in front of the Civic Center.

They had probably eight different gospel singers or groups, some very well known, and they were very good.  We waited in a long line to get in, but once the doors were opened it moved quickly.  They just had a $15 donation at the door and I am sure that is what made it move easy. 
We were behind a couple that we talked with while waiting.  Turned out the next morning when we went to the local First Baptist church and were escorted to an adult Bible fellowship class, the gentleman was the teacher!!  Small world.  We had lunch at Joe's Restaurant for more good fish, and saw the teacher, his wife and several other couples from church again. 
Hopefully I will some day get the Memphis sights into a Blog.  ??  Stay tuned as we keep seeing more Blog materials, though lack of a photo program right now presents a delay.