Monday, July 3, 2023

The Story of Becoming Piney Flats by Robert Sorrell

 



Reviewed by Jeanne

As we prepare to celebrate Independence Day, it’s a good time to also reflect on our local origins.  Piney Flats is at the center of some of that history: it was the first seat of government for the Southwest Territory in 1790 when Tennessee Governor William Blount had his headquarters here until moving to Knoxville in 1792.

Many may be familiar with Rocky Mount, where pioneer William Cobb built a house that is now a popular tourist site.  Other familiar names show up in Piney Flats history, including King, Masengill, and DeVault.  Less familiar to me was the name Wolfe, so I was intrigued to learn that about the furniture factory set up by the Wolfe Brothers. Their primary product was customized church furniture.

The book is entertainingly written as well as being a wealth of information, and well-illustrated with photographs. There are some brief family histories, as well as information about businesses, churches, schools, and other local attractions such as Bristol Motor Speedway and Boone Dam.  Sorrells received the “Project Excellence Award” from the East Tennessee Historical Society for this book, and it’s easy to see why.

If you have any interest in local history, this may be a book for you!

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