2009 Historically Speaking

By David Ray Smith

2009 Historically Speaking is the fourth annual volume of historical articles published in The Oak Ridger newspaper. Like others in this series, the weekly stories vary from purely historical events to human interest stories such as the "Two Brothers - A World War II Story" that tells of the struggles these brothers had during the war. One of the series of articles included is the amazing story of the "Oak Ridge Bombers" a semi-professional baseball team from Oak Ridge that existed from the time of the Manhattan Project into the 1960's. This was a proud group of African American men! The history of R & R Properties is included and Rick Chinn wrote the Foreword for the book. The history and some of the unusual events held at the University of Tennessee's Arboretum is included. Finally the history of the Comparative Animal Research Laboratory is also featured. I was pleased to capture these details of Oak Ridge history and am glad to bring them to you in this annual book form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Nov 28, 2014
• ISBN: 9781312714311

Book preview

2009 Historically Speaking

2009 Historically Speaking

Published November 2014

Oak Ridge, Tennessee

FIRST EDITION

First Printing – November 2014

Published with assistance from Strata-G

Strata-G LLC

2027 Castaic Lane

Knoxville, TN 37932

Copies of this book are available directly online from www.lulu.com/smithdray

Or through SmithDRay Web Pages at www.smithdray.net or www.draysmith.com

Or by contacting Ray Smith by e-mail at [e-mail] or by phone at 865-482-4224

Copyright © 2014 by David Ray Smith

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Is the answer in Oak Ridge – conclusion

Milk Glass Moon – a look at life before Oak Ridge

Oak Ridge’s contribution to the Korean War

Bones of Betrayal – interview with the authors

Bones of Betrayal – interview with the authors continued

Lucille Whitman is the inspiration for Bones of Betrayal’s Beatrice

Bill Sergeant, internationally renowned local hero, Part 1

Bill Sergeant, internationally renowned local hero, Part 2

K-25 - a KEY element for successful Heritage Tourism in Oak Ridge

Planning the original Gates Opening Ceremony

The original Gates Opening Ceremony

The Opening Gates Celebration – 60th Anniversary

Robert Hicks comes to Oak Ridge - Preserving the Carnton Plantation house and our Guest House

Copenhagen – the play, or two men decide the future

Oak Ridge Theaters and CYNTHIA

A brief history of the Oak Ridge Health Department

Muddy Boot Award and Postma Young Professional Medal – Oak Ridge Traditions

East Tennessee Riding Club – Oak Ridge historic site and working stables

Oak Ridge’s professional baseball teams – The Oak Ridge Bombers

Oak Ridge’s professional baseball teams – The Oak Ridge Bombers, part 2

Modern day Oak Ridge Bombers

The Oak Ridge Pioneers

A Tribute to Robbie Young

The Oak Ridge Pioneers – Part 2

Jack Bailey, Jr. collector extraordinaire

Our own Airmail Beacon House – update, part 1

Our own Airmail Beacon House – update, part 2

R & R Properties – a brief history of one family’s dream come true

R & R Properties – a brief history of one family’s dream come true – Part 2

R & R Properties – a brief history of one family’s dream come true – Part 3

The Oak Ridge Bombers – the team that lasted

The Oak Ridge Bombers - the team that lasted, part 2

The Oak Ridge Bombers - the team that lasted because of Community Leadership!

Oak Ridge Bombers – some final thoughts

Marshall Andy and Cherokee Caverns

Early History of Oak Ridge Municipal Animal Control

Oak Ridge Schools – a rich history, a promising future

An Oak Ridge Treasure – the UT Arboretum

UT Arboretum – Oak Ridge Treasure, part 2

UT Arboretum – Historical Dramas and more

UT Arboretum – recent events and the Indian Trail Tree

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory - Introduction

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory – Introduction Part 2

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory - Part three

Two brothers – a World War II story

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory - Part four

David Hall Cabin and Charlie Monday – Dowser Extraordinaire!

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory - Part five

A brief history of the UT-AEC Agricultural Research Laboratory - Conclusion

Atomic City Sportsmen Club celebrates 40 years!

Atomic City Sportsmen Club celebrates 40 years! – part 2

Manhattan Project National Historic Park and Oak Ridge

Foreword

In September 2002 President George W Bush gave a speech to a group of high school students in suburban Nashville, TN.  This speech could have easily been given in our town of Oak Ridge, TN as he and other Presidents have given such speeches here over our history.  Bush was kicking off his initiative to improve the teaching of American History in our public schools. 

In this speech the President stated Our history is not a story of perfection.  It’s a story of imperfect people working towards great ideals.  This flawed nation is also a really good nation, and the principles we hold are the hope of all mankind.  When children are given the real history of America, they will also learn to love America. 

When I was in school growing up here in Oak Ridge I rarely took advantage of the opportunities set before me to learn from the many great teachers that I had.  I skipped through school trying to do just enough to get by. 

That changed, however, when I took an Advanced Placement History Class in high school.  Up until that point I found it difficult to understand how the calculus and Latin that I was studying would ever be helpful in my destined career of real estate development. 

For I knew my family’s business was where I would end up and in high school there were no project management or contract negotiation courses available to engage my imagination.  However, in History I found a connection. 

Reading how Washington organized his troops to take on the British at Valley Forge or how Clay negotiated with Congress to implement the Compromise of 1850 somehow had relevance to me. 

I can think of no better way to engage the imagination of a town than by telling its history through the stories of its past visitors and residents.  We here in Oak Ridge have the opportunity that many of our neighboring cities here in Tennessee and across the county have not had in some time.  That is to hear the stories of our beginnings from those that actually lived them. 

Oak Ridge is a young town and our history is short in time, but the importance in its relevance to our nation and our world is immense.  D. Ray Smith has taken the time to meet with these primary references and write down their stories so that ours and future generations can here from those that lived it what really happened. 

One can understand that many of the secrets here in the Secret City will be skirted, but if one reads Ray’s stories with a careful eye, they will be able to understand the syntax that surrounded these times. 

As the President said in his speech, we are not a perfect people.  Many of the decisions and actions in our town’s history could easily be second guessed if a clear vision of the future was readily available. 

However, such vision is never available. Our fathers and grandfathers here in Oak Ridge made the best decision they could at the time and helped lead our City, our Nation and the world towards a common good that we all strive to achieve.  These flawed men and women in the stories that follow are the real history of America. 

I am so grateful for folks like Ray who have taken the time to record our town’s history for prosperity and even more grateful to call folks like D. Ray Smith my friend. 

R. G. (Rick) Chinn, Jr.

Preface

This fourth volume of Historically Speaking continues in the tradition of the three earlier volumes.  The weekly columns continue to bring phone calls, e-mails and personal contacts that lead to even more stories.  Readers continue to be faithful and more and more people seem to enjoy the weekly articles.

It is not uncommon for me to find readers at almost every Oak Ridge event I attend.  I have become accustomed to people approaching me to say how much they enjoy the Historically Speaking column.  I never get over the uncomfortable feeling their compliments cause. While I certainly do appreciate the positive feedback, I still don’t know how to respond other than to just mutter, Thank you.

I continue to have regular readers and new contacts bring stories that I have not heard.  Writing a weekly column is an amazing journey in which I learn more and more about our unique history. Interest in the heritage of Oak Ridge history continues to grow. The potential for Heritage Tourism is becoming more accepted.

The Oak Ridge Public Library continues to be a real partner in the attempt I am making to document stories of our history. They continue to be most supportive of my efforts in very significant ways. 

The Oak Ridge Room continues to be a primary source of research to confirm a story or to learn new facts and select new subjects for the column.  It is not uncommon for me to visit that tremendous resource regularly.

Kathy McNeilly, director of the Oak Ridge Public Library is among my strongest supporters. Her staff has cataloged each Historically Speaking column and has created an index to the columns that has been placed on CD.  I certainly do appreciate that support!

It has been my privilege to meet many people who have lived the history they share with me. Their insight is valuable beyond measure as I attempt to tell their stories. 

My goal is to share all information on a subject that helps to clarify the details and assures accuracy.  Sometimes follow up articles are used to clarify and correct past erroneous or incomplete information. 

Writing history is often challenging and it is often difficult to be sure all the pertinent facts are known. As I have written Historically Speaking over the years, that task has not grown easier.  In fact, I have become more and more aware of my limitations and shortcomings.  The readers are forgiving and ever helpful as they seem to sense my sincerity and admire my efforts.  I am most certainly thankful to the continuing help I am given.

This collection of stories that are making up these annual books may well be destined to make up a piece of Oak Ridge history for future generations.  I am please by that realization and am even more challenged to get it correct!

A blessing of this endeavor is meeting wonderful, colorful and interesting people.  I have come to understand that many people recognize me from the weekly photograph that runs with Historically Speaking and they even understand when I don’t recall their name…as I get older, that loss of memory aggravates me, but I am beginning to accept it as inevitable.

Of course, all I am describing is possible ONLY because of you devoted readers of Historically Speaking. Your unfailing support keeps and vocal encouragement makes me want to keep doing the column, even when I tire of the constant weekly deadline and the nagging concern of what am I going to write about next.

The staff of The Oak Ridger continues to be a mainstay of support.  They routinely assure the Historically Speaking column is as error free as they can make it.  Their help is most appreciated and they often go the extra mile to correct typos and clarify anything that does not makes sense to them.

I continue to be most grateful for my wonderful wife, Fanny, without whose support for this ongoing project, I could not possibly continue.  The many hours I must spend doing research, writing the column and interacting with the many weekly contacts we get claims an appreciable amount of time that could otherwise be spent with her.  She often takes the messages and encourages me to return calls and follow up on each and every contact.  She is a jewel!  We have enjoyed 48 years of marriage and are looking forward to celebrating our 50th anniversary in a little over a year.

Most of all I am blessed with many supporters and I thank each and every one of you.  It is my hope that you find this compilation of 2009 Historically Speaking columns a collection of stories that you are proud to own and eager to share with others as examples of our truly unique history.

A special thanks goes to Chris Kilby, of Strata-G, who compiled the articles into book form.

Introduction

This is the fourth annual volume of articles from the Historically Speaking weekly newspaper column first published in The Oak Ridger, a local daily newspaper in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Articles from 2009 are included in this book.  Earlier annual books contain the articles published in 2006, 2007 and 2008. Future annual books will be published as well.

Sustained interest in the column by ever increasing numbers of readers has encouraged the continuation of the historical research and writing.  Many individuals have suggested subjects to be included and others have even written content for articles of particular interest to them.

The purpose for the column has remained the same over the years.  It is my intent to capture unique and interesting historical facts and stories from East Tennessee events or locations with emphasis on Oak Ridge and its role in this region.

The column has promoted increased interest in Oak Ridge’s unique historical heritage along with other aspects of regional history.  Over the years, Oak Ridge has moved far from being an anomaly in Appalachia.  It has come to help define our region and over the past 70 years has become an integral part of East Tennessee history and culture.

The audience for the weekly column continues to provide positive feedback and encouragement.  The readers are not limited to Oak Ridgers, but many online readers contact me regularly with suggestions and ideas for future columns.  Their interest in the unique history of Oak Ridge seems to remain with them even when they move to other locations. My belief in the strength we, in Oak Ridge, contribute to our surrounding area’s history has been confirmed by the welcome I have received in other local communities and Knoxville. 

We now have an excellent display of Oak Ridge history included in the Voices of the Land permanent exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville.  It is with honor that I continue to serve on the board of directors of the East Tennessee Historical Society.

It is my hope that you enjoy the read yourself, share the stories with others, and that all learn the history of a most unusual and unique experience that placed Oak Ridge amidst equally in their own right unusual and unique Appalachian communities.  The resulting interactions, complimentary support, joint growth efforts and other results of the mixing of cultures over the past 70 years has produced a truly intriguing historical kaleidoscope of most interesting stories, all too often undocumented and thus lost within a generation.  These volumes are an attempt to prevent that loss.

I hope you agree that 2009 Historically Speaking has succeeded in capturing history that will be enjoyed and appreciated by readers now and for generations to come.

Ray Smith

2009 Historically Speaking is available for purchase online directly from the publisher at www.lulu.com/smithdray, at my website www.DRaySmith.com or also by contacting me directly by e-mail at [e-mail] or by phone at 865-482-4224.

Is the answer in Oak Ridge – conclusion

(As published in The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking column on January 6, 2009)

Last week the New York City Lion Television’s History Detective visit to Oak Ridge was introduced.  Now read the impressions of Oak Ridge City Historian, Bill Wilcox, and Nicky Reynolds of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

The following contribution to Historically Speaking is provided by Bill Wilcox, Oak Ridge City Historian, Co-Chair of the Partnership for K-25 Preservation and board member of the Oak Ridge Heritage & Preservation Association and Nicky Reynolds, of the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

First Bill’s take on the week’s events:

In your occasional or frequent TV watching, do start keeping an eye out for a fun program on the Public Broadcasting System, Channel 2 in Knoxville, called History Detectives."  (check out the following link: http://www.pbs.org/opb/historydetectives/index.html to learn more about this unique program – Ray)

"It’s on every other week.  Their half-hour program audience just increased by a dozen or so of us here in town who spent most of last week helping members of the New York City television production company, Lion Television, chase down the answers to one of their real, live history mysteries.

This one surfaced when the son of an Oak Ridger went to them asking to learn the story of a patent his father filed way back in October 1945 titled Isotope Separating Apparatus."   This son was born here in World War II, moved not long after, but grew up knowing Oak Ridge was all top secret, so his question to the History Detective Wes Cowan was, Did this invention help win WWII? 

"By 1958, some dozen years after the application was first filed, the United States had decided to grant the patent, assigned it to the USA, declassified it, and sent it to the family with the $1 they ‘generously’ give to inventors in their employ if they hold on to the idea.  Now some 63 years after the filing by Michael Kudravetz and Harold Greene, the inventor’s son, Michael, ran across the old patent and hence his query. 

"Naturally, the History Detectives first stop was to check out the isotope separation capital, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Emails and telephone calls over several weeks to a few Oak Ridgers ended up with folks getting involved at Y-12, ORNL, DOE ORO, UT, and AMSE. We rolled out the red carpet as we have for others who want to tell our story – even though the public ends up usually seeing only a small part of what we tell them.  That is just the nature of television shows.

"As soon as the PBS folks sent us the patent in question it was clear that the invention was a way to increase the productivity of the Calutron.  So Ray Smith at Y-12 played a key role in helping them with print and video about Y-12’s early years, and arranging for them to visit Chestnut Ridge above Y-12 and other places in town and Knoxville to tell their story.  And Nicky at the CVB acted as their point person here, hosting and staying with them for their three long days here plus scouting the day before. 

"You wouldn’t believe the work that goes into this kind of 30 minute show.  They worked three 12 hour days, much of it shooting people talking, and then re-shooting it again and again from different angles. 

"On Wednesday, their five-person team (augmented at times by three more from Channel 2 locally) went to work, first at the Y-12 Gate House on Scarboro Road, then Ellen Boatner took us up onto the west end of Chestnut Ridge overlooking Y-12.  Wouldn’t you know it was so rainy, cold, and misty you could barely see Pine Ridge north across the Valley, let alone any of the Alpha Buildings except 9201-4 and 9201-5!  But I talked there with Wes about Oak Ridge, World War II, and Y-12. 

"From there the group proceeded to AMSE where they filmed how the Calutron and the Patent worked about five times until I finally got it down to less than a minute which seemed to suit. 

"Thursday they were on the road to Knoxville before 7:00 AM where they filmed a segment at the UT Library, then back to ORNL where Fred Stohl took them to the Graphite Reactor for a talk with Joe Tracy, who worked many years with the calutrons separating the stable isotopes that have been so important in research and as precursors for production of valuable medical radioisotopes in the Graphite Reactor. 

"Joe also clued them in on the answer to the riddle about the Kudravetz patent.  We won’t reveal the answer just yet. 

Friday morning at 8:15 AM, the crew descended on Jeanie’s F" house on New York Avenue.  The week before, their producer Laura asked me by phone if I knew of a Cemestos they might use as the Kudravetz home.  In 1945, the Kudravetz family lived at 111 Englewood, long since replaced with private housing. 

"In a spirit of, sure we Oak Ridgers are hospitable, I offered mine and Jeanie’s home, not aware that this particular show wouldn’t be aired until June - next summer!  What was that?  Yes, Jeanie’s Christmas decorations outside and in had to go.  Set back her Christmas spirit just a tad. 

They filmed all day long with Wes Cowan driving in to see Michael Kudravetz to learn his story", with Wes studying the patent, talking it over, telling him the news at the end of the study, all in different rooms, and then leaving – each sequence done several times to please the Producer, Laura Marini, and the Field Director, Lindsay Carswell, Cameraman Matt Howe, Soundman Brian Gilbert, and Production Assistant Glen Glover - hard working, fun people, real professionals, all. 

"But still they weren’t through for Friday.  The Soup Kitchen was yet to come.

"They left Saturday morning, promising they’ll tell us when to watch.  We’ll be sure to let everyone know when.   

"Tough week, but with lots of Ridgers, workers and retirees, across many organizational lines -- ORCVB, Y-12, ORNL, AMSE, ORHPA, and DOE’s PR staff all showing we can pull together effectively to tell our story and project our image in the best possible way. 

Now for Nicky’s reflection on the week’s events from her perspective:

"Having the PBS crew in town this week was both exciting and exhausting!  They worked round the clock to get as much of Oak Ridge on film as possible, working through rainy, cold weather, and trying their best to work around the schedules of area businesses so they wouldn’t hinder their daily traffic or impede visitor experience. 

"In my nine years of tourism and Public Relations experience, I’ve had the good fortune to work with numerous media outlets, both print and film.  This crew was, without a doubt, one of the nicest, most professional groups I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.

"They took great care in cleaning up after themselves at each location, and replacing all furniture or items that had to be moved for production purposes.  They were cordial to all staff persons they encountered.  And they made it a point to ask me for recommendations for local restaurants, as they wanted to try the local flavor of Oak Ridge during their stay here. 

"I readily handed them a copy of the CVB’s Dining Guide and gave them several recommendations when they gave me a specific idea of what they were looking for.  I know they dined at the Flatwater Grill, Magnolia Tree, Riverview Grill and Soup Kitchen for dinner during their visit, and at Panera Bread for lunch several times. 

"They stayed at the Doubletree here in Oak Ridge, and shopped at our local Walmart and Kroger while in town.  In addition, I know that they purchased a gift card for someone from Burchfield’s as a thank you gift, adding more to our economic impact on the immediate front.

"But it is the far-reaching economic impact of their project that I’m most excited about.  When people think about the Manhattan Project, they oft times think about Los Alamos and Hanford.  Oak Ridge is many times an afterthought, even in our own state. 

"When we get great publicity – and free national publicity – like the History Detectives will bring to us, we need to embrace the opportunity given to us and try to take every advantage we can find to promote Oak Ridge.

"The History Detective film crew has had the great fortune to visit many cities and destinations all over this country in pursuit of their stories.  Working with them in the weeks leading up to their arrival in Oak Ridge, it was evident to me that they were fascinated by the story of our Secret City and enthralled by all that Bill Wilcox had to tell them. 

"Laura Marini, the Producer, couldn’t wait to meet Bill and Ray in person.  She told me time and again that she felt as though she already knew them both through their phone and email conversations. 

"We are so fortunate to have two great historians who have both the required facts and the determination to preserve our history, who are both eager and willing to share their valuable time and knowledge with journalists when they come to town.  It makes my job easier and makes the media happier! (Awww shucks! - Ray )

Laura and her crew filmed in a number of locations as Bill has noted.  I got to be with them at Bill and Jeanie’s home and at the Soup Kitchen.  The rest of the week, I was spending time with my grandkids! 

I hope you have enjoyed reading about this film crew’s time in Oak Ridge and I hope you will tune in to Knoxville’s PBS Channel 2 and enjoy the History Detectives show.  As promised, I will let you know when the show featuring Oak Ridge is to be aired, likely in June or July, 2009.

Wes Cowan, History Detective, Bill Wilcox, our own TV star and Michael Kudravetz, the son of the patent holder

In the Soup Kitchen, Wes Cowen researches the patent as he is filmed by cameraman, Matt Howe under the watchful eye of producer, Laura Marini

Milk Glass Moon – a look at life before Oak Ridge

(As published in The Oak Ridger’s Historically Speaking column on January 13, 2009)

Every once in a great while, a book comes along that is ripe for its time and that finds a ready audience.  Rebecca Carroll has written just such a novel, in Milk Glass Moon, telling the story of life in this area, now Oak Ridge, just prior to the Manhattan Project.  She bases her story on personal family memories, but uses fiction to condense the story and sharpen the visual images she describes.  

The story is told through the eyes of a young fourteen year old girl, Lydia Johnson, growing up fast and just beginning to yearn for her freedom.  Yet, the story begins with Lydia at age 17, just learning what has been going on in that place now called Oak Ridge, but to her is still Lupton. 

The news of the atomic bomb project near where she played as a child, unlocks a flood of memories of earlier times when she and her best friend, Willamena, ran through the valley stretching from the Clinch River west and of times when she picked blackberries with her family.

Simple things, yet profound memories.  Lydia’s life quickly went from a slow and steady daily pattern to one where things she had taken for granted were no more.  From having an established home to being told to move, from nothing much happening around her to seeing things that she does not understand.   All the while she is growing from a child into a young lady. 

Through her struggle to emerge as a woman we experience the turmoil of change and the anxiety of the unknown, yet her deep love for her family and intense respect for her Mama and Daddy keep her close to her family through it all.  The choice of the terms Mama and Daddy struck a keen note with me as those are the terms I use to refer to my parents!

The story is set in the area known then as Lupton’s Crossroads (now about midway along Emory Valley Road between Lafayette Drive and Melton Lake Drive) and includes Copeland’s store, Scarboro, Elza, New Hope and Wheat.  Eventually, the story concludes in Coalfield where the Johnson family moved when they were forced off their farm near Lupton’s Crossroads. 

It is a poignant story, yet has much humor and a huge amount of familiar dialog that takes one back in time to the things of the era in the middle of the previous century.   Rebecca accomplishes the familiarity through the use of key words that will cause your mind to go back in time to your youth and recall similar circumstances and exactly the same expressions.  She does this extremely well.

The central adventure Lydia recalls is a walking trip she and Willamena took far beyond the accepted distance which was Copeland’s store.  They were hoping to spy on the Reed brothers who lived well to the west of Copeland’s and up on Black Oak Ridge,