HISTORICAL MARKER

October 4, 2008


Brochure designed & printed by Golden Circle Graphics, Jackson TN
Neal Maners Sr and sons Joel & Neal Jr.

Historic Doe Creek Schoolhouse
The state of Tennessee recognized Doe Creek School/Church as well as the adjoining cemetery as an historical landmark. The historical marker was unveiled Saturday October 4, 2008.

The Doe Creek School was built during the Reconstruction Era as a meeting place for a Baptist congregation. The building still contains many of the original, hand hewn, white poplar logs which were snaked to the site by a team of oxen making it Tennessee's oldest existing original one-room log school. The building was restored in 2007 and is currently a museum of its earlier existence. Read about legendary schoolmaster, Elmer Duck, who taught here for 54 years, one of the longer tenures in Tennessee history. See the dirt court where the Doe Creek basketball team, reported to be, "a pretty fair team," took on opponents. See pictures of some of the students who attended school here. Sit in replicas of the original student desks which also doubled as church pews during Sunday services and the teacher's chair; see the water bucket and dipper, which contained fresh spring water for drinking. Read about the families who attended school here. See the bell, which signaled to students when it was time "to take up books." Peruse many of the "school books" from early periods.


P R O G R A M

One Room School Day Reenactment:
Mr. Elmer Duck, Professor and Mrs. Betty Hughes
Doe Creek Committee Members

Master of Ceremonies: Mr. R.C. Stegall

Invocation: Mr. Freddie Kennedy, Doe Creek Committee Member

Pledge of Allegiance: Mr. Jerry Jones

National Anthem: Mrs. Penny Roberts

Welcome: Hon. Mayor Carey Johnson & Doe Creek Committee Member

REMARKS

Mrs. Betty Hughes: Doe Creek Committee Member

Ms. Jo Hill: Tennessee Division President UDC

Ms. Linda Wynn

Rep. Steve McDaniel: State Representative of Tennessee

Ho. Federal Judge David S. Kennedy
Chief Judge of U.S. Bankruptcy Court

Hon. Federal Judge James Todd
Western District of Tennessee

"God Bless the U.S.A." Sung by Mr. Dale Medlin - Written by Lee Greenwood

"Freedom's Soil" Sung by Ms. Audrie Campbell - Written by Lenny Green

Unveiling of Historic Marker
Mrs. Jeanette Duck Todd / Daughter of Mr. Elmer Duck

Lunch provided by Betty Hughes and Friends of Doe Creek



September 26, 2008 - TDOT placed the Historical Sign - as several watch

 
Both sides of the Historical Sign - School and Cemetery

 
School Re-enactment Wayne Stanfil portraying Mr. Elmer Duck and one of his "students"
Some of the students playing baseball, being supervised by the "teacher" "note the bat"


Freddie Kennedy - with new sign for Hours of Operation

 
Betty Hughes presenting her "Speech"
Steve McDaniel presented Betty Hughes with an award for her work on the Doe Creek Committee.


Steven McDaniel - Tennessee Representative
Steve McDaniel presented Freddie Kennedy
with a Proclamation from Governor Bredesen of TN
for his work with the Doe Creek Committee.


"Freedom's Soil" - solo by 12 year old, Audrie Campbell.
Audrie has a beautiful voice and the song is just awesome

"Freedom's Soil" written by Lenny Green gave us permission
to use it and provided the performance track as well.
Lenny Green is a member of the Watauga Chapter of the
Tennessee Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Elizabethton, TN


The Unveiling of the Historic Marker
Mrs. Jeanette (Duck) Todd in the middle,
with her two children Belinda Maness and Judge James Todd
Mrs. Todd is the daughter of Mr. Elmer Duck who was
the teacher of this school for over 50 years



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