HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

WAVERLY, TN

Old Betsy (Musseling Boat) - Pilot Knob, TN The Pilot Knob Interpretive Center and Nathan B. Forrest State Park in Tennessee has a display on those who made a living gathering mussels in nearby rivers. According to the boat's description in the museum: Betsy was one of the most unique boats ever to be seen on the Tennessee River. Built by Dave Stafford and Charlie Doyle, Betsy is probably the biggest brail boat ever built for the river. To compensate for the large size of the boat, T.J. Whitfield, the boat's designer and owner, has ordered cross ribs for greater stability. On October 9, 1966, T.J. took Betsy on her maiden voyage down river to Eagle Creek. Betsy's winch and brail spreaders were made from T.J.'s old farm equipment. This is characteristic of river life. In building his spreaders and winch, T.J. adapted his farming knowledge to meet his needs on the river. Unlike most musselers, T.J. musseled daily. When he had a load, he lit fires under his cook-out vat near his house and cooked out the meat. In 1974, T.J. moved Betsy to the Cumberland River. Being away from home made it necessary for T.J. to outfit Betsy for river living. He built a bunk house and added windows so he could see the river bank. He built the shanty wide enough to make room for a collapsible army cot. Shelves held a Coleman stove, cooking utensils and food. With these essentials, T.J. was ready to live on the river. Betsy may not have had a refrigerator or air conditioner, but now Betsy was his dream boat. For sixteen years, Betsy floated the river...an extraordinarily long time for a wooden boat. The water-worn bottom and mud-stained deck symbolize the work of a man who sought not to conquer the river but only to work with it. Betsy stands as a reminder of the spirit, determination and adaptability of river folk.
Old Betsy (Musseling Boat) - Pilot Knob, TN Credit: SeeMidTN.com (aka Brent)

The Humphreys County Historical Society is a non-profit organization located in Waverly, Tennessee. Founded in 1980, the Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the history of Humphreys County and its people. The Society collects and maintains documents, photographs, artifacts, and other items related to the county's history. It also offers educational programs to the community and visitors.

The Society's headquarters is located in the historic county courthouse in Waverly. It houses a small museum, which is open to the public. The museum's exhibits include artifacts from various eras, including Native American artifacts, Civil War artifacts, and items from the county's agricultural past. The museum also has a research library, which includes documents, photographs, and other materials related to the county's history.

The Society also offers a variety of educational programs throughout the year, including lectures and workshops. It also hosts a variety of events, such as an annual county history symposium and a county history day.

The Society is a great resource for learning about the history of Humphreys County and its people. Through its museum, library, and educational programs, it is helping to preserve and promote the county's history for future generations.

HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY is a Historical Societies, Historic Preservation in WAVERLY TN. US MID #8404700277

The museum is classed as HSC (Historical Societies, Historic Preservation). It comes under American Alliance of Museums (AAM) region: Southeastern (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia).

Old Betsy (Musseling Boat) - Pilot Knob, TN The Pilot Knob Interpretive Center and Nathan B. Forrest State Park in Tennessee has a display on those who made a living gathering mussels in nearby rivers. According to the boat's description in the museum: Betsy was one of the most unique boats ever to be seen on the Tennessee River. Built by Dave Stafford and Charlie Doyle, Betsy is probably the biggest brail boat ever built for the river. To compensate for the large size of the boat, T.J. Whitfield, the boat's designer and owner, has ordered cross ribs for greater stability. On October 9, 1966, T.J. took Betsy on her maiden voyage down river to Eagle Creek. Betsy's winch and brail spreaders were made from T.J.'s old farm equipment. This is characteristic of river life. In building his spreaders and winch, T.J. adapted his farming knowledge to meet his needs on the river. Unlike most musselers, T.J. musseled daily. When he had a load, he lit fires under his cook-out vat near his house and cooked out the meat. In 1974, T.J. moved Betsy to the Cumberland River. Being away from home made it necessary for T.J. to outfit Betsy for river living. He built a bunk house and added windows so he could see the river bank. He built the shanty wide enough to make room for a collapsible army cot. Shelves held a Coleman stove, cooking utensils and food. With these essentials, T.J. was ready to live on the river. Betsy may not have had a refrigerator or air conditioner, but now Betsy was his dream boat. For sixteen years, Betsy floated the river...an extraordinarily long time for a wooden boat. The water-worn bottom and mud-stained deck symbolize the work of a man who sought not to conquer the river but only to work with it. Betsy stands as a reminder of the spirit, determination and adaptability of river folk.
Ruskin Cave College The story of this place is better than my photo, But I've never had good access. Ruskin, TN began as a Socialist Utopia in the late 1890s when they bought land around a cave in Dickson County (now Ruskin Cave). When the Ruskin Co-operative disbanded, the primary building (seen here) had many uses over the next few decades, including as a college and a resort. It's an interesting story you can read on the National Register of Historic Places website here: <a href="https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/74001911" rel="noreferrer nofollow">npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/74001911</a> When I took this picture in 2014, the Ruskin property (especially the cave) was a campground. It was closed in the winter, so I had to look through the trees along highway TN46. At the time, it was owned by the Dickson Renaissance Center, which was soon after purchased by Freed-Hardeman University which didn't need it and sold it. Today, it is a wedding venue where you can't tour the property. They say they are restoring the exterior of the building to look as it did back when it was a college.
Old U.S. Post Office (Camden, Tennessee) Historic 1936 U.S. Post Office in Camden, Tennessee. The Neo-Georgian Classical style building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88001577).
Old U.S. Post Office (Camden, Tennessee) Historic 1936 U.S. Post Office in Camden, Tennessee. The Neo-Georgian Classical style building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988 (NRHP No. 88001577).
Benton County Courthouse (Camden, Tennessee) Benton County Courthouse in Camden, Tennessee. The courthouse is the sixth for the county and was constructed 1973-74.
Benton County Courthouse (Camden, Tennessee) Benton County Courthouse in Camden, Tennessee. The courthouse is the sixth for the county and was constructed 1973-74.
Tennessee River Railroad Bridge (New Johnsonville, Tennessee) Historic railroad drawbridge (vertical lift bridge) over the Tennessee River near New Johnsonville between Benton and Humphreys Counties, Tennessee. The bridge contains one vertical lift span, three Camelback through truss spans and two Parker through truss spans. It was built in 1945 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) to replace an older bridge that was removed during the construction of Kentucky Lake by TVA. The bridge is now owned by CSX.
Tennessee River Railroad Bridge (New Johnsonville, Tennessee) Historic railroad drawbridge (vertical lift bridge) over the Tennessee River near New Johnsonville between Benton and Humphreys Counties, Tennessee. The bridge contains one vertical lift span, three Camelback through truss spans and two Parker through truss spans. It was built in 1945 for the Louisville and Nashville Railroad (L&N) to replace an older bridge that was removed during the construction of Kentucky Lake by TVA. The bridge is now owned by CSX.
Abandoned Tanksley Bridge (Humphreys County, Tennessee) Abandoned Tanksley Bridge over the Duck River in Humphreys County, Tennessee. The bridge was constructed in 1904 by the Nashville Bridge Company. It contained two 160 ft pin-connected modified Camelback through truss spans. One of the two Camelback truss spans was destroyed by the 2010 Middle Tennessee floods. The route was designated as State Route 13 from the 1920s to the 1940s when a new highway was constructed. The bridge remained open until 1980 when the deck and approach spans were removed and the truss spans were kept as a “historic ruin”.
Abandoned Tanksley Bridge (Humphreys County, Tennessee) Abandoned Tanksley Bridge over the Duck River in Humphreys County, Tennessee. The bridge was constructed in 1904 by the Nashville Bridge Company. It contained two 160 ft pin-connected modified Camelback through truss spans. One of the two Camelback truss spans was destroyed by the 2010 Middle Tennessee floods. The route was designated as State Route 13 from the 1920s to the 1940s when a new highway was constructed. The bridge remained open until 1980 when the deck and approach spans were removed and the truss spans were kept as a “historic ruin”.
Abandoned Tanksley Bridge (Humphreys County, Tennessee) Abandoned Tanksley Bridge over the Duck River in Humphreys County, Tennessee. The bridge was constructed in 1904 by the Nashville Bridge Company. It contained two 160 ft pin-connected modified Camelback through truss spans. One of the two Camelback truss spans was destroyed by the 2010 Middle Tennessee floods. The route was designated as State Route 13 from the 1920s to the 1940s when a new highway was constructed. The bridge remained open until 1980 when the deck and approach spans were removed and the truss spans were kept as a “historic ruin”.

Contact HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
105 MERIDALE
WAVERLY
TN
37185

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HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY Information

MID # 8404700277
Name HUMPHREYS COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Alternate Name
Classification Historical Societies, Historic Preservation, , Southeastern
Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) 581326762
NTEECC
Tax period of the latest return filed (YYYYMM) 201212
INCOME 0
REVENUE 0
LAT/LONG 36.082707, -87.770997
CODES FIPS State Code: 47
FIPS County Code: 085
US Census Tract: 130300
US Census Block: 2037