What
better time to check out historic Bell Buckle, Tennessee
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| Bell Buckle was named after a nearby creek, but the origin of the creek's name is only legend. |
This is the 23rd year
for the festival and the 100th birthday of the Chattanooga Bakery company
which still makes the “original marshmallow sandwich.” It all began in 1917
when a coal miner asked the bakery’s traveling salesman for a snack “as big as
the moon” that could also fit in a lunchbox. (Find out more about the history
of the MoonPie here. Unfortunately, the bakery does not currently offer tours of their production
facility in Chattanooga Chattanooga,
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| All sorts of MoonPies for sale at Bluebird Antiques & Ice Cream Parlor |
The
festival includes a craft fair, lots of food stands, a parade, a stage with
live music, contests, and the cutting of the world’s largest MoonPie – and it
was quite packed! (We parked in a field right across the street from the action
for $10. Later we saw more distant parking for $5. There’s no fee to enter the
festival.)
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| Waiting for the next round of entertainment |
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| Turn-of-the-Century soda bar at Bluebird Antiques |
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| More of the impressive Bluebird Antiques store |
RC
Cola and MoonPies became a Southern tradition during the Depression because they
provided an inexpensive but filling meal. Growing up in California I didn’t know about MoonPies, but
I do have fond memories of RC Cola, which was a favorite of my dad’s. We kids
got to return his bottles and keep the deposit money. I confess that the first
time I tried a MoonPie was just a few years ago on the Delta Queen in Chattnooga
(they were set on the pillows instead of mints) and, even though I have a major
sweet tooth, I didn’t like it. Apparently, I just don’t like graham crackers in
any form (not s’mores either).
Bell Buckle was incorporated
in 1856 after the new Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad brought prosperity to the area. In 1886 it also became
home to the Webb School – a private college prep boarding
school which still operates today and is the oldest continuously operating
boarding school in the South. (It has also produced more Rhodes Scholars than
any other secondary school in the U.S.)
Bell Buckle thrived during
the Railroad Age but was devastated by the Depression. By the 1960’s most of
the downtown was deserted, but there was new interest in the historic homes and
buildings and it, once again, began to prosper – this time as a historic town full
of quaint shops, churches, antique malls, B&B's, and restored homes.
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| A lot of people were waiting to get into this restaurant. |
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| Livery Stable Antique Mall - the building was built in 1899 |
We didn't get to see the giant MoonPie. I assume they were keeping it somewhere cool until cutting time, and we headed off to do more exploring before then.
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| Hazel Cemetery, established 1888, just outside of town |
Interesting towns nearby include Wartrace, Shelbyville, Lynchburg, and Fayetteville.
