So the Gospel Festival has come and gone.... kinda sad in a way. It was soo much fun planning and executing! I got to rub shoulders with so many wonderful people I dearly love but otherwise seldom get to see. I do want to report to you, dear reader, that this event was special in so many ways. First and foremost were the praises and hymns lifted up to a great God who is indeed worthy of praise. The second was as mentioned above.... bringing so many good people together who love our town and LOOOVE good Gospel music.

The third great thing about this special evening was that, as you well know, it was intended as a fundraising event to help the Oliver Springs Historical Society carry the Abston Building project along toward a successful renovation. I am here to report that that was a smashing success as well, with over $5000.00 raised from this event!!

I have pictures, thanks to my good friend Cleat Boling, who always goes above and beyond the call of duty in helping host events like this. Cleat was one of the fellows who built the stage for this festival. We have many "unsung heroes" in our group, and they just deliver day after day...

Ooohh.. I have pictures!! Wanna see? I knew you would....

Above is a shot of our friend Jerry White putting the finishing touches on the cable runs for the pa system. Jerry put many hours into the planning and execution of this show. Jerry is minister of music at Kellytown Baptist Church and he and Kellytown were most gracious in volunteering not only the facility but many manhours toward this show.

Any good promotion likes to have a lot of pretty girls on hand to spice up the venue, and ours was no exception. Shown above is Wanda Brown, who staffed the Historical table where we offered our publications to those in attendance. Several calendars, movies, and books were sold, with all the proceeds going into the renovation fund.

Is it just me, or are they making Gospel singers prettier than they used to?...  Above you can see the gospel trio from the First Baptist Church of Oliver Springs, that lovely church that assembles up on Pine Hill, the legendary spot consecrated after the notorious Tolliver/Emory gun battle that took place in August of 1890.

In the above picture Barry Ariaz, minister of First Baptist, introduces the acts from First Baptist. First Baptist has a long tradition of good music, and they were much in evidence Saturday night.

Here we see the lovely and talented Joe Kelly offering up a velvety smooth number. Joe and I go waay back to our teen years, playing in bands all over this area. Joe and I never played in the same band, but we played with many of the same musicians and artists. Joe is a true talent, and the crowd was noticeably impressed with his offering.

I couldn't write this report without showing a picture of Mr. Sonny Harvey, seen here appreciating a performance. Mr. Harvey means so much to so many of us, serving as the spark for our society for so long. I am not sure if there would even BE a historical society if it were not for Mr. Harvey, and it sure was good to see him feeling well enough to attend.

We had so many artists in attendance! Below you can see Bruce Gouge, minister of music at Calvary in Oak Ridge. Bruce is a hometown boy, being raised up right here in Oliver Springs. Shame you can't hear him, as Bruce is   a very notable and accomplished vocalist.

Estel Underwood was master of ceremonies, and it sure was great to see him looking so fit and tanned...

Estel is not closely related to me, although he authors many rumors to the contrary (just kidding... as far as you know)

And here's our own Mimi Brock. I seriously love Mimi AND her sister Joyce. They are the "Good people" and are always close by any good work around here..

1st Baptist Ensemble. They sure sing sweet...

Jerry making a point....

Here's Kenny Evans in from Pigeon forge where hs is a featured performer at the Country Tonite Theater. Kenny may have been the hit of the evening. He is almost singularly blessed in the vocal pipes department, and "wow'ed" the crowd with his stirring rendition of  the old standard "At the Cross". Grampa never sang it like that...

Pat and Barbara were in charge of the food and drink. They always do a superb job at whatever they put their hand to..

Oh my.. I do believe that's your truly.. I guess you didn't know I am a Gospel singer...I have written and recorded many Gospel songs over the years, and Janice and I have performed around this area forever..

That's me with young Emily Duggins. Emily is such a burgeoning talent to be so young. I performed a song I had written called "He is Risen" and in the last verse it has Mary Magdalene recounting her experience at the empty tomb. Emily had asked for permission to sing it a few weeks ago at Dyllis Baptist Church where she attends, and I couldn't think of anyone to better render the touching emotions of that one who found the grave empty.

Emily absolutely smoked the crowd, who gave her a spontaneous and rousing ovation toward the end of her verse. What a blessing she is!

Local favorites 4EverHis were there, and I think I have never heard them sing as well as I did that Saturday night. How remarkable their exquisite harmonies are!

Beech Park Baptis Church had a great band and chorus, featuring my cousin Kenneth Lowe as lead vocalist. I told my cousin Cricket (Kenneth's mom) that although I have been around Kenneth at so many reunions and such, I have never actually heard him sing.. (!) He really blew me away, and now I have to really be selfconscious when I am wailing and crooning at our family get-togethers...

These gentlemen seen above are The Spiritual Harmonizers, and boy, did they smoke the crowd! I am a huge fan of vocal harmonies, and they proved that they are the masters of it. Beautiful, beautiful praise indeed..

I have many more pictures, but I am tired and want to quit now..

Here is the flyer we published to advertise the event.

Below is the program, with a partial listing of the stars that performed.

Welcome to another chilling episode in the never-ending series... (cue haunting organ dirge music) presenting.. The Oliver Springs Historical Museum Saga... (music fades, cut to sound of hammers, saws, and gluing sounds)

Gluing sounds? .... Don't know if I could pull that one off.. however, that's just what has been going on up on the Museum project. The good folks at Dixie Roofing in Knoxville have gotten the rubber membrane roofing installed. We had them first put down polyisocyanurate board insulation on the roof before gluing down the rubber membrane. At this writing, the rubber has been glue down, the aluminum coping cap installed, and the whole thing looks mah-velous.

Also some of our folks have been knocking themselves out cleaning up. The inside floor was pressure washed, as were the inside of the brick walls. Care was taken not to damage the fragile mortar. All  in all, it was a superb effort by several members.

We finally got our architectural renderings back from the East Tennessee Community Design Center, and I must say they did a superb job. Tell you what. I'll let you see for yourself.

(click to enlarge)

The above shows the facade with the canopy restored and the marquee lighting in place. Doesn't it look simply splendid?

(click on pictures to enlarge)

Above you can see the view just inside the grand entrance, which will be set in about 4 feet, creating a portico entrance. We plan to really pull out the stops in this area, seeking to create a ceiling, floor and wall   treatment that promises to be nothing short of stunning. The door at near right will lead into the archives area, which will have its own special appointments. This grand corridor will have abundant space for both floor and wall mounted display space. Plans are to have seasonal ethnic and period displays: quilt festivals, folk craft festivals, etc..   the sky's the limit.

The next doorway to the right leads to the bathrooms, which will of course be spacious and handicapped accessible. In the distance to the right can be seen the entry into the theater. This theater is one of my special loves... Oh, the things we have planned for it! Country and Gospel extravaganzas, Community theater, special movie showings: As I said before, the sky's the limit.

O.K. friends... feast your eyes upon Main Street Oliver Springsabove. In the plans are to recreate the street scenes and building facades of familiar Oliver Springs landmarks. To the left can be seen the ornate staircase leading upstairs to the display areas on the second level. Inside each of the shops will be authentic fixtures and collectibles consistent with the era represented.

So whaddya think? Gorgeous, ain't it? Friends and loved ones, we were not just whistling "Dixie" when we undertook to make this proud old building into the finest museum of its type in this whole area and beyond.

One of the things we have tried to do while the project is carried forward is to decorate the huge display window. We had a patriotic display over the Memorial Day to July 4th span, and got a lot of good comments on that. The good folks of our society have now changed the display into a, "Americana" kitchen, complete with vintage cookstove and sink, various artifacts commensurate with the early 20th century decor we were trying to emulate. I must say it is looking spectacular. Once again pictures are forthcoming.

Here are some pictures of the inside and the work in progress.

The picture above shows some of the second story framing. When complete, this will be utilized for things like display space, archival storage, and office space. Pretty cool, huh?

Now this pic shows what will be one of the coolest features in the whole museum....  the catwalk that will connect features like the projection booth and the second floors front and back. The original catwalk was structurally deficient by 21st century building code, not to mention that it was rotted in several places and in danger of collapse. (I guess I did mention it, didn't I? Oh well..) This catwalk will overlook the great hall in the center of the building that reaches from floor all the way up to the pinnacle of the building! I thought you'd approve...

From the picture above one can see how the grand hall in the middle will extend all the way to the top of the building. This will probably feature tongue and groove hardwood ceiling, lit in a most spectacular and dramatic illuminatory treatment. The framing walls seen in the picture are designed to be loadbearing and capable of supporting all loads above it. The original trusses have been left in place, being both repaired and supported by loadbearing structures, bringing them up to and beyond code.

Here is another picture showing more of the massive framing in place. In many places huge poplar timbers were installed to bear the downward loads: in other places, there are now studwalls that are framed with large framing timbers, many as large as 2"X12" in cross-section.

There is a tremendous amount of work that has gone into the renovation. The roof is now jacked up to its original height, trusses repaired, load bearing walls installed, support beams and timbers in place, years of rot and damage removed. The old canopy in front that was rotted and in danger of collapse has been removed and preparations are underway to replace it as well. We are now ready to start the cosmetic and aesthetic renovations to the proud old structure, which is not nearly as tired, forlorn  and weary as at this time last year.. We just needed a roof. All the "nice nice" on the inside cannot begin in earnest until the roof shed water.

One exciting thing we are endeavoring to do is to obtain work crews from the Morgan County Regional Prison to assist us in this massive project. Many of the inmates on these crews have craft experience, and can greatly help us in furthering the mission of making it the showplace it will be when completed.. All we have to do is supervise them in the work and show basic Christian kindness and virtue in feeding them, providing them with water and drinks. Shucks, our folks do that out of habit anyway. A virtuous lot are they....

I am going to try and take some more pictures of the work in the next couple of days and post it for you, dear reader. Keep checking back for updates.... What's that? We love you, too.... Gosh, I do believe I'm blushing!

                                                            Robbie