385 Spring • 2021
Our People Our Stories
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2•385 •Our People•Our Stories
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IN FULL FLIGHT
Back together and better than ever. Tennessee Tech is committed to always SXWWLQJ VWXGHQWV ˉ UVW 7KDWȠV ZK\ ZH DUH SUHSDULQJ WR UHVXPH SULPDULO\ in-person classes, activities and events on campus. Our mission is to serve students, and while technology has been invaluable over the past year in facilitating classes, the friendships and connections of a traditional oncampus experience cannot be replaced. Wings Up for Fall 2021!
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385
Volume 5 | Issue 3
Staff
Publisher
Jack McNeely jack.mcneely@herald-citizen.com
Editor & Graphic Designer Don Foy don.foy@herald-citizen.com
Contributors Lindsay Pride Jim Herrin Rima Austin Ben Craven Braden Wall Advertising Roger Wells Dusty Smith Stephanie Garrett
Ad Composition Becky Watkins Business Manager Sandy Malin Circulation & Distribution Keith McCormick Ronda Dodson
from the
Editor Normal? What’s normal? As it appears we’re all trying to get back to what passes for normal, we thought we’d bring you a magazine that focuses on normal people. Folks who are going about their lives, doing the things they do. We have three feature stories in this edition of 385. Martha Ramsey, a kindergarten teacher at Sycamore Elementary, has been teaching for more than 30 years. And while things were not normal this year in Putnam County schools, the children were in class in person thanks to teachers like Martha. And Scott Morrell. Need shoes resoled? He’s your man. In today’s throwaway society, he’s pretty rare. He repairs shoes. And finally, most of us collect something. Over the years, David and Margaret Walker have collected a lot of things. But mostly automobile license plates. And not only do they collect, they restore the plates. Last, as in on the last page, we feature Monterey Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary in our Why I Love… segment. We hope you enjoy this little bit of normal. Thanks for reading.
385 Magazine is a publication of and distributed quarterly by the Herald-Citizen, a division of Cookeville Newspapers, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or stored for retrieval by any means without written consent from the publisher. 385 Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited materials and the publisher accepts no responsibility for the contents or accuracy of claims in any advertisement in any issue. 385 Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or changes in information. The opinions of contributing writers do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the magazine and its publisher. Our mission is to promote the 385 zip code areas of the Upper Cumberland and to showcase their many attributes. We welcome ideas and suggestions for future editions of the magazine. Just send us a brief note via email. © 2021 Herald-Citizen 385 Magazine P.O. Box 2729 Cookeville, TN 38502 931.526.9715 Email: 385Magazine@herald-citizen.com
4•385 •Our People•Our Stories
Don Foy, Editor
Sycamore Elementary kindergarten teacher Martha Ramsey helps a student with a computer question.
on the
Cover
Don Foy
Contents
8
14
22
A Class Act
Restoring History
Old World Skills
Sycamore Elementary’s Martha Ramsey has taught children for more than 30 years.
A White County couple collects and restores vintage license plates.
In what is nearly a lost art, man operates shoe repair, leather shop in South Cookeville.
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Full Flight Tech looks to take of with students back in classrooms and as normal as possible activities.
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Why I Love… Monterey Cultural Administrator Rafferty Cleary.
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A
CLASS ACT
JIM HERRIN Photos by DON FOY
F Story by
or more than 30 years, Martha Ramsey has been helping young children get off to a good start in life. “I’ve always loved working with children,” said Ramsey, who has been a kindergarten teacher at Sycamore Elementary School since 1995 and taught at Tennessee Tech’s Child Development Lab for five years before that. “(Former Sycamore principal) Jerry Maynard hired me,” she recalled. “He said it was just a natural fit because when I came in, I knew where (the children) had been and where they needed to go.” Teaching had also been a “natural fit” to generations of her family. “My grandfather was a teacher in a one-room school building, and he used to tell us stories,” she said. “And then, as I was growing up, a lot of our older cousins were teachers, and they just really loved teaching.” Even so, Ramsey admits to being
8•385 •Our People•Our Stories
Martha Ramsey reads to her class.
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Being a kindergarten teacher means spending lots of time one-on-one helping students.
nervous when she first steps in front of a classroom. “As I begin a new year, I’m scared,” she said. “What if I do it wrong? What if I can’t do it? I think you have to have just a little bit of nervousness to be very successful.” Part of the nervousness comes from a keen understanding of the impact she has on her charges. “One of the things about kindergarten that’s unique is that this is their first year,” she said. “If you start out where children are not having a
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positive experience, then you can’t ever go back and do that first day again. Every child is different. Every child is unique. And you want that child to have a good experience.” The parameters of that “good experience” have evolved through the years. “When I first started, it was a lot more play-based,” Ramsey said. “We are more academic now. We’re more accountable. The expectations are raised. They are reading. They are writing. When I first started, the
writing was just simply drawing pictures. Now, we’re putting words with it. We’re adding and subtracting.” Pretty rigorous requirements for a five-year-old. “It is more rigorous, (but) one of the things that has really impressed me is the fact that when we added the rigor, the children met the expectation,” she said. “We thought they couldn’t, but they proved us wrong. That lesson for me was don’t underestimate what they can do.” Even with the added rigor, she ex-
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pects the best out of her students. “We start out the year with a little conversation (where I say) my job is to teach you and to love you,” she said. “If they don’t give their best, I will look at them and say, ‘If I love you, I’m going to make you do your best.’ I just feel like they need to know they’re loved.” Has she ever been in a situation where a kid made her cry?
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“Every year, every week, every month,” she said. “That’s just part of the job. Every child has something unique that just touches your heart.” The heart-touching moments have not faded, even after three decades, and Ramsey has no immediate plans to retire. “Right now, I’m taking each year as it comes,” she said. “I lost my dad and my husband both in three days a few
years ago. And I lost my mother last year. It’s best for me (to keep teaching). I love working with these kids, and I think right now they give me more than I give them.” How so? “I am just one of these people that enjoys having a purpose, so the kids give me that.”
•385•
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License plate restorer David Walker shows a plate his is working on at the desk in his garage. 14•385 •Our People•Our Stories
Preserving
HISTORY Together, White County couple restores, collects old license plates Story and Photos by DON FOY
A
lmost everybody collects something — baseball cards, Christmas ornament series, coins — the list is endless. But for David and Margaret Walker, there’s no end to what they collect: old tools, oil cans (from back when they were cans, not plastic bottles), glass jars, yard sticks, license plates. License plates. While some of us have a few old license
plates in a box in the garage, the Walkers have hundreds. And they’ve taken the hobby even further. Together, they restore old license plates. And when we say old, we mean as many as 100 years old, and more. The Walkers have been married more than 62 years, and until recently, spent almost every weekend at sales and auctions. “It’s what we do,” David said. “We go to sales.” What they mostly do now is restore license plates. They specialize in Tennessee plates
from 1915, the first year Tennessee issued automobile license plates, to 1956. David strips the old paint, repairs the plate, primes and paints the base colors. Margaret paints the numbers. Unlike today’s flat, reflective aluminum plates, with printed numbers, the classic plates the Walkers work on are steel (which rusts) with the numbers stamped into them, raising them a fraction of an inch from the surface of the plate. The raised parts are painted a contrasting color. Restoring those plates is not Spring•2021•15
Margaret Walker sits at the kitchen table to paint the letters and numbers on a freshly restored license plate.
18•385 •Our People•Our Stories
easy. “First, I soak the plate in vinegar to get the paint off,” David said. “Most plates soak two weeks.” The vinegar doesn’t get the paint off like a harsh chemical would, but it softens the paint so that David can use a wire brush to dislodge it. Then he repairs any rust or other damage to the plate. He uses a combination of autobody putty, brazing and welding to repair the metal. Once the plate is repaired, he primes it and paints it with a base color. Margaret then hand-paints the numbers. It takes a steady hand. “I’ll give lessons for someone who will take my place,” Margaret said, not completely joking. The Walkers don’t just restore license plates for their own collection, they restore plates for friends and acquaintances from all over. The Walkers are members of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association. The ALPCA is the largest license plate collectors organization in the world with almost 3,000 members from 50 states and 19 countries, according to its website. The Walker collection includes a plate from each of the 50 states in the U.S. and one from the District of Columbia. Incidentally, those plates are mounted on a wall in the garage where David keeps his 1967 Mustang, one of the most collectable cars in the world. “At one time we had a 1996 Bicentennial plate from every Tennessee county,” Margaret said. “But we sold that.” A collection of a series of plates like that is called a run. “Some collectors look for runs like all 95 Tennessee counties or all 50 states from their birth year,” Margaret said. The Walkers also have an example of every Tennessee tag from 19151956. Those are mounted on a wall in their “guest house,” which bears a plate signifying it as “David & Margaret Walker Junk Tique Shop.” That 1915 plate is one of the most rare Tennessee plates. “That 1915 is the only fake plate I
Above: Margaret does the detail work on a restored license plate. Below: There are many ways to repurpose old license plates, including this bird house made from Tennessee Bicentennial plates.
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Above: David and Margaret show off a few of the many license plates they have collected and/or restored. Below: After the numbers, letters and outlines are painted, license plates are placed on a bed to dry. own,” David said. “And there’s a story behind it. “This one is molded from the back of a real one. A few years ago I sold a 15 for $7,000. Not long after that, we were at an auction in Shelbyville, and I bought one for $5,800. “I restored it, kept it for seven or eight years.” But even the rarest of license plates isn’t a sure thing in the collector world. “I sold that plate for a run of plates and $2,000,” David said. “I ended up breaking even on it.” By the way, if anyone tries to sell you a 1943 Tennessee license plate, it’s a fake. Because of WWII, metal was in short supply, so the state issued a corner plate with “43” on it. The 2-inch x 2-inch yellow on black tab screwed onto a corner of the white 1942 tag. Tennessee license plates from 1936 to 1956 were shaped like the state,
20•385 •Our People•Our Stories
Above: David shows plates from each state in the union. Below: David removes plates from vinegar, where they soak to loosen the paint.
A sign on the wall marks a small outbuilding as the Walkers’ Junk Tique Shop.
ranging from beige with black letters to black with red letters and everything in between. But only one year is orange and white, the 1951 plate, and it is one of the most popular of the vintage Tennessee tags. That year, General Robert Neyland and his Tennessee Vols won the national championship in football.
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Scott Morrell resoles a boot in his workshop. 22•385 •Our People•Our Stories
d l r o W Old s l l i Sk Leathersmith one of the few who hand craft items and repair shoes Story by RIMA AUSTIN Photos by DON FOY
L
eathersmith Scott Morrell says a lot of trades out there are just falling to the wayside. Morrell owns Cowboy Leather and Shoe Repair in Cookeville. He said he never gave shoe repair a second thought before he and his wife moved to Tennessee in 2004. “I’ve run heavy equipment, welded, been in the military, worked security, trained horses, and managed horse farms. The leather end of it has always intrigued me, especially with my background in horses,” Morrell said. He bought some tools and a pack
of leather and said the rest is history. “When I started, I started on a table on my patio at home. I made my wife a purse and other people saw it and wanted one,” he said. He was still working somewhere else when he bought a large shed and put it behind his house. He said he was approached by a man who asked if he knew anything about shoe repair. Morrell told him he knew enough to be dangerous. “He told me his helper quit and wanted to know if I wanted to take his place. I worked for him for five months,” said Morrell. “I was doing everything there, and I decided I wanted to work for myself so I quit. I was working the third shift at night and running my business during the day.” After a few months of this schedSpring•2021•23
Morrell uses a hammer to make sure super-sticky contact cement holds a rubber sole on a boot. 24•385 •Our People•Our Stories
ule, his ex-boss called him and told him he was going out of business and wanted to know if Morrell wanted his equipment. He said they came to an agreement on the price, and he bought it. “The guy who owned the building I’m in now had a leather shop in here as well. He wanted to get out of the trade too and made me an offer, and I bought him out,” Morrell said. “I’ve been here two years and was doing good until COVID-19 hit. People are still getting their shoes fixed though. Now that springtime is here, I am getting busier.” Morrell said he supports local businesses as much as possible and hopes others will do the same. “I don’t want to throw anyone under the bus but the stuff that’s coming out of China nowadays is hurting local business, and it’s hard to compete,” said Morrell. “When I make just a simple throw-and-go type purse, it’s probably about $65. You can get one from China or Pakistan for $15 plus free shipping.” A customer brings a purse in that she would like him to repair. After looking it over, he tells her it would be cheaper and easier to go to Hobby Lobby, purchase the parts and the tool that comes with them, and fix it at home. “I try to treat people right. Sometimes a little old lady will come in and want the lifts on her heels fixed, and I won’t charge her anything. Once a week I try to do a kind act,” Morrell said. “Something like that gets more business, and it doesn’t cost me that much to do it.” He said his wife and he decided to move to Tennessee after three hurricanes swept through where they lived in Florida. “After the last hurricane, we fixed what we had to fix, she asked if I was done living in Florida yet and I told her yes.” Morrell grew up in upstate New York outside of Buffalo and was trained in the family business of trucking and heavy equipment. During the winter they did snow plowing and wrecker service before
he left home to do six years in the military. After the military, he went home and got back into the family business. In 1988, Morrell’s dad decided he wanted to retire, so Morrell ran the business by himself until 1990 when he decided to move to Florida. Shortly after that, he remarried. His wife, a fifth-generation Floridian, was born in West Palm Beach. Her family was in the cattle business. When the couple decided it was time to leave Florida, he and his wife got on the computer and started contacting real estate agents in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Georgia and Tennessee. He said Tennessee was the only state where anyone contacted them back. He has had customers ask him how hard it was to learn the trade of leatherwork and shoe repair. He tells them they have to have initiative first and then a little bit of mechanical sense. “I could probably teach someone how to do it, but then I run into the problem of having to have workman’s compensation insurance and all this other stuff. I’m a one-man-band so to speak,” Morrell said. “If I get hurt, I just put my hand in my pocket and go home. There is some machinery here that will seriously hurt you.” Morrell said he has already approached his daughter about taking over his business, but she isn’t very interested. He said she lives in Knoxville, and makes jewelry out of scrap leather pieces but that is the extent of her interest in leatherworking. “The older people who did shoe repair either died or retired, and there is nobody to pick up that trade,” Morrell said. “You can’t find what I call a handyman anymore hardly.” Cowboy Leather and Shoe Repair is at 5682 S. Jefferson Ave. near the White County and Putnam County line. “If they are leather and you wear them on your feet, most likely I can fix them,” said Morrell.
Above: Morrell uses a spare piece of leather to repair the heal of a boot. Below: Morrell uses a brush to apply contact cement to a rubber sole.
•385• Spring•2021•25
FULL F
Tech Fall 2021:
University aiming to be as close to normal as possible Tennessee Tech will be in full flight for Fall 2021, offering students the in-person classes and campus activities they expect from a full college experience. “Putting students first shaped the way we approached planning for fall semester,” said President Phil Oldham. “Our students benefit from being fully engaged on campus in classes, clubs, sports and other activities.” Tennessee Tech is taking a different approach than many schools by planning to relax some restrictions while keeping basic safety measures
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in place. Unlike many other universities in the state, Tennessee Tech residence halls stayed open during the pandemic, and the university held in-person commencements. While many schools have a long way back to normal, Tech is closer than ever to offering the students ways to interact safely and often. For example, the 165,000-squarefoot Marc L. Burnett Student Recreation & Fitness Center, the newest university rec center in the state, opened just as the pandemic hit. Face coverings were strictly enforced for almost a year, but now users can
go without a mask on some individual equipment. Intramural sports will be back in full swing in the fall, as will many outdoor social events. “Students can expect to see their favorite events return this fall, such as the Mix & Mingle, SOLO concerts, and Homecoming activities,” said Dean of Students Katie Williams. “During the spring, student activities and events looked a bit different with COVID safety protocols in place. Still, we continued to host many in-person events along with providing virtual options.
FLIGHT Spring•2021•27
“We look forward to returning to a vibrant and active student experience in the fall,” she said. Entering freshmen will find more than 80 percent of classes offered are in-person. Less than 15 percent are a hybrid of in-person and online, and only about five percent are completely online. Faculty members who are passionate about fully reaching students anticipate being able to lecture safely without face coverings this fall in many classrooms where they can distance. Tech invested in more instructors so there will be more sections with a smaller number of students in each section. That means there will be a lot more students in the classrooms this fall as room capacities increase.
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28•385 •Our People•Our Stories
‘We look forward to returning to a vibrant and active student experience in the fall.’ — Dean of Students Katie Williams
Masks will not be required outdoors when there is adequate space for social distancing. More than 250 air purifiers enhance the air quality in classrooms and offices. In full flight also means that Tech is prepared to adjust to any challenges that could arise related to the health and safety of the campus community. Provided by Tennessee Tech.
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Why I Love… Monterey Story by JIM HERRIN — Photo by DON FOY
Monterey Cultural Administrator
Rafferty Cleary Why do you love Monterey? I love Monterey for three reasons. Higher elevation and the great outdoors are the first two. I was born in Upper East Tennessee, so the mountains have always been home to me. As far as the outdoors, I am less than a mile from Bee Rock and about five miles from Meadow Creek Park. I have great views, fishing, kayaking, rock climbing, mountain biking, and hiking in my own back yard. What’s not to love about this small town? The third reason I love Monterey is the people. The community has welcomed me in with open arms, and I cannot be more grateful for that.
What makes Monterey different? The obvious answer is the people. I think there is something special and almost magical about the folks on this mountain. Everyone seems to be connected in one way or another. It’s something I can’t really explain. I think another way we are different is the fact that we have four state highways that run through town. For those traveling through, it’s pretty much all downhill from here!
What do you hope for in Monterey’s future? At one point in time, Monterey was dotted with hotels and considered a resort town, where people visited to get the benefits of mountain air, mineral springs and fine dining. While Monterey may never attain “resort” status again, I do believe that we can become an outdoor mecca. A true destination for the fishermen, kayakers, rock climbers, and mountain bike enthusiasts. We have much to offer in that regard, and so my hope is that our current and future leaders work aggressively to enhance and promote our natural resources. The more visitors we can attract is better for everyone in this town.
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