Secrets, signals, spies and ciphers by Jennifer Crutchfield Secrets and spies are a staple of war, ferreting out facts and cloaking figures in disinformation.   As America entered the war between brothers an official spy network was not in place.  During the first few years of conflict espionage efforts were characterized by dramatic figures with [...]

by Jennifer Crutchfield. An infant girl was named Thankful because she was born while her family crossed an ocean toward a new life in the colonies.  Her daughter and her grandson’s daughter would be Thankful also as Colonel James A. Whiteside settled in the Chattanooga Valley and became a pioneer developer, changing the landscape of [...]

Sequoyah and the secrets of the syllabary by Jennifer Crutchfield A disabled man named George did something in 1825 that had never been done before in the history of the entire world.  For the first time ever and only time since a man who could not read or write created an effective writing system for [...]

The Mystery of progress, people and plaques By Jennifer Crutchfield One of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges, the Walnut Street Bridge has been an icon of innovation and controversy for 120 years.  In 1891 the bridge’s opening was marked by a military parade, a procession of proud Chattanoogans and the promise for the bright future [...]

The Mystery of the Belching Blasts and the Lost Furnace By Jennifer Crutchfield Ironmaster Robert Cravens was born in Virginia but had Chattanooga and its spirit in his blood.  When his parents died of fever Robert began his career, starting by learning the iron business from his uncle to support his seven siblings.  Iron stayed [...]

How old are you? By Joe McGinness At the age of perhaps four I asked my grandfather “Granddaddy, how old are you?” He smiled, and then said, “How old do you think I am?” “I’ll bet you are a hundred” I responded in my youthful naiveté. “Well I certainly feel that old but I am [...]

Steamboat One and Sunken Secrets by Jennifer Crutchfield From the “Cracker Line” to the Delta Queen the Tennessee River has drama under the water, too. Glittering light dances on an ornate grand staircase as the sun filters through stained glass windows once painted Navy gray.  A queen of yesterday, Chattanooga’s Delta Queen has had many [...]

The mystery of the triumphs and tragedies of TEPCO and its Tower Photo courtesy Frances McDonald Story by Jennifer Crutchfield Sizzling and crackling energy lived within the thick concrete walls of the building we call Parkway Towers.  A broken smile of cracked windows and decay looms over the Interstate on Chattanooga’s horizon in a structure [...]

The mystery of the City Hall cornerstone By Jennifer Crutchfield The mystery about history is why more people don’t realize how much fun it is! Chattanooga’s history is as bloody and exciting and full of intrigue, assassinations, treasures and chases as any movie on the big screen. In fact, our City Hall is the site [...]

The homestead of the dead By Jennifer Crutchfield Photos by Andy Montgomery Forest Hills Cemetery sits at the base of Lookout Mountain, the beginning of the fertile Chattanooga valley. Founded 130 years ago, this “homestead” of the dead has been the resting place of some of Chattanooga’s most famous citizens, their shadows heavy over monuments [...]