Association Meeting Minutes – July 18, 2014 – Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association

Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association
Meeting Minutes
Friday, July 18, 2014

The meeting of the Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association was held at the Cove Ridge Center on Friday, July 18, 2014, at 12 pm. Present at the meeting were Joan Short, Ron Short, Bob McConnell, Margaret Crouch, John Mullen, Joy Mullen, Jim Addington, Mary Jane Erwin, Joe Brown, Megan Krager (NTSP), Joe Fuller.

Approval of Minutes from May meeting:
Bob McConnell moved that the minutes be approved as written. Joy Mullen seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Treasurer’s Summary Report:
Joe Fuller delivered the Treasurer’s Report. A full copy of the report is filed in the Secretary’s archive. Margaret Crouch moved to approve the treasurer’s report as reported. John Mullen seconded the motion and it was approved unanimously.

Blockhouse Report:
Megan Krager reminded the group there are still some slots available for the second half of the year. She also reported visitor counts at the Blockhouse and its Interpretive Center as follows:

May —
Blockhouse: 420 (312 visitors plus an additional 108 in 3 school groups)
Inter. Ctr: 124 visitors

June –
Blockhouse: 352 visitors
Inter. Ctr: 589 visitors

Megan reported that the Nature Trek students had spent a full day at the Blockhouse, and good weather during the second week meant an additional 40 visitors at the Blockhouse.

Megan advised that Railroad Day would be held Saturday July 19. No trains will go through the tunnel between 10 and 3, so visitors will be able to enter the tunnel and look at the railroad-related exhibits and artifacts. Joan told the group that Association volunteers are scheduled at the blockhouse and the Carter Cabin for most of the day.

Tribute to Herman Stainbrook:
The group honored Herman Stainbrook with a moment of silence, and several members shared stories and memories of “Captain Ebenezer Titus.” He will be missed by all who knew him.

Miscellaneous Updates:
Bob McConnell gave the group an update on the new Interpretive Center at Kane Gap.

Joan and Ron shared their visit to Sycamore Shoals for the Liberty! outdoor drama.

Ron Short described a possible National Historic Area to include Lewis and Clark’s “Return Trail” (and thus our portion of the Wilderness Road).

Bob advised the group that the City of Kingsport is planning to erect signs along the trail portion from Bristol to Kingsport, marked as Tennessee’s Heritage Migration Route with the same design as the portions in Virginia (marked as Virginia’s Heritage Migration Route).

There was a discussion about listing the blockhouse site on “History Here” (an app from the History Channel).

Adjournment
Bob McConnell moved to adjourn.

About the book: The Blockhouse On The Holston

The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association has published a history of the Blockhouse that was built in 1775 on the North Fork of the Holston by John Anderson. His fortified home became a landmark along the road west, the Wilderness Road, marked by Daniel Boone that same year. Over the next thirty years, some 300,000 people passed Anderson’s home on their journey through Cumberland Gap and on into what would become the state of Kentucky, and further westward.

William L. Anderson, a direct descendant of John, has written a well-researched book that tells the story, the history of the home that became known to posterity as “The Blockhouse,” and its part in the expansion westward of our new nation. The Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail Association is proud to offer this book that tells, for the first time in such detail, the very significant part played in our nation’s history by the pioneer settlers of the western frontier during the last quarter of the eighteenth century.

Also included in the book are many brief biographies of significant players in the story, maps, an article on Fort Blackmore, and the diary of early explorer Dr. Thomas Walker.

The book may be purchased for $19.95 at Natural Tunnel State Park at the Visitor’s Center and at the Wilderness Road Blockhouse Interpretive Center (276-940-2674) and at the law offices of Lisa Ann McConnell in Duffield. Or contact Robert E. McConnell at roberte@mounet.com or 276-452-4520

About the book: The Blockhouse On The Holston