A trip to the Sgt. Alvin C York Historical Park and Museum

Sgt. Alvin C York was one of the most decorated soldiers of World War I.Sgt. York died before I was born but I knew his wife, some of his children and many of his grandchildren. As a child I occasionally attended church at the church he had attended and where his wife still attended. I even remember selling Grit Newspapers to Miss Gracie York (Alvin C's wife). Sgt. York owned a grist mill and this has been a state park as long as I can remember. His homeplace is now a museum.

I have spent many a long carefree summer day playing at this park. It hold numerous fond memories for me. As a child I enjoyed playing on the playground. I loved swimming in the cold water of the wolf river above and below the dam at the park. I took my own family to the park for many cookouts and picnics. It just holds a special place in my heart.

On this trip I am sharing my park with friends of ours, Ken & Jennifer. Ken has heard of Sgt. York all of his life but this is his first trip to the park and museum. Ken's parents Mr. & Mrs. Mims also went with us and we had a great day.

We were staying in Jamestown, TN. It is on a flat topped mountain called the cumberland plateau, so to get to Pall Mall we had to travel north off the mountain and into the valley. The breathtaking scene you see below is what one might typically experience on an early morning trip "down" the mountain to the valley of Pall Mall.

I love seeing the layers of fog rising in the mountains.

This is the Wolf River Methodist Church.  This is the church Sgt. York attended with his mother in his early days.

This is the Sgt. York home which is now a museum.  The 4 people entering the home in the front are the Mims family.

Sgt. York was sick in his later days and had this bed at his home.  His hats and various items are displayed on the bed and around the room.

This is one of the bedrooms in the York Home/Museum.  They have various items belonging to Sgt. York and Miss Gracie displayed here as well.

The dining room in the York Home.  If I understood Margret (Sgt. York's daughter in law) correctly, they left the house just as it was when Miss Gracie passed away.

Miss Gracie's kitchen.

This typewriter really caught my eye. 

Here I zoomed out so you can see the whole picture.

This bonnet belonged to Sgt. York's mother.

Ken enjoyed meeting Margaret York, Sgt. York's daugther in law.

Ken near the entrance to the York Home / Museum.

 I think this might be a M247 Sergeant York, a tank that was named after Sgt. York. It is on display at the museum.

This is the only pictue I took of the mill on this day. I love walking across the dam and looking back toward the mill so I can see the mill and the water flowing over the dam in the picture.

This is Sgt. York's grave located in the Wolf River Methodist Church Cemetery.

Ken enjoying photographing the grave site. Look at those gorgeous mountains behind him. This valley is breathtakingly beautiful!

A front view of Sgt. York's and Miss Gracie's grave.

A close up of Sgt. York's tombstone.

 

A close up of Miss Gracie york's tombstone.

We were staying in Jamestown, TN. It is on a flat topped mountain called the cumberland plateau, so to get to Pall Mall we had to travel north off the mountain and into the valley. The breathtaking scene you see below is what one might typically experience on an early morning trip "down" the mountain to the valley of Pall Mall.