The Knoxville News-Sentinel from Knoxville, Tennessee • 15

I' Nr iii metro Obituaries Knox Happenings Weather The Knoxville News-Sentinel -4 1 am Gomes me A Divided People Unite Again at Red Clay Council Meet May Give Park i 50000 Visitors Over Weekend CLEVELAND Normally it would take months fbr Red Clay State Historical Area to attract 50000 visitors Red Clay Supervisor Jennings Bunn said that many' may be at the park next weekend for the historic meeting of the Eastern and Western Cherokee nations looking for a real big Bunn said first day Friday we ex- pect about 10000 on the grounds at the' same time Before over we could have In 1983 the park which is 12 miles south -of Cleveland on Highway 60 at the Georgia line attracted 83000 visitors Friday and Saturday tribal leaders horn North Carolina and Oklahoma will conduct the first unified meeting of the Cherokees since Aug 7 1837 That meeting took place at what was to become Red Clay State Historical Area The next year Gen Winfield Scott began rounding up the Cherokee fbr a forced march to northeastern Oklahoma Thousands died along the way The exodous became known as Trail of Today Red Gay features a reconstructed council house and farmstead similar to that used by the Cherokees in the early 1800s There also is a picnic shelter tables and hiking trails One of the most scenic spots in the 275-acre park is The Council Spring where Cherokee leaders met before the forced removal The spring from which 500000 gallons of water flows a day was once known as Blue Hole Spring because of its bluish tint For years the land around the spring was planted in cotton and pasture Later the Red Clay property was held in trust by James Corn a Cleveland attorney and history buff He held the property from the 1950s until the state was persuaded to take it some two decades later Red Gay was dedicated in 1978 First it was designated an archaeological area and after archaeological digging was completed it was redesignated as an historical area There are other sites in the Red Clay area that are significant historically Near Benton on Highway 411 is the grave of Nancy Ward a Cherokee who is considered by some as the most important woman in Tennessee history She was an advocate of peace between the Cherokees and the settlers and warned the pioneers of impending attacks that saved several settlements from being wiped out Another historic site is old Fort Marr on the Polk County High School grounds in Benton The fort which was built as a supply depot during the War of 1812 was used as a stockade in 1838 where the Indians were housed before embarking on The Trail of Tears The oak logs of Fort Marr bear the scars where flint arrowheads and rifle halls struck during battle one of the most scenic sites at Red Clay by STAN DeLOZIER News-Sentinel stall writer It has been on a 3000-mile odyssey for 147 years but the Cherokee's eternal flame is returning home to Red Clay Friday ancestors kept the flame burning when they were taken to Oklahoma in 1838" explained Robert Youngdeer principal chief of the Cherokees in North Carolina sent a delegation to Oklahoma in 1959 to bring the flame to Cherokee NC This week it will be returned to Red Clay the site of the last council of the Cherokee nation before it was The eternal flame will be the focal point of opening ceremonies Friday at Red Clay Historical Area when the eastern and western Cherokees have their first unified council meeting since 1837 Runners are to leave Tuesday from the Qualla Reservation in North Carolina bearing torches They are to arrive at Red Clay at 10 am Friday The return of the flame is entitled Celebration of the Jennings Bunn park supervisor at Red Clay said up to 50000 visitors may jam onto the park during the two-day Indian celebration Youngdeer said about 800 North Carolina Cherokee will be attending and he expects 500 from the Tallaequah Reservation in northeast Oklahoma The Indian nation was split by a forced removal by United States troops in 1838 The unrelenting advance of white settlers had forced the Cherokees to settle in the mountains of north Georgia in the early 1800s However settlers there hungry for land and inspired by reports of gold discoveries ran the Indians out of Georgia and into Tennessee In 1832 the Cherokees moved their capital to Red Clay It was the seat of Cherokee government the site of 11 councils and nation affairs attended by as many as 5000 For five years the Cherokees tried desperately to negotiate with the United States government to ensure the future of the Indian nation in the southern mountains The negotiations failed Slick-talking politicians persuaded the Cherokees to sign a series of treaties that railed for the cession of Indian land The agreement was that the Cherokees would be given land in Oklahoma in return for their tribal homelands last council at Red Clay was to see if the Cherokees would move to Oklahoma or explained Youngdeer Ross who was chief wanted to fight I don't mean fight a war but to fight through legal means That proved In 1838 Gen Winfield Scott headed a force that rounded up the Indians and removed them to Oklahoma About 1 5000 started on the grueling overland trip in the dead of winter Estimates are that a third of Never Too Late Pupils Find by RON KING Newt-Sentinel staff writer Trees are reflected in Council Spring the Cherokees died on the trek which became known as The Trail of Tears great-great grandfather and greatgrandfather went as far as the Mississippi Youngdeer said were able to escape and get back They were among hundreds of others who managed to hide in their beloved mountains Although persecuted by the white man the Indians who lived at Red Clay had adopted many of the ways The Red Clay Cherokees lived in log cabins They were farmers They dressed much as did the white settlers and many had converted to Christianity Red Clay is built around a typical Cherokee farmstead of the period Friday and Saturday Cherokee craftsmen will be exhibiting and selling their wares Youngdeer said also will perform some of the traditional dances and will sing some of the religious he said Among the speakers on Friday will be Gov Lamar Alexander The council which will include 12 members of the eastern Cherokees and IS from Oklahoma will take up some serious matters Youngdeer said one issue discussed will be to consider asking the State of Tennessee to return to the Cherokee the 275-acre Red Clay area Other business will be to honor two Cherokee women for their service to the tribal council Maggie Wachacha who lives at Snowbird near Robbinsville NC will be designated a Elder Youngdeer said He said she has served the council for 48 years and often walked 50 miles from Snowbird to the reservation to perform her duties Lula Owl Gloyne 92 will be honored as the first registered nurse on the Qualla Reservation Youngdeer said she also worked on reservations in the West and performed nursing duties for the Army during World WarL The North Carolina Cherokees also favor hill binding for the Indian Child Welfare Act a federal social program Youngdeer said Cherokees also are concerned about a slash in federal money for the education programs on reservations last council at Red Clay was to see if the Cherokees would move to Oklahoma Robert Youngdeer Swimming Pools Are Fun but Dive into Deal Until You Check It Out by SUZANNE hORFE NEAL News-Sentinel stall writer action line aatiAeit DkCh Teacher Barbara Stephens with students Elks and Minnie Pearl Stoutmire If considering contracting tn have a swimming pool built on your property here'll good advice: Look carefully before you take the plunge Depending on your experience being a pool owner ran be wonderful or a nightmare You might find that not willing to commit the money and time IVmls ran be expensive to build and more to maintaining one than just filling with water Chemicals to treat the water aiso can be expensive and pools have to hi- rim tinelv drained and cleaned Ami consider that your pool will have to lie fenced and your insurance will lkelv increase nut to mention your properly taxes If you decide pool owtwrjvp i imtced fur you free mfurmation is readiy avail able to help you through to your first pml party You may start with iln- Knoxville Better Business Bureau by 522-1300 (if long distance diil I plus lie number and the Bltii will pay for the rail) Ask to hear Tel-Tips Tape Na IK It oriy takes a few mmutes and the tap has some good information on pool Tt-e Blilt a 'so has free panjiiUtv on pels A rorvumer kt avakilve foe wrA-rsg to the Nitsmul bwunming lk-l Institute 2111 iu'iVtsrf Av Alexandria Va 227 1 Ta ki mruira r-j-Iwi on -4 pfin-iru ru "Vra'i how to have fan ii yror fv4 A4-i hr piVcitiw i a Dynamo" rx imv Tf was wjh tve the rt ii ItivfJ ivroi (f 1- i -is I'm rgy Save rex" al re v4 iec is a v-'-fjfy tv sv aU of t- p-- 1 IV I stiiVrvKrou'c- e-i are Nsj! t'W i 'H Umti most buiUlers an going to In up front about because they want the customer to he happy That means more business for them" The BBB advises consumers tn deal only with reputable companies Ask your friends and neighbors for recommendations even go kink at several pools to see how they were built Once decKhsl on a contractor check with the Bill! to see if there are pending eompljint against the business Be sure the company you select is licensed and pmvtijes compensation should someone lie injured while installing your pool Cover every a-pect of ronstruc'mi with the contractor and get all promise in writing and this includes any guaranio-s or warranties If you want your pool finished by a return date specify that in the contract Make sure ou have an in-nued list of all prood work and rolv Check budding codes for your neighborhood in see if there are ary restriction Also look at how you want tn your pool you want a pool just for exrrowe you might wan! to consojcr a tap foil which lore a-d narrow tk-vgned I bps" I'wirg sauL it's to be u-d praffjoy for erriertan'rent you proiWy would want another sJsip nr If there are serious ivm the family make sir the pxd is ir that u-e" There are fo-j- types ef (oils Ai in-g-oand rocre a ccm-ctT-a but p-i for phv te a-d le rot expensive An cwM pot vnyllr isne-xt pnref4-k wed fey ao fVrgU mill AVvr j-wnl pi are kal expensive tt iv't a K-g iwif a fix ir-si mm a a un acsew Im tru ro Im Ih- Tn IXti In inuI wcXW fmm mt Mem wt ptaw i at Met PkrM WMMlei KlIU Mfn le'i mm tiH muwe Ellis and Minnie Pearl Stoulmirc ran barely handle simple addition and subtraction but it take much to see having the time of their lives At the ages of 89 and 78 the couple is learning reading writing and arithmetic for the first time ever Born to poor sharecroppers they are two of more than 500 elderiv students enrolled in Knox County School Adult Education was raised up on the farm The only time we had a chance to go to school was hen it was Mrs Stout mire said just got started and we lke to go pretty good now So we just keeps it The Sloutmires have been students for more than five years Before taking the Classes neither could read a word Once a week Mrs out mire drive them both to the Wesley House Community Center in North Knoxville for two hoar of adult literacy classes A retired meat packer and railroad laborer Stout mire now spends hours a week on class homework and reads thing I outside of that like it just fine but I get enough of it Fm trying to get more of it right heuid Stoutmire is such an enthusiastic student that he tolerate idle gossip in class from other studeris the disciplinarian in foe vad Barbara Stephen the Sro-atr-eres teacher things get a little wild he Marts reading out loud try irj to drew ev -rrybndy The average age in the of four 71 Lavo-u Heroes wkv part-time at the center and hmv rj up on nuih skill Robert A Vv getwg help leam-g nvS ard nr -g aggjt afUr a d- Vuix roke la-5 Mrs Step few as) k-n'S c'-V a dents cf foe J-vt OYrr Sr renter cn la-l Kev-1 A n-rf -S rriish lfirkT sle see a da-t i' err aV -vr Vffi are r- I fry w- kin and iiv i-e WjJ -ry ke ftf JrT5 mil! f-f s-' I till Jf 1 re woman wanted to work on percentage she could figure out what to tithe to her church" Mrs Stephens said Memory seems to be the biggest nlMa-rle to elderly students in the program doirt bold it like you u-d ix A of times your nund just amt on whi Mrs Stoutmire umL Born Aiahanu a fatn'y of five Stoutmire grew up scratch a irg from growing fMrg peas and potatoes or a small fa-ri was a Wh-'e fan- hi father dal way ie'w I k-w-A try father wa 1 wav the osw ie hous ddnt have the i re io i i rvv 1 had to reik-g i vkw mined Rradrg from a we-xur firoi each word r---fi t-roe t'-P-i I fe IVa-'" 1 sil rl I Vk -m' 'r witr a k1: if e' Vr t-ece it re fV r- cf fo'r i c- 1 1 -s Three other kmris of instruct nn aiv are offered under Knox adult education program whch now tvuis LVD students taking clasM-s 50 location throughout the count irWi a a Second a laughi to foreign -Nun students: brush-up rue Ml reel rg ad math are ofTemf admits with at Uat thnd-grade-lev at iMon vgn i offered to anyone tere-ro A li to serving ely ceV tie sfjJ rdutution program tr ov-a ftp: Who Vlf u-h-uJ P'n tirad-Jte ijj-iiVrry 1 rrw Mi students i-e to le i gram by a kl ul M- fteSVi-iOvn cf It I---U gh ro of vv o' cj e-l her herS''g-'i Ire -4 Set fj -e i ljry ftl Mr vi-- -1 e- dl-T i C- 1 -w irr I fT 'r -ii I ro s- 1 I -s ek c-.