Author Description

Town Spring In the days before there was a town of Cookeville, there was a spring here - cold and swiftly flowing. It was steeped in Indian lore, and it was a welcome stopping place for thirsty hucksters and travelers with their teams. When the travelers became settlers, the little spring became the Town Spring. Beyond its grace for natural refreshment, it became the natural place for social gatherings and even for baptisms. Here at picnics and watermelon feasts was the spot where the small talk of the town was exchanged, where deep political and religious convictions were spoken, where local stories were repeated and preserved. Here the town vision was enlarged, and its heritage celebrated. It is hard to believe that this all-important Cookeville landmark, this beautiful little glade with its maple tree shadows, fell to such little regard that it was bulldozed over, paved, and lost completely to view and to posterity. The Cookeville Creative Writers now commemorate its name and spirit in the title of our collected writings. In each edition of Town Spring, we have gathered again our small talk, our feelings, convictions, and regional lore to celebrate our heritage. Update It is exciting to live in a dynamic and growing community like Cookeville, Tennessee. One of many improvements in recent years has been the Dogwood Park with its play area for children, walking paths, benches, and a beautiful dancing fountain. It contains a band shell and a large outdoor tiered arena which is widely used to host free concerts, family movies, and other events of interest to towns people and the hundreds of others from the Upper Cumberland who visit our city. It also features a park with gazebo, rose bushes, and a multitude of other lovely plants. The complex of the park, drama center, history museum, and our library all face or have risen over the remains of the original Town Spring. We writers have been fortunat