sevier county heritage museum is in shambles

Seymour Herald/Joe Karl

The ceiling of the Sevier County Museum shows major need of repair before the irreplaceable valuables are destroyed

published: July 24 2007 03:33 PM updated:: July 24 2007 04:26 PM

The Sevier County Heritage Museum has buckets on the floor to catch the water that flows freely into the building from the ceiling.

Located at 167 Bruce Street in Sevierville, the museum received $2,500 from the county to make the necessary repairs.
However, that doesn't even begin to cover the costs, according to Mr. Parton, the person in charge of the museum.
The e Museum opened July 10, 1995, as part of Sevierville's Bicentennial Celebration.
Housed in the Old Sevierville Post Office, the Sevier County Heritage Museum showcases the proud heritage of Sevier County, which was founded in 1795.
Unfortunately there are buckets and pans scattered all over the floor to catch the water. The paint from the ceiling is flaking off onto the treasures below.
The Sevier County Heritage Museum contains interesting displays of local artifacts and memorabilia, offers genealogical research services, and hosts lectures and classes.
The Sevier County Heritage Museum also houses the library of the Smoky Mountain Historical Society. Admission is free.

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User Comments

#1 John Taxpayer commented, on July 29, 2007 at 12:44 a.m.:

Here is the first Historical Contribution:

Biographical Note: The White Caps of Sevier County, Tennessee, were a vigilante group formed in approximately 1892 by citizens who wished to rid Sevier County of individuals (mostly women) whom they deemed lewd or adulterous. Their modus operandi was to leave the offending party a note signed “White Caps,” occasionally accompanied by hickory withes, warning them to leave town. If this tactic was ineffective, the offending party would be whipped. The White Caps were extremely popular between 1892 and 1896, and thus extremely hard to control legally. Local law enforcement turned a blind eye to their doings, and even when arrested White Caps would frequently tamper with juries to ensure their acquittal. In this atmosphere of tolerance, the beatings gradually increased in severity until Laura and William Whaley were brutally murdered in front of their infant child in December of 1896. Because the Whaleys were generally seen as poor but honest citizens of Sevier County, this event turned public opinion against the White Caps, and the group rapidly declined.