Videos produced by Maples History Center

A short history of the life of Orton Caswell ‘Cas’ Walker (1902-1998) of East Tennessee. Cas was a entrepreneurial businessman, politician and TV/radio personality.
Who would have ever thought that a man from the mountains of East Tennessee and a woman from Upstate New York would find each other? And so much more. This is their unique story.
Oral storytelling has been around for millennia. Listen as a few of our favorite people in the Rel & Wilma Maples History Center share some of their earliest memories.
Oral storytelling has been around for millennia. Listen as a few of our favorite people in the Rel & Wilma Maples History Center share some of their earliest memories about military veterans, World War II, and Sgt. Alvin York.
Yes, it was a real thing – walking to school over the hills with snakes, bulls, kind neighbors, and some rather unique neighbors.
The rolling store was the only grocery store that many mountain people knew. Find out more about the rolling store and just making do with what you had.
Growing up and eating some unusual foods was not uncommon in this area. Tim, Ruth, Jason, and Theresa discuss edible animals and farm memories in this segment.
Tales were all over the place today from haints to parental discipline (hickory tea) and all the way to natural medicines. The video was recorded and edited by John Alexander at the King Family Library in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Family stories are what we’re all about here in the history center and this one from Ms. Theresa is quite a unique family legend about charming snakes. The video was recorded and edited by John Alexander at the King Family Library in Sevierville, Tennessee.
Ava Malissa Fisher Myers (1882-1971) was a true Appalachian woman using her strength, knowledge of her surroundings, and faith to shape her life in East Tennessee.
Meet Ruth Matthews, a lifetime Sevier County resident and former employee of Cherokee Textile Mills. She is an avid genealogist and long-time volunteer for the Sevier County Public Library System, helping out in the Rel & Wilma Maples History Center at the King Family Library.
Oral storytelling has been around for millennia. Listen as a few of our favorite people in the Rel & Wilma Maples History Center share some of their earliest memories.
Oral storytelling has been around for millennia. Listen to a few childhood memories of farm chores, indoor plumbing, and electricity in this area as told by a few of our favorite people.
Tim, Ruth, Jason, and Theresa share some oral recollections of time spent at school, corporal punishment, life education, and food preservation.
A one- to two-room school was a mainstay in most of Sevier County in past generations. Over the years the county has had over 200 school including schools called Flea Hill, Midway, Black Ankle, Granny College and many others.
In this segment, Tim, Ruth, Theresa, and Jason share about making do, canning, and foraging for foods. They also discuss some of their favorite food memories. The video was recorded and edited by John Alexander at the King Family Library in Sevierville, Tennessee.
It’s all about those first vehicles and the memories we make in them during this session with Tim, Theresa, Ruth, and Jason. The video was recorded and edited by John Alexander at the King Family Library in Sevierville, Tennessee.
It’s difficult to visit our area and not hear or see bears and deer. Tim, Theresa, Ruth, and Jason share memories of how times have changed. The video was recorded and edited by John Alexander at the King Family Library in Sevierville, Tennessee.

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