While many histories center on dates and places, they overlook some funnier, if not downright bizarre, happenings throughout the years. From armed robberies to a duel between long-time friends, some of the most intriguing events to happen in history were plain weird. Author Todd DeFeo recounts some of the highlights (or lowlights) that happened on […]

Learn from a railroad historian how the railroad companies in the South were the first to build railroads, and how they heavily relied on enslaved labor to not only build, but also operate one of the most extensive railroad networks in the world.

Clarksville has a deep railroad history, and three railroads passed through town, and the city also boasted a streetcar network. Despite the history, the city has had a love-hate relationship with the railroad. Its first railroad was derided as “beginning in the woods and ending in a hollow tree.” When one railroad faltered, city leaders […]

Railroad history isn’t always like what the history books tell. Whether it’s the lines that passed through an area or the ones that were proposed but never built, railroads are the story of the region’s transportation. It was a combination of railroads that made sense, some that didn’t and ambitions that never made it to […]

Railroads didn’t just pass through Smyrna; many in the area depended on them for their livelihoods. Whether holding high-profile positions such as a conductor or meeting your spouse because of the streetcar, railroads played a role in many lives. This presentation will look at some of the lesser-known railroad stories throughout history. Todd DeFeo has […]