Historical Association prepares to open museum

The association's reconstructed mine cart was originally from the No. 7 mine in Little Soddy Gulf.
The association's reconstructed mine cart was originally from the No. 7 mine in Little Soddy Gulf.
photo Relics from the old train and rail system, such as wood and track from the original railways around Soddy-Daisy, will also be on display in the musuem.

A dream of the Soddy, Daisy and Montlake Historical Association is finally coming to fruition: The organization has found the space and gathered enough artifacts and relics to open a museum dedicated to the history of the region.

The Good Old Days Museum will be housed in the old Soddy Bank, nearly a relic itself considering its construction in 1921. The museum will open to association members July 1 and to the general public July 4.

"We're willing to start small, and over time, hopefully we'll be able to move into something much larger," the association's president, Steve Smith, said in reference to the tight quarters of the Soddy Bank building.

The museum will house relics from the Civil War and coal mining era of the region, such as maps of the area, uniforms, photographs and pottery. Additionally, Smith said the association is working on acquiring Native American artifacts to be displayed as well, but that is still yet to be determined.

He thanked local residents who have donated relics, maps and information to the association.

In the past, the association has organized history fairs with dozens of tables and displays. While the former Soddy Bank building doesn't have room for all of that, Smith said they're going to fill the space as much as possible.

"We want people to know that we're serious about collecting and preserving the history from around here," he said. "We've got a lot of older people that have collections handed down through their family. We even have one member with relics from the 1830s."

He said association members - and the general public - worried that grandchildren or great-grandchildren might not have the space to keep the historical collections or have an interest in maintaining them.

"People don't want their stuff to be thrown out or sold," said Smith. "They want someone to take care of it and hopefully display it. That's what we want to do."

The highlight of the museum is a reconstructed Soddy coal car, hand-pieced back together by Smith himself and other association members. During its time, the car would have been used to ferry coal that miners had unearthed to the mine's exterior, where it could be sorted and shipped. The car was rebuilt using original wood, wheels and axles, said Smith, adding that while the bracing had to be fabricated by a local metal shop, it's as authentic as an old Soddy coal car can be.

"It's possibly the only one left," he said. "We're still looking for more."

The museum is planned to be open every Friday and Saturday during the summer from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance costs $3 for adults and children age 12 and older, and is free for anyone younger as well as association members. Anyone interested in becoming an association member can visit the museum any time it's open, Smith said. Applications will be on-site.

For more information, call 718-0528.

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