Charles Hall Museum in Tellico Plains Tennessee

[dzavracky]

I often visit this museum, but I hadn’t taken any pictures before. I went to visit my parents at our cabin and just had to stop by again. The Edison phonographs they have on display are just stunning!! It’s much better in person, it’s hard to take good pics through the glass.

Here’s some pics of the museum!! (I apologize for some of the pictures being out of Order)

Not only do they have the phonographs, but hundreds of antique guns, lots of antique American money, etc. it’s a really cool place


David

[JohnM]

You should offer to help them work on their dates!

[AmberolaAndy]

Yeah, I think this museum is going by whatever the latest patent date on the machines. Nice collection tho,

[VanEpsFan1914]

Still a neat display! Thanks for taking pictures.

[mattrx]

I’ve seen this museum featured on the show”Tennessee Crossroads” . I have wanted to visit ever since. We used to take fishing trips to this town when I was very young. I barely remember the trout fishing, but would like to go back for a visit now that I’m “old”, and look around.

Matt

[dzavracky]

I’ve wanted to call the lady who owns the museum as ask if I can help with the dates. I’ve also wondered if she could moved the glass top off so I can get get a good look at that victor IV PLUS, that 40’s record doesn’t belong on the turntable haha.

The museum is about an hour away from Knoxville Tennessee. The best part about visiting the museum is going to the bakery across the street. Everything they make is SO good there’s not a whole lot to do in Tellico plains, but it’s a nice place to visit.

[drh]

I’ve wanted to call the lady who owns the museum as ask if I can help with the dates. I’ve also wondered if she could moved the glass top off so I can get get a good look at that victor IV PLUS, that 40’s record doesn’t belong on the turntable haha.

The museum is about an hour away from Knoxville Tennessee. The best part about visiting the museum is going to the bakery across the street. Everything they make is SO good there’s not a whole lot to do in Tellico plains, but it’s a nice place to visit.

While you're at it, you might have them address the grille and crank on that Amberola 50.

How can I have grown up in Knoxville, with the phono bug since the early '70s, and never have heard of this museum? Next time I'm down in the area, I'll make a point of sticking my nose in. OK, wondering just who Charles Hall might be and why a museum was named for him, I took a quick glance at the museum's website and got an answer to both questions and an explanation of why I didn't know about it 'way back when:

[begin quoted matter]

The Charles Hall Museum exists to preserve regional and Appalachian history with an emphasis on the Tellico Plains area. Born in Tellico Plains in 1924, Charles has been a local historian since boyhood. Among the first white settlers in the area, his mother’s family settled in Tellico Plains by 1830. His father’s family settled in the area by 1908 and moved within the city limits in 1929. Charles served Tellico Plains as mayor for 31 years, as alderman-recorder for two years, as Justice of the Peace for six years, and as a county commissioner for six years. Showcased in two Museum buildings are his magnificent collections of historical memorabilia, artifacts, equipment, guns, antique telephones, coins and currency, photos, and so much more. Along with his collections, the Museum has acquired many public donations since opening in 2003. There are currently over 6000 artifacts and thousands of historical pictures and documents either displayed or archived for future reference. Tellico Plains is a special place with a rich heritage and limitless possibilities.

[end quoted matter]

So the museum didn't come into being until a good quarter century after I left the area.