Cover photo for Bones of Betrayal
Mood:  happy

I took Dr. William Bass, Jon Jefferson and photographer Rebecca Leigh to four locations to shoot photographs for the cover of the upcoming book, Bones of Betrayal.  The book is set in Oak Ridge.  The cover photo was selected and can be seen at:

http://www.photographybyrebeccaleigh.com/gallery/4996627_7umub#422193777_pLg6F-O-LB

Some photos I took at the shoot can be seen at:

http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/568816098TkKPbD

Historically Speaking books - available in hardback
Mood:  happy
Topic: books

The following books have been published IN HARDBACK online and are available at www.lulu.com/smithdray  and at www.Amazon.com:
 

2006 Historically Speaking - articles published in The Oak Ridger during 2006

2007 Historically Speaking 1944 Troop Train Wreck - articles publishe in The Oak Ridger telling the story of the 1944 troop train wreck in Jellico, Tennessee

Historical Sketches of Oak Ridge Schools - articles about the history of the Oak Ridge Schools (this book is published in FULL COLOR)

2007 Historically Speaking - articles published in The Oak Ridger during 2007

Delina - the history of a small crossroads community in Middle Tennessee written by Haskell Roden and edited by me

2008 Historically Speaking - COMING January, 2009

 

Historically Speaking Books

Historical Sketches of Oak Ridge Schools is the first book of the Historically Speaking weekly columns that has been published.  This book contains selected columns relating to the history of Oak Ridge Schools.

Here is the link to order: http://smithdray1.net/history/historicalsketchesofoakridgeschools.htm

2007 Historically Speaking: 1944 Troop Train Wreck  is the second book of the Historically Speaking weekly columns that has been published.  This book contains selected columns relating to the historic train wreck near Jellico, TN.

Here is the link to order: http://smithdray1.net/history/trooptrainwreck.htm

Historically Speaking: 1944 Troop Train Wreck AUDIO BOOK is the first audio book of the Historically Speaking columns that has been published.  This audio book is an unabridged version of the troop train wreck book.

Here is the link to order:

http://smithdray1.net/history/trooptrainwreckaudiobook.htm

Or all D. Ray Smith books and audio books are available at the online Secret City Store http://secretcitystore.com/

 

East Tennessee History Center
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: History

The East Tennessee History Center at 601 S. Gay Street in Knoxville, TN opened Voices of the Land: The People of East Tennessee on August 23, 2008.  Go here for photos:

Ribbon Cutting:

http://news.webshots.com/album/565573448kdGdLA

VIP Reception:

http://news.webshots.com/album/565541573NRrUhB

Ray 

Photo of bat in cave
Mood:  a-ok

A recent trip to Cherokee Caverns provided the opportunity for the photographs found at this link: Cherokee Caverns Photos on Webshots

This bat is covered with moisture...a most unusual sight!

Ray

Sunrise and mist - photo
Here is a recent sunrise on the Clinch River in Oak Ridge, TN.  I like it and hope you will too.
Ray

 

University of Tennessee Colloquium

On October 31, 2007 Oak Ridge: Manhattan Project to Today was presented to the University of Tennessee Nuclear Engineering Department. 

To see the web cast:

Click Here

Ray

Met a new friend

Over the past few evenings, I have been communicating with the team at  www.FineArtRegistry.com.  They are interested in helping get the Nancy Ward Statue returned to Tennessee. 

My son, the ultramarathon runner

Today, my youngest son ran a 31 mile ultramarathon "The Stump Jump" at Chattanooga's Signal Mountain.  He finished in less than 7 hours!  This race consists of running down the face of Signal Mountain and back up again. 

These folks are sure in excellent physical shape!

We had a great day.  After the race was completed, we treated our son and his family to a dinner at Foodworks, a great restuarant in Chattanooga.

STOLEN Statue of Nancy Ward again advertised for sale!
Mood:  incredulous
Topic: History

A new development in the long struggle to return a stolen historic artifact to Tennessee.  The Nancy Ward Statue that was stolen from Maggie Farmer's grave in Grainger County in 1980 and resurfaced in Maine in February 2006 has again resurfaced for sale.  This time in Massachusetts.

To learn more about the famous statue, go to: https://smithdray.tripod.com/nancyward-index-5.html

Ray