Independance School.. Pickin’ and a Grinnin’
The family and I are down here in Allons Tennessee again for the 4th Holiday. We got in yesterday morning and decided to head to this little school down the way, that looks straight from the 1930’s. It’s no longer used as a school any longer, but it is used for community get togethers and what not.
Every Saturday they have a get together (which I am unsure of what the name of it is, if it’s named at all) where they play music by locals. From what I hear, it starts at 6pm and goes on as long as people are willing to play. My mom took us up there to show a little of what goes on.
We get there, and there are people wondering through the hallways of this school. They still have the plaques, trophies, and class pictures from the past. I think the last one that we could find was from 1987, and as early as 1952, but I’m not sure when the school was built. I will have to ask one of the locals next time. We we walked in the assembly room (I assume) there were 7 people playing and singing. I could feel the stares from the people in the room as Melissa and I walked in with the kids. We ain’t from around these here parts.
It was definitely cool to watch a little bit of history and know that these types of gatherings still go on somewhere. Being from the city I haven’t seen anything like this (short of a hippy drum circle at ComFest). The fiddle player that was there last night was amazing. I don’t necessarily like country/bluegrass, but I can appreciate the musicianship of these people. From what I was told, I guess anyone that wants to play just needs to show up and hop in with the “House Band” (pictured below)
We stayed up there for probably a good hour or so before the kids got anxious and were a little bored. But my mom took her Canon XTI up with her and I got to take some pictures with it.
