Miniature Arrow Point

This miniature arrow point was found in Scott County by the SHS anthropology class. The miniature points are very rare and were used for small game such as birds and rabbits. Smaller points are evidence of prehistoric people having more leisure time and that they were experts because they could manufacture something this small. The detail on these points is amazing. Compare the size to the "standard size" arrow head in the photograph.

Civil War Cannon Shell

This Civil War cannon shell, on display at the museum, was found in Scott County. Not to be confused with a cannon ball which is solid on the inside, hollow shells like these were used against enemy forces by exploding into shrapnel when fired from a cannon. Isaac Griffith, one of the few men from Scott County to fight for the Confederacy, remembered in his 79th year his experience with a shell like this. "On our return through the (Cumberland) Gap wee campd at Tasville at the last of October in the morning the snow was about 5 inceas deep, when wee was getting beakfast some fool picked up a bomb shell and had it for a dog iron. It exsploed and killed three men."

Isaac Griffith was born on Brimstone Creek in Scott County in 1836. He joined the Confederate Army in 1862 and was one of the handful of men from the area to do so. He moved to Bradley County after the war.

Burial place of Isaac Griffith in Bradley County, TN.

Information taken from 1915 Confederate Veteran's Questionnaire completed by Isaac Griffith.  Photo two taken from a First National Bank Chronicle article about the Griffith Family  FNB Chronicle Vol. 6 No. 3 Spring of 1995.  Photo three courtesy of findagrave.com. 

Native American Cooking Pot

This woodland-era pot, dating to 2,000 years ago, was used by early Native Americans as a cooking pot. It was excavated by students in the Anthropology class at Scott High School. The students found 75% of the pot and sent it to the University of Tennessee to have it carbon-dated and reassembled. Not all of the pieces were found, as evidenced by the modern clay used to fill up the holes in the pot. The woodland era began around 1,000 B.C. and ended 1,000 A.D. Pottery during this time period is very simple and has check-stamping instead of handles. Check stamping is when the Native Americans would take a vine-wrapped paddle and would put indentations into the wet clay used to grip the finished pot when it was greasy or wet.

Detail showing check stamping on the pot displayed at the museum.

Drawing from the book Tribes That Slumber which is published by the University of Tennessee. The drawing shows a pot similar to the one at the museum.

Drawing from the book Tribes That Slumber published by the University of Tennessee. This drawing shows how Native Americans manufactured pots similar to the one found in Scott County.

Various forms of check stamping found on pots from the Woodland Era.

Information and pictures two and three taken from Tribes That Slumber by Lewis and Madeline Kneburg 

WWII Ration Book

Ration books containing stamps like these were issued to civilians on the home front during the second world war. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, the U.S. Government began rationing goods so that there was plenty of material to send to the fighting men across the ocean. These books were issued to citizens and contained stamps that rationed out how much food, gasoline, and tires a family was allotted. These stamps did not pay for the goods, like food stamps, but allowed every family to get a fair share of rationed items.

Ration books like these were used by civilians during WWII to claim their portion of rationed goods.

This ration stamp for sugar ensured that it was only being used for home canning of fruit and required a signature.

Ration stamps for coffee.

Poster explaining how to use ration stamps when purchasing goods.

Joy Dirksen Baker's Wedding Dress

Danice Joy Dirksen Baker, daughter of Everett and Louella Dirksen, married Howard Henry Baker Jr. on December 22, 1951. She wore a Marshall Fields original wedding gown with matching kidskin gloves. Although overshadowed by her husband's illustrious political career, Joy Baker served on influential committees for Knoxville College, the Kennedy Center or Performing Arts, and Ford's Theater, receiving a Lincoln Medal in 1985 for her work at Ford's Theater. She died on April 24, 1993 and was buried in the Mossop Cemetery adjacent from the First Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, TN. 

his Marshall Fields wedding gown was worn by Joy Dirksen Baker when she married future senator Howard H. Baker Jr.

Matching kidskin gloves

Howard H. Baker Jr. and Joy Dirksen Baker on their wedding day December 22, 1951.

Joy Baker and her husband at a political rally. Their son Derek can be seen behind Joy and their daughter Cissy can be seen to the right of Howard.

The resting place of Howard Henry Baker Jr. and wife Joy Dirksen Baker at the Mossop Cemetery in Huntsville, Tennessee.

 Photographs 3 and 4 courtesy of findagrave.com

Baby Cradle

This beautiful baby cradle was handmade around 1912. The corners are dovetailed, which is one of the strongest joints used in carpentry. The cradle includes intricate carving on the headboard and graceful rockers. Hand forged iron brackets, made in a blacksmith shop, hold the rockers onto the cradle. The rockers extend beyond the width of the cradle so that the mother could use her foot to rock the cradle leaving her hands free to complete other tasks.

Congressional Medal of Honor Citation

This citation for the Congressional Medal of Honor, the highest honor that can be bestowed on an American in combat by the President, was issued to First Lieutenant Joseph Cecil of New River, TN. Cecil was serving at Bud-Dajo located in the Philippine Islands during the Philippine Insurrection, an offshoot of the Spanish American War. On March 7, 1906 while at the head of a column of soldiers, Cecil carried a wounded comrade to a sheltered position and retrieved the body of another comrade. Cecil was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Calvin Coolidge. Joseph Cecil rose to the rank of colonel and served in WWI. He died in 1940 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Colonel Joe Cecil Bridge, spanning New River, is named for him. The whereabouts of his Medal of Honor are not known.


Note: his citation gives his name as Josephus Cecil

This citation was issued to Joseph Cecil, native of Scott County, upon his reception of the Congressional Medal of Honor.

Col. Joseph Cecil

This style of the Congressional Medal of Honor is the one that Joseph Cecil received for his service in the Philippine Insurrection. The whereabouts of his medal are not known.

Joseph Cecil's Tombstone in Arlington National Cemetery.

This bridge, spanning New River in south Scott County, is named for Col. Joseph Cecil.

 Photos of Cecil, Congressional Medal of Honor, Tombstone, and bridge sign courtesy of findagrave.com