Henderson (and I'm not talking about Florence)

As  promised, here is installment number two of Tennessee [an] Tiquing Trek--Henderson. If you missed the first part, you can read all about it in my last blog entry.

  So, after we finished checking out all the antique store sites the Hubs had on his list in Jackson, and grabbed a bite to eat and a cool drink, we headed for Henderson, TN .  Henderson is located in Chester County, Tennessee, and had its beginnings in the 1850's as a railroading town.  It can be found 16 miles south of Jackson, and 80 miles east of Memphis.  Its natives include Country Artist Eddie Arnold, born in Henderson in 1918, member of the Grand Ole Opry, and the Country Music Hall of Fame, as well as the influential Sue Shelton White, a suffragette, activist, feminist, and lawyer, who was immersed in the Woman's Right to Vote Movement in the early 1900's.  In addition, Henderson was also the site where the highly acclaimed film, Walking Tall , was filmed in 1973. Our first stop was Henderson Antique mall, located at 576 S. Church Ave. 

The mall was open, the antiques were calling, and we were answering the call!

  Some of the first items that caught my eye were these charming children.  I wonder if his playing was really ear-covering worthy, or if she just being a rascally little Sister?   When I take a closer look at his eyes though, I fear he may have surprised even himself with the sounds he was making.  Nonetheless, her hairstyle does little to assure me that she is a reliable authority on the subject of good taste, so for now I am left to wondering.  

Again, I was drawn to the playthings of the girls of yesteryear.  I love these old metal dollhouses!  When I see a house like this one, it makes me want to just climb inside, curl up in this nursery with the Little Bo Peep and Little Boy Blue murals, and read Mother Goose Nursery rhymes before bedtime.  Who wouldn't want to sleep in a room where the curtains are made to look like the flaps of a Circus tent?! Everything about it screams, "fun! fun! fun!" Who cares if the wallpaper in the other bedroom is dated?  I think this home is charming! 

Speaking of charming, I think I'll just slink into this party ensemble, grab a martini, and head to a sizzling Hollywood party.  You never know, I might run into Clark Gable, Greta Garbo, Sidney Poitier... I may even end up chatting with Liz or Marilyn, as they admire my exquisite taste in furs. Hurry if you're coming with me, and could you please fetch me my long white dinner  gloves!

Okay, okay, I guess I could just go to the library instead.  Who remembers the Dewey Decimal System? I'm afraid that on some future day, no one will. The days of poring through the card catalog, perusing all the titles, going to the shelves to locate the desired book, asking the Librarian for help... The crispness of the cards as you rummage through them looking for just the right book, the musty smell of the books on the old shelves in the back... 

After leaving Henderson Antique Mall, we headed over to another store less than 10 minutes away.  Unfortunately, neither of us can remember the name of it, and I neglected to snap a foto ofthe front of the store.  It might just be due to our middle-agedness, or it might be the fact that we were about six hours into the T(Tennessee) T(iquing) T(rek) at this point, and were wearing down a little (which again, I suppose brings us back to the middle-agedness after all).  I entered the store, and was immediately transported to the sockhop!!  Don't forget the bobbysox, and we just have to stop for a burger and a cherry coke at the drive-in on the way home!!

And then I saw this...isn't this the spittin' image of my very own beloved old horse, Red Rider. He was a beauty, and we used to ride like the wind together! I was pretty sure it was indeed his likeness, and now  that I see them side by side, it is undeniable! If only my old foto was in color, but alas #middleaged problems .  There I sit, on my trusty steed, back when those chubby knees and thighs were still cute!

 

I adore old trunks like these. I wonder where they've been, and what they've seen? They inspire me to go travelling in a carriage much like this one, exploring uncharted territory...

So, the Hubs and I climbed back into our SUV, and headed out west--back toward our very own Memphis Midtown Mecca. We were still an hour or more from home, and the open road ahead of us stretched invitingly...

We passed thru the town of Somerville, which was incorporated in 1836, and was named for Lt. Robert Somerville, who died in the battle of Horseshoe Bend. It was there that we saw the Somerville City Hall, and the old Bank building that has been presiding over the street since 1895.

Thus ends the saga of our Tenessee [an]Tiquing Trek. Thanks for sticking with me to the end! We meandered a bit more before making it home to our Midtown Manor, stopping for dinner, and a quick visit with My Favorite Octagenarian.  It was an awesome but tiring day!  (#middle-aged problems)

Stay tuned, and peace out...