Octagon Hall Investigation - 10/13/2022

Friends invited me to Franklin, KY, to the historic 1847 ante bellum Octagon Hall Museum - named such due to its brilliant construction in the shape of an octagon.  It's such an interesting place, still filled with furnishings original to the property!  In the backyard is a Summer Kitchen, two big barns, a family cemetery, and out in the field is a slave cemetery (the trees also forming an octagon).

The octagon shapes means there are sides facing north, south, east, and west.  Windows on the next sides allow light in during the Solstice or Equinox.  It has a great history, too.  Besides being a residence, it's also been a hospital, Masonic Lodge, and a safe house for Confederate Soldiers.  

It's not shy on ghost stories, either, which is why we went there to investigate - though our only experiences were a motion sensor that activated on the third step up from the first floor, and simultaneous motion sensors lighting up even on request at the slave cemetery.  From what I have heard, I expected a LOT more activity.  We may have to go again to get anything happening.

On my way there, I saw a few peculiar things that were fun:

Pink elephant outside a liquor store!

Eventually, I reached the destination: Octagon Hall!

Lots of signed photos from previous visitors and

shows or podcasts who have been there.

Looking from the ruins of a slave quarters to the

field where the family cemetery and the slave

cemeteries are located.

Family cemetery.

Slave cemetery.

Then, night fell and the investigation began:

Finally, while Barb and I visited the slave cemetery, across the way in the sheep field we hears howls, barking, yelping - it was time to go indoors!  The howling, yowling sound was just different than I'd heard before.  And, when we got to the house?  It stopped.  

Calliope at First Congo

On October 9, 2022, at First Congo musician Andy Cohen shared his calliope which was purchased from the Barnum and Bailey Circus!  The performances were great!

It was also Pet Blessing Sunday!

And Ms. Marsha led the Congo Kids in a great song for the Season of Creation!

Elmwood Soul of the City 10/7/2022

Crone Memorials is a sponsor of the Raymond James Soul of the City tour at Elmwood Cemetery which I visited on October 7, 2022.  

Eighty thousand people rest in Elmwood Cemetery. They created the world we inhabit. Gave us our culture.

And they made the music that the world knows us for.

This October, you can meet the songwriters, producers, composers, and singers of Elmwood Cemetery. They'll tell their stories from afternoon to evening from Thursday, October 6th to Saturday, October 8th.

Hear about Jimmie Lunceford's incredible accomplishments in teaching high schoolers Big Band music so well that they toured nationally, even performing in the Cotton Club. Listen to Sister Thea Bowman's glorious march towards Sainthood, and how she influenced Catholic church music. Walk through the sacred cemetery grounds, visiting our residents as their music floats by you. Grammy Award-winners, the legend of Stagger Lee, the beloved cook to a King, a sweet horn section, rock 'n roll, and the blues will be a part of the story we tell.

This incredible event happens only once a year. Begin your October festivities at Elmwood Cemetery.

Hostess welcomes us all to Elmwood Cemetery.

Wayne Jackson's story told by Dorothea Henry Winston
(Performed by Cathi Johnson)

"Stagger" Lee Shelton story told by Lady Lee Edge
(Performed by Sheena Barnett)

Sid Selvidge story told by Emily Sutton
(Performed by Virginia Pleasants)

Jimmy Lunceford story told by James Avadalis
(Performed by Kevin Rardin)

Mary Jenkins Story told by Grace Toof
(Performed by Cookie Hatchett)

Sister Thea Bowman story by Sister Constance
(Performed by Pam Rumage)

Beautiful Elmwood Cemetery

John Hampton story told by Lawson Treadwell
(Performed by Hal Perry)

Lilly May Glover story told by James Stewart
(Performed by Michael Pogson)

Another beautiful sky over Elmwood

PRESENTED BY RAYMOND JAMES

The Soul of the City Tour is being brought to you in part by the Crawford Howard Private Foundation.

Please help us thank and celebrate our generous sponsors. 

Presenting Sponsor

RAYMOND JAMES

Granite Sponsor

Crone Monument Company 

Last Stop Sponsor

Carol & Will Leatherman 

Gant Systems

Memphis Zoo 

Undertaker Sponsor 

Ellen & Kevin Rardin

Eclectic Eye

HHM Certified Public Accountants 

LaUna Brubaker

Sowell Realtors

Pallbearer Sponsor

Anonymous

Michael & Carolyn Fisher 

Nino & Charles Shipp

Mr. and Mrs. Michael C. Williams 

Baltz & Sons Concrete

Boyle Insurance Agency 

Pugh's Earthworks

Kat & Dave Schwartz

Gina Pickens

Kelly Drake

Nora & Dan Conaway 

Gravedigger Sponsor 

Nancy Dowling 

Henry Turley 

Lincoln's Costume Shoppe 

Sponsorship of the Soul of the City is also provided by the following dedicated Cradle Gardeners:

Kim Lane, Vicki & Dan Murrell, Lyn & Ted Bailey, Linda Smothers, Elizabeth Mills, Judy Card, Erin Hillis, Teresa Ward

 

Memphis Comics Expo 9/24/2022 - Fozzie!

Celebrating Jim Henson's birthday on September 24, 2022, the same day as Memphis Comics Expo, I dressed in my green Jim Henson Boyhood Museum t-shirt, topped off by a Kermit cap, and my Kermit limited edition Reeboks.  But, I took my Fozzie Bear replica along with me who, in the spirit of cosplay, was dressed in a Superman t-shirt and cape!

Several folks who know him asked where Muley was (at home, by the way, doing some writing, or drawing).  Still, there were some great smiling faces when they saw Fozzie.

I went with Martheus and Anakin Wade, Janet Wade's sister Sharon Dumer and her two kids Mara and Aayla, and of course Fozzie.  See the episode of Wade's World below at the 16 minute mark for Martheus' interview with Fozzie.

Photo by Lin Workman

In the video, he also interviews cartoonists Greg Cravens and Mike Norton.

Photo by Nicki Workman

Upon entering we ran into Deadpool with photos taken by harvtography.

Over at the Cause-Play Memphis booth, we ran into our good friends Garrett and Nikkie Dunnewold

Photo by Garrett Dunnewold

And ran into our friend Derrick Patterson, pictured here with Kermit and Peter Prankster of Tik Tok.

Photo by Derrick Patterson

Click the following images to see the photo's owners:

Muley Reads: Abner the Clown

What would you change about yourself if you could? Why would you make that change? What are things you love about yourself? What do others love about you? What do you love about others? Have you ever realized that you are perfect just as you are and don't need to change? Because YOU ARE!!

Contact Jeffrey to buy Abner the Clown for $25 + Shipping and Handling at https://jeffreybreslauer.com/contact (or on Amazon.)

Muley the Mule assisted by Kevin L. Williams www.muleythemule.com Music is Crazy Chicken by David Fesliyan. https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/donate Muley Reads is a series of videos starring Muley the Mule reading some of his favorite books - and we hope some of yours - wishing to inspire a love of reading, learning, imagining, and creation in children of all ages! And, as always, we love the books that communicate about people, animals, environment, love, and friendship. Some of Muley's special friends may even pop in to request a book. "Reading is fundamental!" Books add the fun, Muley adds "da mental!" Grab your family together, grab a snack or two, and sit back to relax while Muley Reads!!