The Last Train To Clarksville
By Penny Nannini
24 Jul 2008
What city do you live in? What neighborhood?
The south-eastern corner of Clarksville, Tennessee. Population 113,175
What are some adjectives that describe your neighborhood?
My neighborhood is VERY rural. Downtown Clarksville is Mayberry-esque. Bible belt, Tobacco belt.
How long have you lived there, and what brought you there?
I have lived in and around Clarksville, on and off for 38 years. My father's family moved there when he was a boy. He joined the Navy when he was 17, traveled the world for 20 years and then retired there. I was ten when we moved there as a family the first time.
What is your favorite thing about this place? Your least favorite?
I moved back as an adult after both of my children were born, because I wanted to raise them in a gentle environment. I love the small town feel there. The flip side to that is it is very cliquish, so you have to belong to a group to fit in...the good old boys club.
Do you feel that you belong there?
Most of the time I am very happy there. I'm grateful that I spend much of my time in Nashville where I get my city 'fix', and I would go a little insane if I didn't travel a couple of times a year.
What is the most common misconception about where you live?
There are so many misconceptions about the south in general, that I wouldn't know where to begin. I guess the main one would be lack of education...I think its because the only people that seem to get interviewed on the news look and sound like they came off of the set of 'Deliverance'.
What is a special fact about your city that you have to live there to know?
Wilma Rudolph was born I Clarksville; She was the first American woman to win 3 gold medals in the Olympics. In 1960, she won the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, and ran the anchor on the 400-meter relay team.
What aspect of your city do you secretly love?
I really love the downtown area. When we first moved back in 1990 we went to the public square every year at Christmas time with the kids and watched the lighting of the tree. The business downtown would pass out hot apple cider and home baked goods, there was caroling and such. It was like a Norman Rockwell painting. There are several events like this every year.
Anything else you'd like to add?
I' very proud that three generations of my family were raised here. We have a closeness that I don't think would have been possible otherwise.
1 response
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Robert Duncan gave props (5 Jul 2009):
i always kind of liked Clarksville. We'd go there every now and then when I was in W. Tenn; went to Austin Peay once to hear Jerry Uelsmann.
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