For a time, the quiet waters of Reelfoot Lake reflected more than cypress trees, flooded timber, and West Tennessee sky.

They reflected fear.

In the early 1900s, conflict over land, access, ownership, and outside control erupted around Reelfoot Lake. What began as a fight over the future of the lake became one of the darkest and most dramatic chapters in Tennessee history.

Armed men moved through the night. Threats became violence. Homes, families, and communities were pulled into a struggle that blurred the line between local resistance and terror.

In this episode, we trace the story of the Night Riders of Reelfoot Lake: the roots of the conflict, the people caught in it, the violence that shocked Tennessee, and the way this story lived on in memory, history, and even early motion pictures.

Because at Reelfoot Lake, history does not always rise gently from the water.

Sometimes, it comes in the dark.

📚 Sources

Vanderwood, P. J. (2003). Night riders of Reelfoot Lake.

Franko, A. M. (2000). The night riders of Reelfoot Lake. Lake County Historical Society. Original articles written in 1953.

Hayes, D. G. (2017). The historic Reelfoot Lake region: The night riders of Reelfoot Lake.

Reelfoot Lake State Park Museum. (2026, April 28). Interpretive panels reviewed by author.

Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). The Night Riders of Reelfoot Lake. https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/

Carey, B. (2017, March). Reelfoot Lake and its dark history of night riders. The Tennessee Magazine.

Caldwell, R. H. (2005). Reelfoot Lake remembered.

Tennessee Secretary of State. (2023–2024). Tennessee Blue Book.

Find a Grave. (n.d.). Robert Zachary Taylor. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/60374168/robert_zachary-taylor

Bagnall, N. H. (1996). On shaky ground: The New Madrid earthquakes of 1811–1812.

Meador, M. (n.d.). The truth is not always in black or white: Facts and fictions surrounding the David Walker family lynchings.

🎙️ Credits

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

📣 Follow & Support

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around Tennessee and other places connected to its story.

Support the show on Patreon for:

Early access to episodes

Ad-free listening

Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🔗 Links

🎧 Support the show on Patreon:
https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

🧢 Merch & Apparel:
https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

🎤 Book John for Speaking Engagements:
https://www.summersmedia

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Old Stone Fort has stood on this bluff above the Duck River for nearly two thousand years.

Massive walls of stone and earth stretch across a natural peninsula, enclosing nearly fifty acres. To early settlers, it looked unmistakable—a fortress. A place built for defense. A place of war.

But it wasn’t.

In this episode, we walk through the long story of Old Stone Fort—from early speculation and 19th-century investigation to the archaeological work that reshaped our understanding of the site. Along the way, we explore how this place was built, how it changed over time, and what it may have meant to the people who returned here generation after generation.

We also examine the layers that came later—the mills, the industry, and the transformation of the landscape—before returning to the central question that still lingers:

If it wasn’t a fort…what was it?

🎧 Bonus Content

A full-length interview with Keith Wimberley, manager of Old Stone Fort State Park, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.

Faulkner, C. H. (1968). The Old Stone Fort: Exploring an Archaeological Mystery. University of Tennessee Press.

Davenport, S., & Gibson, J. (2023). The Duck River: A river like no other. The Tennessee Conservationist.

Mayo, B. (2019, November 6). Old Stone Fort: A solstice ceremonial site surrounded by river waterfalls. Murfreesboro Pulse.

Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Coffee County.

Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park.

Tennessee Historical Commission. (n.d.). Historical Marker 2E 29: Manchester.

Tennessee History for Kids. (n.d.). Old Stone Fort.

Wimberley, K. (2026, April 7). Personal interview.

L’Amour, L. (1985). Jubal Sackett. Bantam Books.

Interpretive materials and video presentation, Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park museum.

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights.

Support the show on Patreon for:

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🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
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🧢 Merch & Apparel:
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Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

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If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

The 1899 University of the South (Sewanee) Tigers football team is one of the most remarkable stories in the history of college athletics. In a single six-day stretch, this team traveled by train across the South and defeated five opponents—shutting out each one—without the benefits enjoyed by modern teams. It’s a story of endurance, discipline, and a level of toughness that’s hard to fully appreciate today. And that was only part of the season…

In this episode, we walk through that legendary run—game by game—and place it in the broader context of the sport at the turn of the 20th century.

Sources

Jetmundsen, N., Jr., & Fecteau, K. D. (2024). Unrivaled: Sewanee 1899. Shakerag Hollow Press.

New Sewanee. (n.d.). History of the Domain and University heritage.

Register, W. (2016). Remembering ninety-nine iron: A historical perspective on the legendary football team that won five games in six days. Sewanee perspectives: On the history of the University of the South (2nd ed., pp. 345–404). The University of the South.

Sewanee Athletics. (2021). Sewanee traditions: The 1899 team.
https://sewaneetigers.com/sports/2021/4/28/sewanee-traditions-1899Team.aspx

Sewanee Athletics. (n.d.). Sewanee Athletics Hall of Fame.
https://sewaneetigers.com/honors/sewanee-athletics-hall-of-fame

University of the South. (2024). Sewanee Athletics celebrates 2024 Hall of Fame inductees.
Sewanee 1899 Project. (2024). Unsung hero: Cal Burrows.
Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). College football.
Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). University of the South.
Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Leonidas Polk.
Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Luke Lea.
Jetmundsen, N., Jr. (2026, April 8). Personal interview.

Credits:

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow & Support:

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🎧 Bonus Content

A full-length interview with Norman Jetmundsen, author of UNRIVALED: SEWANEE 1899, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.

🔗 Links

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

🧢 Merch & Apparel:
https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

🎤 Book John for Speaking Engagements:
https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/speak

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

There are moments in history that become larger than life—reduced to a single phrase, a single decision, a single flash of action.

“Damn the torpedoes.”

But behind that moment is a life shaped long before Mobile Bay.

In this episode, we trace the full arc of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut—from his beginnings along the Tennessee River near Campbell’s Station… to a childhood marked by loss… to a life forged almost entirely at sea.

By the time the Civil War began, Farragut was not an untested officer looking for opportunity. He was something far more dangerous—experienced, disciplined, and decisive.

At New Orleans, he proved he would act.

At Mobile Bay, he proved how.

But this story is not just about a command shouted in battle.

It is about:

• the weight of decision
• the cost of loyalty
• and the kind of life that prepares a man to move forward when others hesitate

Because when the moment came… Farragut did not wait.

He moved.

Full speed ahead.

🎧 Bonus Content

A full-length interview with Paul DeHaan, author of DAMN THE TORPEDOES, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.

Sources

DeHaan, P. (n.d.). Damn the torpedoes: Farragut & USS Hartford: 158 years of service. Self-published.

Farragut Museum. (n.d.). David Glasgow Farragut exhibits and interpretive materials. Farragut, TN.

Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). David Glasgow Farragut.
https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net/entries/david-glasgow-farragut/

Tennessee History for Kids. (n.d.). David Farragut.
https://www.tnhistoryforkids.org/people/david_farragut

American Battlefield Trust. (n.d.). Jorge Farragut.
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/jorge-farragut

Credits:

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow & Support:

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around the state of Tennessee as well as other places that bear relevance.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🔗 Links

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

🧢 Merch & Apparel:
https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

🎤 Book John for Speaking Engagements:
https://www.summersmediaenterprises.com/speaking-engagements

📘 Follow on Facebook:

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Sequoyah, a Cherokee silversmith with no formal education, created a written language for his people—transforming a primarily oral culture into a literate society in less than a generation.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we explore the life and legacy of Sequoyah, the development of the Cherokee syllabary, and the lasting impact of one of the most remarkable intellectual achievements in American history.

But this story is more than invention—it’s about perseverance, identity, and the power of language to shape a people’s future.

Because sometimes, the most enduring revolutions don’t come through force…
but through understanding.

Sources

Hoig, S. (1999). Sequoyah: The Cherokee genius. University of Tennessee Press.

Tennessee Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Sequoyah; Monroe County. Retrieved from https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net

Carey, B. (2015, June 1; updated 2022, November 1). Sequoyah—a great man whose life is shrouded in mystery. The Tennessee Magazine.Cherokee Nation. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cherokee.org

Tennessee History for Kids. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.tnhistoryforkids.org

Sequoyah Birthplace Museum. (n.d.). Interpretive materials and on-site exhibits.

Rhodarmer, C. (2026, April 1). Personal interview.

🧠 Notes on Historical Interpretation

Much of what we know about Sequoyah comes from a combination of written records and oral histories. As with many historical figures whose stories were preserved through oral tradition, there can be variation—and at times contradiction—among sources.

This episode reflects a synthesis of widely accepted accounts, supported by available documentation and interpretive scholarship. Differences in narrative do not necessarily indicate error, but rather the complexity of reconstructing lives preserved across multiple traditions.

🎧 Bonus Content

A full-length interview with Charlie Rhodarmer, director of the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around the state of Tennessee as well as other places that bear relevance.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/s

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.s

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

In the years after the Civil War, freedom had come—but stability had not.

In Nashville, a small group of students at Fisk University faced an uncertain future. Their school was struggling. Resources were scarce. The path forward wasn’t clear.

So they did something unexpected.

They sang.

What began as a desperate effort to raise funds became something far greater. The Fisk Jubilee Singers carried the spirituals of a people—songs born out of suffering, faith, and endurance—across the country and eventually across the world.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we tell the story of the Jubilee Singers—how they preserved a musical tradition, helped save their university, and introduced the world to a sound that could not be silenced.

Because sometimes the most powerful voices rise not in comfort—but in hardship.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and listen to a story that was meant to be heard.

Sources

• Reconstruction: America’s Unfinished Revolution, 1863–1877 — Foner, E. (1988). Harper & Row.
• The African-American History of Nashville, Tennessee, 1780–1930: Elites and Dilemmas — Lovett, B. L. (1999). University of Arkansas Press.
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia —
  Mitchell, R. L., Jr. (2018). “Fisk University”
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia —
  McKenzie, R. T. (2018). “Reconstruction”
  
  
  
• National Register of Historic Places —
  Jubilee Hall (Fisk University) (1971). U.S. Department of the Interior.
  
  
• The Jubilee Singers and Their Campaign for Twenty Thousand Dollars — Pike, G. D. (1873). Lee and Shepard.
  
  
• Dark Midnight When I Rise: The Story of the Jubilee Singers — Ward, A. (2000). Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around the state of Tennessee as well as other places that bear relevance.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/s

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Subscribe to Patreon Patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

There was a time when people traveled from across the region to a quiet corner of Tennessee—not for business, not for politics, but for healing.

Tucked away in Warren County, Nicholson Springs Resort was once a thriving destination. Visitors came for the mineral waters, the scenery, and the promise of restoration. For a season, it flourished.

And then… it was gone.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we uncover the story of Nicholson Springs Resort—how it rose, why it mattered, and how something so significant could seemingly disappear from memory.

Because Tennessee isn’t just full of the stories we remember.
It’s full of the ones we’ve forgotten.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and let’s go find what’s left of a place that time almost erased.

Sources

• Summers, M. (1986). Nicholson Springs Resort Hotel: A Nineteenth-Century Spa. Tennessee Historical Quarterly, 45(3), 244–255.
  https://www.jstor.org/stable/42626611
  
  
• Tennessee Encyclopedia (2023). Entries: “Historic Resorts” and “Warren County”
  https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net

🎧 Bonus Content

A full-length interview with Marie Summers, the primary resource for this episode, is available for premium supporters on Patreon.

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around the state of Tennessee as well as other places that bear relevance.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/s

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Subscribe to Patreon Patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Why is Tennessee called the Volunteer State?

It’s one of those names everyone recognizes—but not everyone really understands. The answer isn’t just a slogan or a bit of folklore. It’s a story rooted in moments when Tennesseans stepped forward—sometimes unexpectedly—and left a lasting mark on American history.

In this episode of The Tennessee History Nerd, we trace the origins of Tennessee’s nickname and explore the events that helped define it. From early conflicts to pivotal turning points, we look at how the idea of “volunteerism” became part of the state’s identity—and why it still resonates today.

Because sometimes a nickname isn’t just a name. It’s a legacy.

So grab your favorite beverage, find a comfortable place, and let’s dig into the story behind Tennessee’s most famous title.

Sources

• Tennessee Encyclopedia — https://tennesseeencyclopedia.net
• Tennessee Blue Book
• Tennessee History for Kids — https://www.tnhistoryforkids.org
  
  

🎙️ Credits

Hosted by Big John Summers
Produced by Summers Media Enterprises

Music by Big John Summers

Follow The Tennessee History Nerd on Facebook, Instagram, and X for additional content, including on-location videos and historical insights from around the state of Tennessee as well as other places that bear relevance.

Support the show on Patreon for:

• Early access to episodes
• Ad-free listening
• Exclusive bonus content, including full-length interviews

🎧 Support the show on Patreon (early access, bonus content, interviews):
https://www.patreon.com/s

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Subscribe to Patreon Patreon.com/summersmediaenterprises

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.

Love what you're hearing? Hate what you're hearing? Either way, we'd love to hear what you think!

Support the show by subscribing to Patreon!

Check out our sister podcast Dauphin Island Diaries

Advertise with us! John.summers@summersmediaenterprises.com

Check out merchandise from The Tennessee History Nerd. www.summersmediaenterprises.com/merch

Thanks for listening! Please check out our other episodes!

If you enjoyed this episode, follow the show, share it with someone who loves history, and leave a review—it helps more folks discover the stories of the Volunteer State.