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Showing posts from July, 2021

Shelbyville, Tennessee

Shelbyville is the seat of Bedford County, Tennessee.  Home to over 22,000 residents, Shelbyville is also known as "The Walking Horse Capital of the World." The Tennessee Walking Horse originated in the area beginning in the late 1700s and has since developed into a trail and also show horse known for its smooth easy-going gait.  The Tennessee Walking Horse was named the Tennessee official state horse in 2000.  Shelbyville host the annual Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration , known as "The Celebration", every August. Bedford County Courthouse The center of Downtown Shelbyville is the Bedford County Courthouse.  Built in 1935, it is the fifth courthouse to be located within Shelbyville's Public Square.  This courthouse replaced one that was destroyed by fire a year earlier when a lynch mob - angry over a declared mistrial  and moving of a young African-American suspect to another county for his safety  - set the courthouse ablaze.   The classical revival design i

Florida State Road 789 in Harding Circle of St. Armands Key

Florida State Road 789 departs from US Route 41 in downtown Sarasota and follows the Gulf Coast towards Florida State Road 64 at Anna Maria Key.  Headed northbound Florida State Road 789 crosses John Ringling Causeway and emerges into the unique Harding Circle of St. Armands Key.  Harding Circle is often more popularly referred to as "St. Armands Circle" and is a central attraction for visitors to the City of Sarasota.   Part 1; the history of Harding Circle Information pertaining to the history of Harding Circle is easily found at the intersection with western John Ringling Boulevard.  St. Armands Key is named after French investor Charles St. Armands who purchased the island in 1893.   St. Armands Key was later purchased by Circus Magnate John Ringling in 1923.  Ringling sought to build a planned community which would be centered around a circle shaped main street and park.  The grand opening of St. Armands Key and Harding Circle would come in 1928 when the first John Ringl

Former US Route 101 through Nipomo

The community of Nipomo is located on US Route 101 in southern San Luis Obispo County.  Within the community of Nipomo the original alignment of US Route 101 can be found on Thompson Avenue.  Depicted below is the alignment of US Route 101 through Nipomo when it was located on Thompson Avenue as seen on the 1935 Division of Highways Map of San Luis Obispo County.  Part 1; the history of US Route 101 through Nipomo The creation of Nipomo can be traced back to Mexican Alta California when Rancho Nipomo was granted to William G. Dana 1837.  In 1839 Dana Adobe was established as a stage stop on El Camino Real between Santa Barbara and Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa.  The route of El Camino Real was intended to solidify a path of travel between the Catholic Missions of Las Californias.  In 1804 Alta California was formed out of the larger Las Californias.  El Camino Real would ultimately connect 21 Catholic Missions of Alta California ranging approximately 600 miles spanning from Mission