Sandy: Thanks for your reply, and I do hope the cigar store Indian has a happy home. You are right about the sadness in Clarksville. Clarksville was always a special place to me and I wanted to go back there so badly. Last summer my daughter and I made a quick trip up that way and just couldn't figure out what had happened to that beautiful little town. Just thought it was this crazy "fad" of tearing down the old and putting up the "new". Didn't know anyone to talk to (all my folks are in Riverside and Greenwood) so just came home disappointed and sad. Got on your site and lo and behold! Found out about the tornado. Made me feel a little better since we can't control the weather. But a terrible thing to happen to a city. I understand why you don't like to go downtown. Will try to think of something good to come out of it, but can't imagine what it would be. Just that no lives were lost. And very happy that Frank has survived his injury. We need all the folks like him, especially to tell their stories. He sounds like a neat fellow, and I hope the best for him. I really enjoy the Clarksville site, and go there often. Lots of work for you all, but well worth it for us folks far away. Am planning a longer trip for the spring so will get to see the "progress" there. Thanks again. Jo... Sandra Ellis wrote: > Jo, > > I do remember the cigar store Indian but don't know what happened to him. > The store closed years ago. > > There isn't a lot left in downtown Clarksville anymore! What the tornado > didn't take, construction did. The courthouse stands as a silent sentry > over a gaping hole where the shops from McCellans to Dickson Sadler once > stood along Franklin Street. The Second Street side of the courthouse > became a parking lot years ago. The Third Street side was heavily damaged > by the tornado and most of the buildings were hauled off in dump trucks---I > think one or two may have survived. When the tornado hit, downtown > Clarksville was made up primarily of law offices, government offices, and > "night spots". (Maybe the Good Lord was trying to tell us something!) > "Lower Frankin" (from 1st to 2nd Streets) is about all that remains as you > would remember it. Joy's Jewelers is about the only "old" business left. > I have photos that were taken in the early hours after the tornado. (Two of > my brothers were among the first people allowed in the area.) There are > also a few videos available that were made before and after that morning. > And, don't forget to look at the website---Francis has some photos on it! I > don't like to drive through downtown Clarksville anymore----it's not a > pleasant site! > > Some accounts say that no one was seriously hurt during the tornado---they > should talk to Frank Frost. Frank lived in the Royal York building and > heard the storm. He got up to see what was going on---he said he was being > "nosey". As he opened his door, a window shattered and a piece of glass cut > his carotid artery. He doesn't remember anything after opening the > door---until several days later when he found himself in the hospital! He > must have grabbed a pillow to try to stop the bleeding. When Frank's son > heard about the tornado, he went to check on his dad. He found Frank with > the pillow pressed to the neck wound and soaked with blood. (He almost bled > to death!) This past year, Frank moved back to the Royal York----but they > won't let him move back upstairs to his old room! By the way, Frank was > born in 1911 and ran a business in downtown Clarksville--he was a welder. > His mind is "sharp" and I love talking to him! (I usually just get him > started---then, enjoy!) > > My brother is also on this list and maybe he would share a story our > grandfather told him about the angels that used to sit at the 4 corners of > the courthouse---how about it, Stan? > > Sandy Ellis > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: bzbee <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Saturday, February 03, 2001 5:06 PM > Subject: [TNMONTGO-L] Fiederling > > Would anyone on this list know anything about "Frank Fiederling, Cigars > & Tobacco" in Clarksville? I remember going there probably in 40's and > 50's where they had a real wooden cigar store Indian out in the front. > Just wonder if the business is still there. Thanks. Jo...