CLIFTON, TN TO COUNCE, TN

Saturday, September 13th, 2014

Day 40
Miles Traveled: 56
Total Miles Traveled: 1095



  The scenery today was mostly the same - some small hills and bluffs.  One famous home seen from the river was Cherry Mansion located in Savannah, TN.  Built by David Robinson in 1830, it was erected on one of the mounds built by the mound builders.  He gave the home to his daughter, Sarah, and her new husband, W.H. Cherry, as a wedding gift.  Of historical interest, Ulysess S. Grant was eating breakfast here on April 6, 1862, when he heard the distant dull thud of artillery fire as Confederate forces suddenly attacked at nearby Shiloh, TN.  The lawn became a field hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers. 

Cherry Mansion

  After we locked through Pickwick Lock and Dam, the scenery changed back to wide open water like on Kentucky Lake.  This section of the river is called Pickwick Lake.  There is an interesting story regarding the construction of this dam.  With it's construction, 506 families and 407 graves had to be relocated due to the flooding created.  One family resisted being relocated because the hearth fire in the fireplace that had been burning for three generations would need to be put out.  The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) accommodated the family by moving the burning fire along with the family's other possessions. 

Pickwick Lock and Dam

  About 10 miles upriver from the Pickwick Dam is Grand Harbor Marina.  A large marina which also has condominiums. 

Grand Harbor Marina

  Dinner was eaten at the famous Hagy's Catfish Hotel Restaurant.  It was about a 30 minute drive from the marina (using their courtesy van) and well worth the trip.  They serve up some great fried catfish.  Henry and wife, Polly, laid claim to the land near the original restaurant in 1825.  They built a farm and a family.  Son, John, built a rough log shack near the river to store items shipped by steamboats.  In the early 1930's, the shack earned the name "Catfish Hotel" due to the delicious catfish Norvin Hagy would cook up and serve to friends.  Guests who arrived by river were often forced to spend the night due to the darkness making it unsafe to travel on the water.  In 1938, Norvin held a political campaign gathering for his friend, the current Govenor.  He advised Norvin to open a restaurant and Norvin did with the help of his wife, Dorothy, and two sons, Jack and Bob.  The restaurant is still run by the Hagy family.  It is one of the oldest family owned restaurants in the country. 
Link to restaurant: http://catfishhotel.com/

Dinner at Hagy's Catfish Hotel and Restaurant