Exhibit looks back at family history

Pomp Kersey's original gravestone.

MIKE WEST
The Cannon Courier

An exhibit of vintage photographs is giving visitors to the Arts Center an interesting look back of generations of Cannon County life.First labeled as "60 Portraits of Cannon County," the exhibit has already jumped to 80 photos. The show continues through October.

First labeled as "60 Portraits of Cannon County," the exhibit has already jumped to 80 photos. The show continues through October."We're at our limit, 80 photos and we can't accept any more photographs," cautioned Neal Appelbaum, executive director of the Arts Center.

"We're at our limit, 80 photos and we can't accept any more photographs," cautioned Neal Appelbaum, executive director of the Arts Center.
"The purpose of this show is to encourage conversation and to encourage story telling," Appelbaum explained. "In October we will have a photographic family reunion that will leave people talking about our past."It was the actions of an elected official prompted the exhibit.

It was the actions of an elected official prompted the exhibit."Mike Gannon deserves

"Mike Gannon deserves credit. That display of veterans in the Courthouse made us think how we could do a similar art project to tell a different story," the Arts Center executive explained.The Cannon County Historical Society's chairman Joe D. Davenport played an important role as well. The Historical Society helped round up photos, allowing the Arts Center to do the curator work.

The Cannon County Historical Society's chairman Joe D. Davenport played an important role as well. The Historical Society helped round up photos, allowing the Arts Center to do the curator work.Several of the pictures date back to the early days of photography.

Several of the pictures date back to the early days of photography."We've had people 60 to 80 years old bringing in family photos that are 100 or more years old," Appelbaum said. "It's been interesting to watch."

"We've had people 60 to 80 years old bringing in family photos that are 100 or more years old," Appelbaum said. "It's been interesting to watch."
Perhaps the oldest is an exhibit featuring Hiram "Pomp" Kersey, the leader of a band of Confederate soldiers known as the "Short Mountain Bushwackers."

Like many, Pomp joined the Confederate army when he was young, 13 or 14 years old. He fought first with what was eventually called the Army of Tennessee, but in late 1863 he severed connections and returned to Short Mountain to protect his mother's home.Joining him were several other guerrillas who protected their loved ones all while raiding the homes of both Confederate and Federal supporters alike.

Joining him were several other guerrillas who protected their loved ones all while raiding the homes of both Confederate and Federal supporters alike.
On July 24, 1864, Federal Capt. William Hathaway and his men followed a trail of oats left by the bushwackers following a raid on Bob Jone's farm. The federal troops discovered Pomp and his men hiding in a thicket. Five of them were quickly killed, a sixth while trying to escape. Pomp tried to mount his horse and flee, but was shot to death by Lt. Thomas Brattan and Captain Hathaway simultaneously.Eventually, Kersey's remains were returned to the Short Mountain area. Also on display is Pomp's original gravestone. It states:

Eventually, Kersey's remains were returned to the Short Mountain area. Also on display is Pomp's original gravestone. It states:

He Died for his Country
H.T. KEIRSEY
Born Nov. 13, 1847, Joined the Confederate Army May 1861
Associated himself with a Tenn. Guerrilla band, Aug. 1863
and was murdered near Short Mountain July 23, 1864

Pomp Kersey isn't the only Civil War figure included in the display. Another photograph pictures James Calvin Carnahan, who was saved by Nathan Bedford Forrest during the Raid on Murfreesboro.A third photo features Pauline "Tina" Weedon Smith. Tina was 14 years old when she met the love of her life, Thomas J. Smith, a captain with the Federal Army.

Another photo features Martha Jane Roberts, who was born about 1809 in Rockingham County, NC. Her parents moved to Cannon County shortly after her birth. She was the daughter of Cyrus L. Roberts and Martha Rose Roberts. The Roberts were among the first families to settle in Bradyville.
A number of the photos in the exhibit are from the early to middle 20th Century.

There's a portrait of Judge Matt Roach in his office in the Courthouse as well as a photo of White Patrick and Christine Mayor Patrick, the parents of current Woodbury Mayor Harold Patrick.

School group shots abound too like those for Blanton and Mudd Schools in the Short Mountain area.

One of the most treasured shots is a childhood photo of the late Nolan "Dude" Northcutt. Dude was born in Huntsville, AL and moved to Woodbury following the death of his parents.

Dude was Woodbury's first fire truck driver serving under Fire Chief S. M. Jennings. He served on the Woodbury Town Council and was mayor of Woodbury from 1967 to 1977. He was elected county executive in 1982.