The book cover for "Simple Pleasures: A History of the Resort at Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.”
CBJ Admin
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
RED BOILING SPRINGS – In the book “Simple Pleasures: A History of the Resort at Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee” author Jeanette Keith describes how vacationers were first attracted to this resort town in Macon County: drawn by the numerous mineral springs, a trip to “drink the waters” provided an excuse for a lively vacation, she wrote.
That book, based on the thesis Keith researched and wrote in fulfillment of her masters of arts degree in history, will be available for the first time during the Folk Medicine Festival May 11-12, Vision 2020 Inc., a 501(c)3 organization founded to boost tourism in Red Boiling Springs, recently announced. “Simple Pleasures” retells the story of the roots of this once busy resort town, its successes and possible causes for its decline in popularity.
Keith has been professor of history at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania since 1989. She completed her masters of arts from Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville in 1982 and her doctor of philosophy from Vanderbilt University in 1990. Keith grew up in North Springs in Jackson County. She is the daughter of Robert and Melba Keith.
“The book is a pleasure to read, enhanced by old photographs and post cards shared by several current citizens,” said editor and designer Karen Anita Davis.
The book will be available for sale at the RBS Heritage Museum (the old bank building) during the revived Folk Medicine Festival. The sale of the book is a fundraiser for the museum. The plan is to restore the bank building, as much as possible, to its original look and feel, thus creating a most appropriate home for a local history museum to be filled with memorabilia and artifacts.
In October 2009, a group of citizens gathered to discuss what could be done to increase the attractiveness of Red Boiling Springs to tourists. Believing the charm of the town and its history as a thriving resort warranted preservation, Vision 2020 Inc. was chartered in June 2010. Vision 2020 concentrates on enhancing the community through various projects. These community volunteers are committed to protecting the deep rooted history of the town, the stories of its citizens, preserve its historic structures, and enhance the overall quality of life.
For more information on “Simple Pleasures” and the Folk Medicine Festival, email vision2020@nctc.com.