Shelbyville Tennessee Courthouse

     The current Shelbyville, Tennessee Courthouse is located 1 Public Square E. # 200.  It was built in 1935.  Architects were Marr and Holman.  Style is Classical Revival. This is is the 5th courthouse.

     The first courthouse was built in 1810. It was replaced in 1813.  It was destroyed in a tornado in 183o.  The next courthouse was built in 1833. It was destroyed in  a fire in 1863. Next was built 1873. It was destroyed in 1934.

Musgrove Pencil Company, Shelbyville, Tennessee

     The Musgrave Pencil Company is located at 701 W. Lane Street, Shelbyville, Tennessee.   The company was founded by James Radford Musgrave in 1916.  He opened a mill to process  red cedar into pencil slats.  He engaged in a type of recycling with local farmers exchanging their old red cedar rails for wire fencing.    He did this from 1916 to 1923.  He sold the pencil slats to manufacturers in Europe.  During Wold War One he marketed the slats to American Manufacturers.

Musgrove Pencil Company

     Beginning in late 1919, Musgrave began the pivot to production of pencils.  He obtained the necessary machinery from Europe. He located a German Mechanic in Saint Louis to help him with start up of production. About the same time, wood for pencil production switched to California Incense Cedar.  By the 1920’s, the Musgrave Plant was making it’s own pencils.  During World War 2, many of the plant workers were woman.

Slate’s Bar

  The owners of Slate are chefs Allan and Nancy Cotter.  Before being in the Cape Coral area, they were both owners and chefs of Blue Moon Restaurant and Jazz Club in Saint Croix, Virgin Island.  They were at this location for 16 years.

     The Cotters retired to southwest Florida.  They became bored with the lifestyle.

Slate’s Jazz Combo

Slate’s Jazz Combo

     They opened State’s in Cape Coral.   They wanted to open an establishment of  establishment of fine dining and an enjoyable experience for their clients.  Their signature food is Cajun and Caribbean infused dishes.  During Sunday brunch they feature jazz music.

Slate’s Dining Room

     Associated with the restaurant is the Side Door Jazz Club featuring jazz.music from 6 to 9pm.

Slate’s Dining Room

Memorial to Venice Army Air Base

The history of the Venice Army Airfield began in 1941. At that time, a group of influential Venice citizens contacted the War Department offering 3000 acres to be used as an army camp site.

The War Department subsequently surveyed the site. Originally the Venice site was selected to be used as an army air force anti aircraft training site. However ths never happened.

Beginning in early 1942, the army airforce decided to construct a small training site for 1000 men. It was to train army airforce support troops.

Construction began in May, 1942. 2 5000 feet concrete runways were built. A third runway was built in 1943.

The facility was under the control of the 27th Service Group. Service groups were trained prior there deployment.

By the end of 1943, seven groups were trained.

By January, 1944, authority for the operation was transferred to the 3rd Airforce.

As the war came to an end in Europe and Japan the number of trainees and the level of activity decreased.

The airfield became inactive and was closed. The field was decommissioned. The city of Venice was granted a license to operate the field.

Today the facility is known as the Venice Municipal Field. It operates only 2 of the 3 original runways

North Casey Jetty Tap and Grill

    This food establishment is located at 1000 Casey Key Road, Nokomis, Florida.  It is opened 7 days a week.  Breakfast and lunch is served.  Takeout is available.   Alcohol is available. It is wheelchair accessible.

North Jetty Tap and Grill

Same as above