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How Many Old North Neighbors Does it Take to Dig Post Holes? |
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The answer to that question was given this past Saturday, September 22, 2001, when a bunch of your neighbors got together to dig holes and install the poles that will hold the neighborhood banners to be going up shortly. The group got together about 8 AM (except a few that have trouble deciphering emails) and with the help of a rented post hole digger, got to work. First, we had to figure out how to keep water in a seven-gallon container that leaked it out as fast as we poured it in. Then we had to figure out how to start and keep the post hole digger running. (Remember, these were all adults doing this!) |
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After several false starts, the crew got into a rhythm and work proceeded smoothly. With Tomica Miller acting as straw boss and showing us where to dig and Pete Creel, Bob Lavoie, Ernie Roberts and Andy Anderson working the post hole digger, the holes were quickly and neatly dug. Even though the post hole digger was a two man machine, the crew seemed to find it easier with at least three to four people doing it. Two to hold the digger, one to start it and then another to help hold the machine while they dug. Following the digging crew, David Whaley, Tom Brechko, David Booker and Dave Palmer quickly established an efficient method of placing the pole and base and filling the hole with concrete. This consisted of someone holding the pole in place while others threw water and concrete in the hole and yet another tamped it in place. |
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The poles are of excellent quality, made out of non-rusting aluminum and closely matching the period street lights that can be found throughout the neighborhood. Poles were placed near the corners of Scott and Central, Oklahoma and Central, Glenwood and Woodland, Glenwood and Broadway, Kenyon and Broadway, and Grainger and Broadway. The banners themselves are expected to be completed and delivered within the next couple of weeks. We will then be looking for volunteers to help mount the banners on the poles (if they haven't fallen down by then). | ||
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When this project is completed, the major entrances to our Old North
Knoxville Neighborhood will be marked by very distinctive banners with
our name and logo on them. We are the first neighborhood in
Knoxville to do this, though several other neighborhoods are watching us
with plans to do something similar in their areas.
A big vote of thanks is owed to Mayor Victor Ashe, Vice-Mayor Jack Sharp, council members Carlene Malone, Larry Cox, Nick Pavlis, Ed Shouse, Ivan Harmon and Raleigh Wynn Sr. for allotting over $5,000 of 202 funds for the purchase of these banners and poles. By the way, it takes nine Old North neighbors to dig post holes, four to do the work and five to supervise (we'll let you figure out who did what). |
L-R: Ernie Roberts, Tom Brechko, Bob Lavoie, Pete Creel, Dave Palmer, Tomica Miller, Andy Anderson, David Whaley and Chester Kilgore celebrate a job well done. Missing is David Booker who took the picture! |
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