Boat full of rafting neighbors.

Most of us remember our summers fondly; school was out and there was generally not much to worry about. Now ask yourself honestly, did we really enjoy summer as much as we think we did? I can only speak from my own experience, but in our household much of the summer was spent telling our mother we were bored. She would come up with a list of chores we could do to pass the time, which we naturally turned down, just so we could tell her in another five minutes how bored we were. You are probably wondering where this is going and the answer is: If only we had grown up in a place like Old North Knoxville, the word “boredom” would have been foreign to us.

		Fun in the sprinkler at the Booker's Neighborhood Night Out party.

Our families would have taken part in National Night Out, which was a big success in Old North Knoxville. Neighbors gathered for cook-outs and porch parties, while the police and Neighborhood Watch Captain Pete Creel patrolled the streets. We would have played in the sprinkler with our friends, not a worry in the world.

We would have attended the neighborhood potluck, where we might have been eaten by the blue tunnel monster. We would have eaten the delicious food our neighbors prepared and marveled at the many things on the visiting police officer’s belts. 

Before having a chance to recover from the potluck we would have gotten together with all of our friends and neighbors to eat ice cream in the park, with more toppings than we’ve ever seen in our wildest dreams. 

Of course we would have also done some fun activities outside of the neighborhood, like going rafting on the middle Ocoee and hiking at the Chimney Tops.

Finally we would have spent time on the front porch, maybe barbequing with our friends, while sharing a song or two. 

This song by Todd Steed and the Suns of Phere from their Knoxville Tells album nicely portrays the things we understand about North Knoxville. It is not 100% targeted at OLD North Knoxville, but I still think many of you will appreciate the lyrics. 

		Above, T.J. Ricer on guitar, and below, Meryl Keegan getting to know her neighbors at the block's Neighborhood Night Out party.

NORTH KNOXVILLE
Driving down Gaston Avenue, 
You can still catch you a heck of view
People act like People supposed to, 
You talk to them, they talk to you

(CHORUS) Thank God for North Knoxville, 
Where this town still looks like itself
It’s the last place in America, 
Ain’t trying to be somewhere else

It’s a whole lot peaceful and a little bit free, 
Bookstore’s are small and they don’t serve tea, 
Junior’s on the hill is open til three, 
Grab that Sunday paper and sit with me and…
(CHORUS)

You may not run into a Mercedes Benz, 
But you may run into some of your friends
Word up for west Knoxville, 
Where the mall never really stops
Let’s hear it for South Knoxville, 
Cheap property world class pawn shops
Thank God for North Knoxville,
Where the trees still got their tops
Thank God for East Knoxville,
May Magnolia bloom and never stop

People born here 
Usually finish here too
The worlds a big place, 
Hear it calling you?
Finally found a place 
Where my soul can set
Live every day with no regret

(CHORUS)

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