Growing up around Clarksville, Tennessee, friends would always ask
"Do you want to see the headless statues?" This would usually be
followed with scary stories of what everyone has seen while at the
statues. Recentlly, now that I am a little older, I have done some
research on the "headless statues" and have found that they are a
piece of Americana that is world famous.
Information can be found on the E.T. Wickham's concrete art
at:
E.T.
Wickham's Statues
or
A Dream Unguarded -
Customs House and Cultural Center
or
Wickham Stone Park
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If you aren't worried about getting lost, and are willing to get
off the beaten path of the interstate, and travel the back roads
and byways of the Volunteer State, you can find many amazing and
little known sights. Sure, it takes a little longer, but it's well
worth the time. One of the most rewarding are these statues,
located on the side of Buck Smith Road in Palmyra, TN, just south
of Clarksville. Though years and weathering and vandalism have
taken their toll, they still stand as beautiful scenes. Among the
people immortalized by these statues are Tennessee hero Sergeant
Alvin C. York, President John F. Kennedy, Senator Estes Kefauver,
former Governor Austin Peay, patriot Patrick Henry, Tennessee
frontiersman and former President Andrew Jackson, and even Paul
Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox, among others. These statues were a
project of E.T. Wickham, who began his work on them during the
early 1950s.
Enoch Tanner Wickham was born in 1883 in Montgomery County. He
left Montgomery County early in life, but returned there in the
1930s. He moved to his home on Buck Smith Road in 1952. It was here
that he began to build his first large sculpture, a statue of the
Virgin Mary. Wickham had grown up Presbyterian, but later converted
to Catholicism. Prior to moving to Palmyra, he had built a small
statue of himself, and a small statue of his son, who was killed in
World War II. Some people believe that Wickham actually moved to
Palmyra so that his statues could be seen by more people.
From 1952 until his death in 1970, E.T. Wickham worked
diligently on his statues. He loved to build them, and people from
all over would stop to see them. Wickham loved to meet these
people, and would spend hours talking to them. Those who remember
Wickham say he was a friendly, good hearted man. There is no doubt
that he was a great artist.
Since Wickham's death, time and vandalism was worn away at his
statues, and it is indeed a great tragedy that they have fallen
into their present condition. Why anyone would want to vandalize
these great works of art is hard to imagine. But, sadly, people
have, and it's a shame.
Some say that the spirit of E.T. Wickham himself haunts the area
around his cabin and the statues, watching over them. His ghost is
a benevolent spirit, but understandably does not like vandals. A
few people have claimed to have felt his presence in the area. If
he does guard the statues, one hopes he can protect them from
future vandals.
Sometimes, strange noises are heard, and weird shadows are seen.
Ghost lights are also said to exist in the area as well. Could this
be the spirit of E.T. Wickham, protecting his statues? No one can
say.
If you ever visit these statues, please show them respect. They
are a historical treasure of art, and should be treated
accordingly.
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You are looking for a small ammo container. Please rehide the
cache exactlly as you found it... if not better. This is the first
cache we have hidden and if the coords are off please let us know.
We hope to provide everyone with a better look at a little known
treasure in Palmyra. Also, if you see any ghosts while at the
statues, we would love to see it posted with your find.