May 2 & 3

May 2 and 3

Our neighbors in the RV park had recommended the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum near here. We had read a little bit about him. His father was a frontier man and his mother the daughter of a Cherokee chief. He fought with Andrew Jackson in the fight with the British troops against the Creek Indians in the War of 1812. He was exposed to the concept of writing early on but never learned the English alphabet. During the war he felt the need for literacy for the Cherokee people. When he came home he began the task of devising a Cherokee alphabet. The finished alphabet has 85 symbols for syllables. His daughter was his first pupil. In 1821, he and his daughter introduced the alphabet to his tribe and within months the Cherokee were reading and writing. By 1825, much of the Bible and hymns had been published followed by a Cherokee newspaper. By 1828, they had a written constitution and code of laws. Another amazing individual was introduced to us.

Sequoyah and his Daughter

The Cherokee Alphabet developed by Sequoyah
The symbols represent syllables.

We went across the street to Fort Loudoun State Park. They have a reconstructed fort that was in use between 1754 and 1763. In that time relations between the Cherokee and the British broke down and the Cherokee captured the fort. It is right on the river and very picturesque in today’s world.

Fort Loudoun
What a setting. Just across the river are some big beautiful homes enjoying the view.

We spent the very hot afternoon at the movies. It was in the 90’s and by the time we got back home the Manor was 98 degrees inside! We should have stayed for a double feature. We sat outside and enjoyed our rocking chairs until the bugs came around. Thank goodness it cooled off by the time we went to bed.

Today is laundry, hair dying, and errand day. I stayed here while Chris and Norm went to town. There weren’t enough washing machines here at the park for both of us. They got a little time alone even if it was to do errands! I got caught up on my journaling. Good all the way around.