Hello Wednesday.
April 24 2024
Editor’s Note: BibiloChatt is a series for which NOOGAtoday editors research reader-chosen, history topics using only resources from the Chattanooga Public Library.
Chattanooga has a long history of railroads, but one that isn’t spoken of as much is the Underground Railroad.
A reason for this may be that the Southern system of freedom networks was not called the Underground Railroad — that terminology was used north of Ohio.
It's unclear what the system was called South of Ohio, so for the purposes of this story, we will refer to the Southern networks as the Underground Railroad as well.
Library materials used to write this story | Photo by NOOGAtoday
What was different?
- Instead of “conductors,” leaders of fugitives were called “pilots” or “guides.”
- The places along the network where fugitives stopped were known as “safe houses,” not “stations.”
- The pilots in the Southeast used their own codes and signals that were understood only in this region.
- Many of the pilots were also enslaved people
Local networks
Northeast to Kentucky:
The Ridge + Valley route passed through East Tennessee north to Kentucky — there were many hiding places and safe houses along this route.
In Chattanooga, members of the Beck family were the most active operatives. Unfortunately, due to their illegal behavior, there isn’t a lot of information about the Becks, but we do know that they gave up land for a cemetery that could be used by residents of the Civil War-era refugee camp — the land is on the north side of the Tennessee River.
Safe houses + hiding places
Bradley County:
This area had some of the most unique strategies for providing safety to fugitives — they are known as “subterranean houses or artificial caves,” and were created on hillsides in forests that were not often traveled.
Read on for why these spaces were unique + more safe houses and resources for further learning.
Use the buttons below to share this story with the history buff(s) in your life.
Outdoors
- Nickajack Bat Cave Canoe Tour | Mon., July 26 | 7:30-10 p.m. | Nickajack Lake | $20 | This Outdoor Chattanooga event will provide you with all the equipment needed, so you can just enjoy the water. 🦇
TryThis
- Make Your Own Herbal Salves | Mon., July 26 | 6-7:30 p.m. | The Chattery, 1800 Rossville Ave. | $28 | In this class, you’ll learn which oils and herbs you can use to make salves + make 2, 2-oz tins of an herbal salve or balm, choosing from 4 recipes.
ForKids
- Summer Camp — On the Big Screen | Mon., July 26 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m. | Pinspiration, 2275 Gunbarrel Rd. Suite 105 | $40 | Drop your kids off for a movie, crafts, and snacks. 🧒
Show
- Joe C. Deville | Mon., July 26 | 7:30-10:30 p.m. | Volcano Crab and Bar, 2342 Shallowford Village Dr. | Free | Enjoy seafood, a full bar + some great tunes.
PlanAhead
- ONE Riverfront Plan Community Reveal | Tues., July 27 | 8:30-10 a.m. or 5-6:30 p.m. | Tennessee Aquarium | Free | River City Company will share its final plan outlining the 4 Aspirations and the 8 Strategies for ONE Riverfront with the community.
- South Bound with Christian Collier | Thurs., July 29 | 7 p.m. | Sculpture Fields, 1800 Polk St. | $15 | Bask in sculpture art with wine, refreshments and local artistry from Chattanooga-based poet Christian J. Collier. 🍷
- Registration Resort Day at ChattState | Sat., July 31 | 11 a.m.-2 p.m. | Free | Main Campus, 4501 Amnicola Hwy. | Get registered for classes or just check out what ChattState is all about during this open house. Ⓟ
We’re breaking down how cryptocurrency is taxed with help from the local pros at HHM CPAs | Photo via Pexels
TheWord: Cryptocurrency. We did a deep dive on this hot topic of digital currency (think: Bitcoin) last month, and now we’re going back to the bank to figure out how it's taxed. Yes, taxes are still a thing when it comes to crypto.
DYK? There are 5,000+ different cryptocurrencies currently in circulation. If you own any, like Bitcoin, it’s important to understand how it impacts your tax liability every time you buy, sell, or mine it. 💰
The IRS treats all cryptocurrency as capital assets (read: like stock), taxing them when they’re sold at a profit. This means that if your crypto investment loses value, you can report it as a capital loss.
Selling cryptocurrency for cash, trading one cryptocurrency for another, using it as payment for a merchant (like Huck & Peck, NoogaLabs or Whole Foods), mining it, or getting paid in crypto can all be taxable. However, transferring the same cryptocurrency from one exchange or wallet to another is not taxable. Neither is buying cryptocurrency, or — in some cases — gifting or donating it. Ⓟ
This content was created in partnership with HHM CPAs Ⓟ
Weather
- 90º | Scattered thunderstorms | 38% chance of rain
Biz
- There’s a new virtual pop-up restaurant in town. Mac’s Kitchen and Bar is a restaurant project by local chef Brian McDonald, featuring locally sourced + ethically seasoned food on a rotating menu — check out chef Brian’s Instagram page to see what delicacies you can expect. 🍲
Civic
- On Friday, Mayor Tim Kelly announced that the City of Chattanooga received the HHS Advancing Health Literacy Grant. The $3.4-million grant will be used to advance health literacy for COVID-19 vaccination + more among underserved populations. (NewsChannel 9)
- The City of Chattanooga recently received a $380,000+ grant from Partners for Places to help create equitable + sustainable communities. The grant will support efforts to plant trees, transform the site of a demolished building into green space, and make neighborhood homes safer and more energy efficient in Orchard Knob. 🌳
Development
- On July 24, the Westside Community Evolves project unveiled its community plan for the Westside neighborhood. The plans include more than doubling the number of housing units, preserving + enhancing long-time fixtures, and replacing several existing public housing units in College Hill Courts with more modern facilities. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
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Hamilton County is seeking $3 million in state funds to help a Novonix subsidiary buy property + make building improvements for a planned $160 million facility. The company has plans to buy a 400,000-sqft former Alstom factory for manufacturing, which would create ~300 jobs in the area. (Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Community
- Enterprise South could be the model behind development at McDonald Farm. Plans for the site include 2 phases — short term, there are ideas to use the property for educational, agricultural + fun activities for the community. In the long run, the property may be developed similar to Enterprise South. (Chattanoogan.com)
- The Company Lab is hosting a community announcement about Startup Week on Aug. 4 at 1 p.m. at the Miller Plaza pavilion. The public is invited to attend, get snacks and swag + hear what's new at this year's Startup Week, which will take place Oct. 18-22.
Volunteer
- Let’s show ‘em who’s boss — The Tennessee Smokies + Chattanooga Lookouts are hosting a competition this week to see which team can get the most blood donors. Blood Assurance will give away Lookouts tickets to all donors from July 26-31 in an effort to boost collections and beat the Smokies. ⚾
Noogan
- 12 local Girl Scouts recently won the 2021 Gold Award for demonstrating leadership + making sustainable change in their communities. Nationally, only 6% of all eligible Girl Scouts achieve this award. You go, girls. 👏
Get ready to wet your plants, too — a new tropical plant store, The Secret Garden, recently opened in Ridgedale at 1302 S. Willow St. + the hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m.
On Aug. 13, The Secret Garden will be partnering with Empress Tattoo (who has a space in the same building) to do an event with flash tattoos, fire dancers, and artist vendors.
The shop also plans to host classes on plant care, starting your own plant business + plant-related crafting workshops. 🌱
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NOOGAcurrent: What we're eating
Trista here, and I've been eating a lot of veggies + golden chanterelles from Gowin Valley Farms. Tomato slices and summer squash are all I'm craving lately. 😋
It’s Brianna, and I recently fell back in love with the jackfruit nachos from Cashew (we were only distanced for a few weeks, and even that was too long). I’m convinced that even the staunchest meat eater would love these nachos. If you haven’t had them yet, I can’t recommend them enough.
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