Scenes from Bristol

ST’s October issue will feature the 22-ft.-tall guitar monument Snyder Signs fabricated for the Bristol (TN/VA) Chamber of Commerce in honor of the organization’s 100th anniversary. Here’s a gallery of a few of Bristol’s other noteworthy signs.

My first foray into small-town life – taking a job as a staff reporter at the daily paper in Rome, GA – was something of a culture shock. Having lived in on or near two sizeable cities, Cincinnati and Atlanta, big-city traffic and bustle had been my sole cultural frame of reference. I bristled at the sight of a bucolic downtown with no buildings taller than five stories. Having been hired as a feature writer, I bemoaned my prospects.

My mother offered sage advice: “Anyone can look at New York City and see excitement. But, every place has interesting people and interesting places. You just have to take the time to get to know them.”

The joint communities of Bristol, VA, and Bristol, TN (their total combined population approximates 40,000, nestled in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, offer a similar rustic charm that might elude a cursory glance. Known as the “Birthplace of Country Music” – the U.S. Congress designated it as such in 1998 – the legendary Carter Family and “The Singing Brakeman” Jimmie Rodgers recorded their first music there in 1927. Bristol Motor Speedway, which houses up to 160,000 fans when it hosts NASCAR races, also serves as a major tourist destination.

Today, many complain about the broadening swath of urban sprawl and the lack of a civic identity. These signs affirm the success the twin Bristols have enjoyed in preserving their heritage.

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