Once the Pastor's House, this house crashed into the Wells Creek Bridge at Albert Mathis Road during the 2010 flood. Flood waters from Wells Creek carried the house downstream.

In the aftermath of  recent flooding, the Junction 434 area before Cumberland City and many areas like it have been strewn with cracked dust, but surrounding farm lands were still part of the river or had standing ponds. Cumberland City itself remains littered with debris and both businesses and homeowners are in shell-shocked recovery.

Noah was here

Noah's Ark strikes a bridge in Erin in the Flood of 2010. As water flowed across the bridge, pavement washed away and the bridge rails warped.

A mother lamenting the loss of her son’s business. A father’s relief for his daughter’s safety. A neighbor concerned about the people who lived on Bakeman Branch Road and Albert Mathis Lane. A man wondering how his best friend will start over after losing his home. In the aftermath of the Flood of 2010, harrowing stories of survival and hardship abound in Erin, Tennessee after irrevocable loss. The scene in Fred’s parking lot was surreal; a mannequin that had a ‘closed due to flood’ sign on it. Across from Fred’s, the rushing waters of Wells Creek had rammed a boat into the bridge, up-heaving it like a flag above the oncoming traffic. Spray painted on the side were the words, “Noah’s Ark.”

The scent of smoke hung heavy in the evening air; the last embers of a still smoldering fire left by the Cumberland Church from clean up efforts burned debris. Just past the old Cumberland Church, silver birches rustled in the breeze; the triangular leaves shooting out from the crown of arched branches weaved an eerie quiet around the old ring of white barked trees. The silence of the site where two trailer homes and the pastor’s house had all three been washed away was quiet and still. Several “beware of dog” signs, unrecognizable debris, and part of a wooden back or front porch was all that was left on the site. No trace of the animals remained, save for the signs.

For some unaffected people in Houston County, it was a normal day for a family horse ride to the BP station on Highway 149 and as two teenagers rode on a lawnmower. Yet a few miles down the road, life in Erin was anything but normal. A once green and pleasant land running along Highway 13 had been transformed into a war zone of man versus nature. The two stores that followed the Wells Creek Market, Natural Essence followed by Common Ground, were three of the businesses ruined by the flooding of Wells Creek.

Wells Creek Market

A lone Indian woman walked along Highway 13 until she reached the Wells Creek Market and threw her hands up in silent exclamation. Mrs. Bobby’s face was on the verge of tears as she explained in few words that her son has lost everything. When asked what they were going to do, she explained, “Don’t know. We’ve no insurance…”

Her son, Neena Bobby, ran and owned the Wells Creek Market, the only convenient place to stop for gas for miles around and a longtime community landmark.  The waters of Wells Creek may have retreated to normal levels, but many business owners and families who live in the area shared losses similar to the disheartening loss Mrs. Bobby experienced in Erin.

A community under siege reveals the character of that community. No truer is this than in fellow Erin dweller, Clint Smith’s, statements regarding Mr. Bobby, “Everyone around here just calls him Bobby. Bobby’s a great, great guy and he runs a down home store and everyone around here loves him and his family. I believe in times like these that people, no matter what their differences, will pull together, and we’ll get through this.”

The Good Neighbor

Sandy Fessler’s youngest daughter held a bouquet of spring irises as Fessler stopped to describe the flood’s carnage in Erin. “The 233 Highway just disappeared! My daughter was going to prom Friday night and was headed out the door, and the next thing we know—we hear that school is canceled on Monday and Tuesday. […] The Assembly of God church became our emergency center here because it sits up on a hill, in the highest point in Erin. In Bakeman Branch, at least seven to eight homes were destroyed. There is one home hanging off a bridge halfway into the river where it slammed into the bridge. And there’s a church that will probably have to be demolished from being submerged in Wells Creek.” Local churches had volunteers helping the people down Bakeman Branch earlier yesterday.

According to Fessler, a woman who lived in down Two Eagles Drive in a picturesque home became trapped by flood waters when her wide bridge over Wells Creek was washed away. “The woman who lives here was floating on her mattress and had to be rescued by boat,” Fessler said. The once charming home and surrounding hillside of the home at Two Eagles Drive is now covered in debris and parts of the once perfect wooden bridge.

Lady of the Lills’ Woods

Glenn Lill of Tennessee Ridge with his daughter, Denise Rangel. Rangel's home was on a hill, but the roads below became part of the raging Wells Creek.

Poison sumac crept along the road leading to the bridge by Albert Mathis Lane and Wells Creek where the pastor’s home had been swept. The inside of the house was gutted like a hunter guts a deer, with the refrigerator and the couch visible from the bridge. While walking down the gravel road, dandelion seed floated above the adjacent fields near the creek for a long, surreal moment reminiscent of anime director, Hayao Miyazaki’s, critically acclaimed Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind. Where the culvert washed out was on Albert Mathis Lane near the bridge, and as flood waters began to rise, families were stranded and endangered.

Glenn Lill of Tennessee Ridge who happened to be hauling brush and cleaning up the mess leftover by the flood waters on his Ford tractor and recounted the events of the previous weekend and it’s impact on Erin along with his daughter, Denise Rangel. “We were all very fortunate. We lost a bridge, we lost running water and we lost electricity. There are quite a lot more people with more and worse damage… I work at the Renaissance Center in Dickson and some of my co-workers had four feet of water in their homes here. Compared to what other people are going through, we’ve been fortunate,” Lill said.

According to the Lill family, all the back roads were flooded. Lil and Rangel admitted that the area surrounding Wells Creek Market was hard hit. “We were in that store for twenty minutes and when we came out of it, the water was up to our shins and it rained all that night and into the next day,” Rangel said. In the days that followed, the Wells Creek Market became completely submerged in the flood waters.

“The second hand store,I think that’s where the boat on the bridge now came from. By Cumberland Church over the bridge there is the second hand store and they had all fairly new furniture; I imagine everything is lost. A shed washed up into Fred’s parking lot and they had a mannequin on the shed with a store closed due to flood sign. It’s amazing to see the resiliency of the people and they bounce back,” Lill added.

According to Lill, the house that smacked into the bridge at Albert Mathis Lane at one time and may be the preacher’s house from Cumberland Church. The house was carried up the Wells Creek from where it once sat, 200 feet from the bank. The flood waters then came up into the Fred’s parking lot where emergency boats sped through to rescue people.

A collapsed home in Erin, TN, along Highway 13.

Rangel explained how the water came halfway up the sides of her GMC truck, but she made it safely to her home up the hill a quarter mile. Water rampaging from Wells Creek ran over the bottom of the bottom roads, ruining neighborhoods. “There were two trailer homes past the church and they’re both gone. We don’t know where they are, if they just broke up, they’re just missing,” Lill said. “The first family past the bridge as you come to the culvert of Albert Mathis Lane, that got washed out, though the neighbors had his son and family had to run up into the woods to avoid the water—they survived but lost everything they owned.”

“As bad as it was here and on Highway 13, part of Erin’s downtown was completely flooded—the damage is worse there,” Lill said. In downtown Erin, Jap’s Barbecue, apartment complexes, and businesses were flooded and people living in the apartments had to be rescued by emergency boats.

No loss of life was reported from Erin. Two people died in Stewart county on Highway 149. “The Ritenour lady whose truck flipped, pinning her husband up to where he couldn’t save his wife. Their next door neighbor tried to save Mrs. Ritenour and both her and the neighbor, Steven Zywicki, were swept away and drowned. There’s some debate as to whether it was Stewart or our county.” Lill and Rangel said. Clint Smith recounted the death of Linda Ritenour as well, “One week ago, they[the Ritenours] just closed on their house and they were trying to get their dogs. She was found on my dad’s property on Tennessee Ridge downstream with her glasses still on her face.”

The Best Friend

“Insurance in a flood zone is so expensive that it’s ridiculous. My best friend, Dave Barnes, has six feet of water in his home and has no insurance. My best friend has a wife and kids and now they’ve lost everything they have,” Erin native, Clint Smith said.

With the magnitude of the damage and obliterated homes, it is lucky there were not more causalities. Wells Creek was more like a babbling brook today, gurgling with such serenity that it is hard to imagine the full wrath of nature it was last weekend. Clothes washed up from the flood clung on tree limbs. Washed out roads and sign-less roads near the crossroad of Wells Creek greeted vehicles. Clouds of dust rose up as vehicles shook over the bumpy remnants of rock and dirt from the former road.

While traversing the rocky, eroded pavement Houston county and surveying the the incredible carnage, the thought occurred that Erin could have used Fort Campbell’s help in the same way Clarksville had that assistance last week. Families and people in Erin have been displaced by the Great Flood of 2010, but the community’s ability to bounce back has not been damaged. Neither the raging Cumberland nor the waters of Wells Creek can cover the great reserves of strength, or the resolve of the people who live in Erin.

Photos by Curtis Davis

CPD Officer Harris investigates a suspected gas leak at Wendy's on Riverside Drive in Clarksville, TN.

Riverside Drive is moving quickly into recovery mode, with the Clarksville Police Department  granting allowed access only to business owners, media, and surveyors on a case-by-case basis. Many businesses, such as Convergys, still have standing water within their areas, even as the flood waters recede, leaving temporary ponds in many locations.

Officials went into emergency mode when a possible gas leak was suspected at Wendy’s on Riverside Drive.   Wendy’s owners called police to report a hissing sound, usually indicative of a gas leak. Police Officer Kendrick Harris ordered everyone off site while he investigated  the situtation. The possibility of gas leaks will continue in all affected flood areas  as business owners return to assess damage during this clean-up phase of the recovery.

Clarksville Gas & Water provides the following safety information:

• To report a gas leak, follow Clarksville Gas and Water guidelines by immediately leaving the suspect area and going to a neighbor’s home or business and telephone the gas company at 645-7422 during 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 645-0116 for emergency and after hours.
• If an odor akin to rotten eggs is highly strong and you suspect a gas leak, call 911.
• Refrain from turning electrical switches off or on (or use a flashlight or phone) because an electric spark could ignite the gas, causing an explosion.
• For more information, go to http://www.clarksvillegw.com/gas/leak.

The Clarksville Gas and Water Department issued the following statement in the latest update on natural gas services in the Clarksville area on the company’s website:

“Natural gas service is disrupted from New Providence Boulevard to N. 2nd Street and on Kraft Street from N. 2nd Street to Robb Avenue until further notice. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this time.”

Deceptive blue skies at the Clarksville-Montgomery County Health Department belie the situation unfolding downtown.

The Montgomery County Health Department has free Tetanus and Hepatitis A vaccines available for anyone who was involved in water related rescue and evacuation activities.

The Tennessee State Heath Department was listed as one of the Nashville locations closed Wednesday due to situations brought on by the epic flooding in Nashville, limiting public health information. The Tennessee Government Health Department in Nashville is slated to reopen on Thursday per TEMA’s website. However, the CDC has the following information regarding flood health and safety during cleanup.

Flood water cleanup

Before you start cleaning your home after a flood, the flood water in the Clarksville area contains sewage from the submerged waste water treatment plant. Protect yourself and your loved ones by following these precautions:

• Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
• Wear rubber boots, rubber gloves, and goggles during cleanup of affected area.
• Remove and discard items that cannot be washed and disinfected (such as, mattresses, carpeting, carpet padding, rugs, upholstered furniture, cosmetics, stuffed animals, baby toys, pillows, foam-rubber items, books, wall coverings, and most paper products).
• Remove and discard drywall and insulation that has been contaminated with sewage or flood waters.
• Thoroughly clean all hard surfaces (such as flooring, concrete, molding, wood and metal furniture, counter-tops, appliances, sinks, and other plumbing fixtures) with hot water and laundry or dish detergent
• Avoid musculoskeletal injuries by utilizing teams of two or greater to move heavy objects; avoid lifting more than fifty pounds by yourself.
• Stay cool and hydrated in the heat during clean-up and wear loose fitting, light-colored clothing.
• As soon as access to the flooded building has been allowed, have the building certified as safe for reentry by a building inspector or other government authority.
• Clean up and dry the building within 24-48 hours and give yourself proper ventilation by opening doors and windows. Throw away any upholstered item that cannot be dried out quickly and toys like stuffed bears due to mold. Remove mold by mixing a solution of 1 cup of bleach per gallon of water; wear rubber gloves when cleaning mold.
• Wash all clothes worn during the cleanup in hot water and detergent. These clothes should be washed separately from uncontaminated clothes and linens.
• Wash clothes contaminated with flood or sewage water in hot water and detergent. It is recommended that a laundromat be used for washing large quantities of clothes and linens until your on-site waste-water system has been professionally inspected and serviced.
• Throw away canned food that is bulging or open, and wash canned goods after removing the label with a bleach washing; relabel cans individually with sharpie markers with the kind of food and the expiration date.
• Make sure well water is not cloudy or contaminated. Please be aware that treating water with iodine tablets, chlorine tablets or liquid bleach will not kill all the parasites in contaminated water; boiling the water or appropriate filtration is required.
• If your city or municipality’s water supply has been contaminated, boil water by bringing it to a rolling boil for at least one minute. Allow the water to cool effectively before drinking. If boiling is unavailable, and the water source is cloudy, then strain the water via a clean cloth or coffee filter before boiling as contaminants frequently attach to water particles. Also, unscented laundry bleach (at the rate of 1/8 teaspoon per 1 gallon of water) provides some treatment when mixed well; wait thirty minutes before drinking.
• The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation can assist well owners with well disinfection information. Call toll-free at 1-(888)-891-TDEC (8332) or view their website
• Help the drying process by using fans, air conditioning units, and dehumidifiers.
• After completing the cleanup, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Use water that has been boiled for 1 minute (allow the water to cool before washing your hands).
• Y0u may also use water that has been disinfected for personal hygiene use (solution of 1/8 teaspoon [~0.75 milliliters] of household bleach per 1 gallon of water). Let it stand for 30 minutes. If the water is cloudy, use a solution of ¼ teaspoon (~1.5 milliliters) of household bleach per 1 gallon of water.
• Have your on-site waste-water system professionally inspected and serviced if you suspect damage.
• If you have been exposed to flood waters, consult a doctor as soon as possible in regards to Tetanus shots and Hepatitis A/B shots. Get treatment for open wounds that have been exposed to flood waters.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you become injured or ill. Be careful to pace yourself and be aware of exhaustion from physical and emotional strains. Setup orders of priority for cleanup tasks. Ask friends, family, or professionals for help and seek professional help if necessary.

The facade of the Clarksville-Montgomery County Health Dept appears deceptively serene during the Flood of 2010.

Proceed with caution

Flood waters in Montgomery county in all likelihood may contain potentially dangerous materials, such as fecal material from the overflowing sewage systems, agricultural runoff, or chemicals from industrial areas. Wading in flood waters can also be a cause of infection or result in a variety of injuries. Be alert for snakes and water moccasins and do not engage stray animals in the flood zone. Call local authorities to handle animals on the loose to avoid rabies exposure. Use DEET or Picaridin based insect repellents and wear long pants, long socks, and long-sleeved shirts to prevent mosquito bites.

In addition, beware of chemical and hazardous materials in flood waters as well as possible electrical and fire hazards. Wash skin that comes into contact with any hazardous material and consult the local authorities in regards to how to handle disposing of such materials. NEVER touch a downed power line and call the local department of electricity to report fallen power lines. Do not turn the power back on until after a qualified electrician has inspected the structure. If electrical equipment or circuits have gotten wet or are submerged, turn the power off at the main fuse / breaker first, if accessible.

The influx of people downtown for lunch at Frank’s Hamburgers kept the staff hustling as people read newspapers and talked about public enemy number one: the flood of 2010. Stories were exchanged about the unidentified woman who drove her car into deep water and died this morning.

The last time flood waters penetrated Clarksville to anywhere near this level was during the Flood of 1937 which began on Monday, January 18, 1937. The Flood of 1937 crested at 65.5 feet, topping all recorded floods for Montgomery County with a loss estimated at over $1 million. Waters from the Flood of 1937 did not recede back into the river banks until February 9, 1937.

The Cumberland River, the principal of the Flood of 2010, crested today at 62.58 by comparison. Thus, the Great Flood of 2010, though not the greatest flood in orders of cresting feet, has affected more businesses and people living in the flood zone than ever before and in more ways; it will have a greater and even more significant impact.

If the Flood of 1937 is any indication, the Clarksville-Montgomery County area will have to wait for a period of time to begin cleanup. The National Weather Service has said that the flood waters may not begin to recede for a while but by late afternoon today, the level of the Cumberland dropped a half an inch. Despite this small decline in the flood level, the exact data remains elusive and uncertain as the history of this flood, the so called Great Flood of 2010 must be lived. The estimated losses to area homes and businesses will be staggering for Middle Tennessee.

Now is a good time to look at how flooding has affected the lives of Clarksvillians in the past; here are a few of the oldest floods on record in Montgomery County as indicated by the Floods’ plaque in front of the Montgomery County Courts Complex. What follows is a partial history of the earliest recorded floods that have hit Clarksville-Montgomery County in the past 202 years, leaving Tennesseans to marvel at the wonder of nature’s fury.

• 1808 – Montgomery County Courthouse records indicate a flood occurred here.
• 1827 – 1828 – It began to rain on November 23, 1827 and did not end until April 1, 1828. Approximately ten days were recorded in that time period without rain.
• 1836 – The Cumberland rose ten feet overnight.
• 1874 – The 1874 Flood approached where the Orgain Building Supply Company is now located on Commerce Street.
• 1882 – In January of 1882, The Grange and Elephant warehouses were flooded when the Cumberland rose seven feet above the 1874 flood level, as recorded in one of the warehouses.
• 1912 – On April 12, bridges were washed away and two men drowned during rapidly rising water at the New Providence Bridge.
• 1919 – The spectacular rise of 18 feet overnight on March 14, 1919, brought trains to a halt over the Red and Cumberland Rivers.
• 1927 – 1928 – The Flood of December 1927/January 1928 washed away bridges and left homes inundated, flooding homes and businesses located on what is now Riverside Drive. It reached a crest of 59.9 feet and it was the worst flood on record for Clarksville until 1937.
• 1937 – The Flood of 1937 on Monday, January 18, 1937 left city waterworks flooded and inoperable in addition to flooding Second Street toward New Providence, and Guthrie Pike. Again, just as in 1919, the Flood of 1937 brought locomotives to a stop and some locomotives even continued along the flood-soaked tracks by the river. Such a large flood was caused by continued rainfall for nearly three weeks with the Cumberland rising four inches per hour.

Flood waters isolated Port Royal and families living in low lying areas were evacuated as quickly as possible. Just as the Cumberland reached the 55 foot mark on January 19, army tents were used as temporary shelters for displaced families. By January 22, 1937, the town was almost completely isolated. The Flood of 1937 crested at 65.5 feet after epic rainfall between January 1 and January 26, 1937.

The Cumberland River and the Red River—both bring water and aquatic life to the area, and in the times of flooding, destruction and death. The powerful presence exerted by these rivers and by Clarksville being at the confluence of such forces will continue to shape life for those who live around them for ill or for better. Middle Tennessee can only continue to hope for the better.

A showcase of most of Silke’s holiday cookies: tasty Nut Stars, gingerbread cookies, Linzer, and the world famous Lebkuchen among loaves of fresh Stollen. Photo by Curtis Davis

Germany is steeped in rich holiday traditions and customs that rise to the surface in the four weeks preceding Christmas. The first Christmas markets date back to the Late Middle Ages, though first mentioned in writing in 1628. However, not many people can afford to fly to Germany for the Nürnberger Christkindlesmarkt, which according to the city of Nuremberg’s Web-site, attracts a crowd upward of two million visitors. Not surprising for the most famous Christmas market in the world where holiday breads and desserts reign. But if one lives in Clarksville and surrounding areas, Silke’s Old World Breads, Bakery & Cafe is the place to visit and linger for their holiday offerings.

Everything from desert loaves such as Silke’s signature Christmas Stollen, to spicy gingerbread cookies are available at Silke’s Brot Theke (bread bar) for advance order for the holidays starting in late November. Among the assortment of treats that would make even Sankt Nikolaus or der Weihnachtsmann (Father Christmas) stop by are German dessert truffles, Chocolate and White Lebkuchen, Tiger Eyes, Macaroons, Nut Stars, Linzer, mini-Baguettes, bakery goods and other amorous sweets.

When asked what Silke Tyler, owner of Silke’s Bakery, most wants people to know about her holiday breads, she said, “People come in here and they feel like Christmas and the holidays. I feel like here we’ve carved out this little space where people step into another world—that’s really important—and we are bigger now and have had good growth right from the beginning. Christmas seasonal items are the main inspiration as is family, holiday spirit, and trying to convey that feeling with what we do here and the coziness of the holidays.”

Tyler cites that her inspiration for her holiday foods harkens back to the cobblestone streets and houses of the German towns of her youth, which have Christmas markets outdoors and traditional European foods starting in November. “Plus with Grandma doing it, you try to find someway to replicate that stepping-into-another-world feeling. They set the holiday spirit in the cookies and the atmosphere,” Tyler said.

The Making of Stollen – Day One

Stollen is a loaf-shaped fruitcake, powdered with sugary icing on the outside. The cake is usually made with chopped candied fruit or dried fruit, nuts and spices. Stollen is a traditional German cake, and when it is usually consumed during the Christmas season, Stollen is called Weihnachtsstollen or Christstollen. Traditional Stollen originated in Dresden, Germany where it was first made reference to in an official text in the year 1474. Today, Dresden Stollen is still sold in many places as well as at the local Striezelmarkt, the Dresden Christmas Market.

“Stollen is an adaptation of my grandma’s recipe—and it gives sentimental feelings for me as a child eating, and making creations. There was dough everywhere when I first started out—dough and children,” Tyler admitted.

The Stollen is uniquely German and mixing the Stollen is done in numerous stages. If the baker mixes it up too soon, it will go flat from the density of the ingredients. Stollen requires a lot of butter and eggs, which help to maintain the structure of the dough by time you have added all the rest of the ingredients. All soaking is done the night before on the first day. Stollen is at least a 1½ day process and starts the day before with soaking the almonds and raisins in rum. Then the orange peels, orange juice concentrate, and other ingredients are soaked overnight.

The Making of Stollen – Day Two

On day two the rest of the dough is utilized, beginning early the next morning on a big kneading table. A small amount of dough is mixed in water first, then flour,and yeast are added; it sets within an hour. The actual mixing and shaping of the bread takes a whole day as the bread goes through different stages of intense preparation. During the last stage of preparation, the dough undergoes several rising periods. The baker must mix the dough again before it can be folded. By then the dough is strong enough to hold all of the ingredients up. Then soaked ingredients are added to the fold of dough.

A circular almond paste strip is placed inside the loaf during the making and is inserted into the open, thick width that is as long as the Stollen is lengthwise.  Almond paste merges with the thickness of the roll so that when one cuts the Stollen and slices it open, one can see the rich, almond center in every slice. When the completed dough goes through another resting period, the baker can continue dividing, shaping and baking. Stollen is baked until perfection; once it comes out of the oven, the baker pours a mixture of rum, butter, sugar, and powdered sugar on each loaf once, which preserves the Stollen for a long time.

“It’s challenging doing Stollen. [Stolen is…] one of the only things I still make on a consistent basis. We take turns making it,” Tyler said.

A key point to remember about Christstollen is that the flavor improves over time; the flavors soak together and intensify even more. Unofficially, Stollen holds for at least a month. For the United States Food and Drug Administration’s(FDA) regulations and guidelines for the official period of time of keeping such foods for consumption, please visit the FDA‘s website.

In this reviewer’s experience, Stollen makes for an utterly scrumptious German Christmas holiday tradition: a sensuous masterpiece in the form of a golden brown bread loaf with powdered sugar atop its amber outer crust. The almond paste embedded within the center of the bread tastes exquisite against the raisins and other spices. The fantastic spices of Stollen truly bring the German stone ground bread tradition home for the holidays.

German holiday cookies, confections, gift tins and baskets

Tyler said, “Nut Stars are a staple and my grandma’s recipe. We almost always make those for Christmas! Nut Stars are very special to me and very good.”

In visual appearance, Nut Stars are typically cut into star shapes and covered with a generous smattering of chocolate sprinkles. Nut Stars have a unique textured but lighter-colored dough. With ground almonds, walnuts, chocolate freckles, a thin glaze on top, and powdered sugar on bottom, Nut Stars are both delicious and highly addictive.

Another staple among the cookies, Lebkuchen, are big chocolate covered cookies that come in two varieties: Chocolate Lebkuchen, and White Glazed Lebkuchen. Highly sought-after Lebkuchen use a chewy, nutty dough that has a distinctive flavor, with an oblate wafer on the bottom – traditionally a type of spicy gingerbread cookie dough, according to Nuremberg tradition. Also, lemon peels and orange peels are used in the making of the Lebkuchen.

In regards to the Lebkuchen, Tyler said, “It’s a big tradition in my hometown—where I come from is close to Nuremberg and normally Lebkuchen are shipped around the world from Germany because people go elsewhere to attain them, and they are very good. We are striving to be authentic as possible and attain to match that goal.”

Tiger Eyes will be also be available this season, but are not done every year because it is a challenging item. One may rush to get them while one can, for they are worth the waiting and buying. Advance orders are accepted. In size, Tiger Eyes are three to four times as large as the Linzer is and have a red, jelly-like filling in the middle of the cookie, but with a buttery, old world taste.

On the outside, the Tiger Eye cookie has an almond paste mixed with other ingredients, which is then  mixed with eggs and other ingredients. Tiger Eye dough has to be poured thick; the challenge is to get the ring just right as it bakes, and spread the filling inside the ring. If the baker makes Tiger Eye dough or the filling too loose, it will all go flat and run away. The filling must be sticky and thick for it to come out right. “Tiger eyes have a white cookie base underneath—that and it’s very, very good because of the almond paste and the flavor. The challenging thing about it […] is not the time, but the challenge of getting it just right and getting the right consistency,” Tyler admitted.

A Southern favorite, the gingerbread cookie, can vary in appearance: gingerbread men have red and green buttons and are glazed with the thick, rich icing typical of gingerbread cookies. Gingerbread stars with smiling faces are the most common second incarnation of Silke’s gingerbread cookies. Gingerbread cookies taste homemade and the white icing and powdered sugar on bottom make for perfect cookies. One can really taste the ginger—the flavor pops out and melts in your mouth.

Linzer is a more traditional kind of European Christmas cookie that Silke’s makes. What makes Linzer special are two pieces of cake dough with a tart filling inside. As a pastry cookie, Linzer has a raspberry center with sugar sprinkled on top. A more familiar Christmas cookie for Americans, the Macaroon, has white powdered sugar on top and is glazed with thin lines of chocolate glaze. As a drop cookie traditionally prepared via a mixture of almond paste, coconut, egg whites, sugar and flour, Macaroons hold their own in taste but pale in comparison to some of the aforementioned treats.

During the Christmas season, which starts in late November, Silke’s has cookie jars or tins available that vary from day to day, according to Tyler. The little tins usually feature gingerbread men, and an assortment of other cookies at Silke’s available on any given day. For only $1.99 each one can choose from four German desert truffles covered in decadent dark chocolate which include the Chocolate Dream, and the White Amaretto Truffle. Rum Balls or Rumkugeln are smothered in chocolate sprinkles and please note—it obviously contains alcohol, as does the Black Cherry Brandy Truffle.

Mini-Baguettes are a traditional French bread, which are not made everyday, but are only available during the Christmas and holiday season. These twisted breads are made with three main twists and a larger twist on the bottom—all cooked to a light golden-brown perfection, making mini-Baguettes a tasty “must try.” Large Baguettes are made fresh daily and offer up an authentic French taste.

Gift baskets are also available during the holiday season and in addition to having an assortment of the aforementioned items, the basket contains a sampling of Silke’s year-round offerings: onion bread, multi-grain breads with five types of grains (sunflower seed, wheat, oats, and sesame seed) and Silke’s signature twisted cheese-breads.

Usually one is lucky to catch Tyler herself at her bread counter as she remains very active in the management of her successful business but has an entire host of friendly faces waiting to assist customers. All the items in Silke’s Bakery are baked in a stone hearth oven, organic in nature by using all natural ingredients, filtered water, and the business has predominately gone “Green.” As quantity orders will take a specific time, holiday orders require four days in advance of pick-up for one’s event. Everyday food and bread orders are ready in forty-eight business hours for events. Catering of groups is available and must be booked in advance.

Many specialty items await one’s perusal amid the German culinary delicacies, and the aroma of mixed holiday spices that permeate the air of Silke’s Bakery. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s famous quote from Love’s Labour’s Lost Act V., Scene I., if one has only a penny left to their name in all the world, buy some gingerbread! Sample the ‘delectable’ delights of Silke’s holiday breads and desserts. They capture the festive spirit and taste of the Nuremberg Christmas Market.

Editor’s Note: While Silke is reknown for her amazing pastries, she also has an extensive daytime menu of breads, soups, sandwiches and specialty pizzas, served in a gallery setting that showcases the best of local artists and artisans.

Silke’s is located at 1214 College Street in Clarksville. The shop is open from Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and is available after hours for special occasions. For more information, call 931-552-4422.

Lynn Halliburton, a manager of the Office Depot on Wilma Rudolph Blvd. and store clerk, Aleixa Torres, take a momentary break. Curtis Davis Photo

The economic forecast for Clarksville and surrounding areas  through the holidays looks highly optimistic, suggesting that Clarksville’s economy is fairly robust overall. That’s not to say that the job market has recovered, however and some types of businesses will still be impacted by the economy. In short, many people are  struggling to stay a float amid  economic turbulence. However business owners  hold great expectations for the holidays.

When asked how business is faring in today’s economy, Silke Tyler, owner of Silke’s Old World Breads, Bakery & Café on College Street commented, “For the Christmas holiday season, I expect it to be very well. We have not felt any drop and we don’t anticipate it either. We have a wonderful customer base and we strive to keep that on a daily basis.”

Silke Tyler takes a moment to showcase a Christmas gift basket of assorted breads and holiday treats. Curtis Davis Photo

When asked what the business and sales outlook for the holiday season looked like, Lynn Halliburton, one of the managers at Office Depot said, “I think we’ll do as good as we did last year. Yeah, our sales are maybe up a bit from last year—I don’t think we’ll see a significant increase. Last year, it was slow with the “Recession” and it was a slow year in general. I hope to see an increase because we have some really excellent products and services here.”

Acting store manager Steve Hobbs expressed just how spectacular it was going to be for Electronic Express with the store expanding into a new building when asked if the season was going to be a good one for Electronic Express. “Yeah, I’m projecting it to be better than last year. In the last year it’s been up. I haven’t really seen a decline or a downturn in the industry. I haven’t really felt a recession. I’ve got a lot of feedback from customers that its hard but they’re still buying stuff. Customers are buying bigger ticket items more than more frequent smaller items. We’re not getting much foot traffic, but the foot traffic we do get is for bigger items.”

Hobbs continued, “We’re expanding into a bigger store — the old Circuit City building -and eventually we’re moving this store into that store. It’s definitely good because we’re kind of busting at the seams now—putting models next to each other and stacks of stuff on top. And the new store is a stand alone and far larger for our needs. Tentatively, we’re planning on being in the new building as soon as the store is up and running by the 21st of November, but before Black Friday for sure,” Hobbs said.

Steve Hobbs, acting manager of Electronic Express. Photo: Curtis Davis

An emerging trend is for customers to buy fewer products, but to buy big-ticket items when they do make a purchase. Even though economists are inundating us with information on how spending was better for October, some businesses may have to return from prematurely overstocking. During the interview, Hobbs also noted that consumers are still asking for credit cards. At this point is is worth noting the steep rise in both businesses and consumers getting and using more credit cards than before to stay a float during the economic turmoil this year. With the previous freeze on small business loans, credit cards continue to grow in use.

The year’s unemployment rate has continued to increase steadily and economists typically have projected, as in recessions past, that employment will be the last sector to recover because companies are not as likely to rehire so soon. So while the economy is doing better with all the stimulus plans such as Cash for Clunkers, and so forth, it will still feel like a recession to the vast majority of unemployed workers—especially with all the factories and companies that have laid off workers this year. Clarksville does have a growing job market with more businesses in one place than most places due to our proximity to the Fort Campbell area. For laid off workers, now is the time to invest in education or to educate oneself on new skill sets during spare reading time. Additionally, it is important to remain active in seeking employment and unemployment benefits due to a larger volume of callers. Volunteering now is a good way to expand one’s resume in the future and help others less fortunate.

Despite the overall positive reports, some managers were still hit by the realities of a shrinking consumer base. An anonymous restaurant manager of one of the big chains commented on how the economy was hurting them: “Business is really slow right now; I hope it picks up by Christmas.” Overall, managers are expecting some growth in sales from consumers this holiday season and think that this year will be better than last year regardless, and with the stimulus dollars in the economy, it almost has to be better for holiday sales.

Red Oak leaves rustle in the occasional breeze at Clarksville's Rotary Park. Curtis Davis Photo.

Fall peaked late last week, and the fall splendor continues to impress the eye all around Clarksville and surrounding areas. Luckily, the rain storm of late October left colors intact for a while longer. Anyone who wishes to enjoy the colors of fall just after peak should act this week while the show is still good. In a sad or pensive mood during fall? Try reading Dr. Maya Angelou’s Poem, “Willie.” Be forewarned to bring a pocket pack of tissues. While planning this fall outing, John Keats’ “To Autumn” is recommended poetry to stir the senses of more joyous people before setting foot outside.

Ranked below are the following outdoor ventures that most outdoor types and even non outdoor types will enjoy during the week.

1. Blue Heron’s Fall Foliage Tour

The Fall Foliage Tour at Blue Heron Cruises is located in Ashland City, Tennessee, just forty-five minutes or (probably) less from Clarksville. Take a tour with Captain Jim and experience fall like few have ever witnessed. The Fall Foliage Tour is ninety minutes and lasts from October first through the end of November every day of the week. Once boarding, Blue Heron touts hot cocoa, coffee, warm blankets and heaters if need be. Adults can board for $10.00 and children aged two-twelve can board for $8.00.Go to http://www.blueheroncruises.com/Fall.html for more information.

2. Rotary Park

The Rotary Park Pavilion in Clarksville is illuminated by various shades of orange and golden yellow. Curtis Davis Photo.

Rotary Park is looking exceptionally beautiful this year with a showy display of yellows, reds, and orange here and there amidst still turning leaves. The park is equipped with a playground and is one of Clarksville’s lesser known spots. Drive down Madison Street toward the Sango area, and turn onto Old Ashland City Rd. Not far after the K-mart will be graveled area with a paved road going into the woods marked by a roadside sign and colorful beds of flowers. This is easy to miss, so take it slow.

3. Dunbar Cave State Natural Area

Haven’t been to the Dunbar Cave Natural Area yet? Then give it a chance—especially if one is a newcomer to the area. Though the last cave tour was last weekend, there is an easy hiking trail, the Short Loop and the Recovery Trail for more in depth hiking and walking. Sycamores at Dunbar are a showy yellow and maples light the hillsides in an orange exhibition as leaves drift down. As with most state parks, the park closes at sunset. The autumnal reflection from the maples, sycamores and sundry other trees in Swan Lake is breathtaking. Dunbar Cave is merely one and a half miles from downtown Clarksville to the northeast down Dunbar Cave Road and hard to miss.

4. Clarksville Greenway (Rails to Trails Project Participate)

Only recently opened to public this year, is the Rails-to-Trails Project’s promenade, the Clarksville Greenway, so named for the first train to ever have traveled through the New Providence area, according to the City of Clarksville. The 3.6 mile foot trail has been paved and features foot bridges, and swings from the former Fairgrounds Park. The Greenway comes highly recommended for fall nature lovers from the seasonal interpretative park ranger at Dunbar Cave State Park.

5. Port Royal State Park

The playground during fall at Rotary Park in Clarksville. Curtis Davis Photo.

A satellite of the larger Dunbar Cave State Natural Area, Port Royal State Park, is a set of silent yet innate magnificence this time of year. The park hosts a rustic building, a Pratt Truss design steel bridge dating back to 1887 that spans over the confluence of the Sulphur Fork Creek and the Red River. The bridge is only open to foot traffic, which is ideal for viewing fall and the prefect escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. Go fishing, sit on the rocks, or just ponder life, the universe, and 2009.

Exactly 11.9 miles (according to Google MapQuest) from where South Seventh Street hits Madison Street and to the southeast of downtown Clarksville is Port Royal State Park in Adams. Turn left from Madison Street onto TN-76 E / Martin Luther King Parkway and then turn where the road forks sharply onto Old Clarksville Hwy. The park is located on the right, and has walking trails, canoe access, and angling in addition to the bridge.

The Rotary Park Playground is a great spot to enjoy autumn foliage. Photo by Curtis Davis

]]> http://businessclarksville.com/2009/11/04/the-rustle-in-the-autumn-leaves-top-five-fall-spots-in-the-clarksville-area/feed/ 0 http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/playing-with-the-big-boys-in-california/ http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/playing-with-the-big-boys-in-california/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 01:30:30 +0000 Curtis Davis http://businessclarksville.com/beta/?p=40 http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/playing-with-the-big-boys-in-california/feed/ 0 http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/the-power-of-now/ http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/the-power-of-now/#comments Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:54:30 +0000 Curtis Davis http://businessclarksville.com/beta/?p=29 ]]> http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/the-power-of-now/feed/ 0 http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/barbee-studio-captures-heirloom-images/ http://businessclarksville.com/2009/09/01/barbee-studio-captures-heirloom-images/#comments Tue, 01 Sep 2009 17:51:17 +0000 Curtis Davis http://businessclarksville.com/?p=74 David Barbee of the Barbee Studio of Photography is dedicated to capturing images destined to be heirlooms. Barbee’s Photography Studio, located on Memorial Drive off Madison Street, has been in business for 17 years.

Over the years, Barbee honed his professional expertise, initially starting up as a home-based business. Judy Weiland, Barbee’s office manager, and Barbee’s wife, Marjorie, constitute his support staff. Weiland assists in preparing children for their portraits, whereas

Mrs. Barbee assists with both senior and childrens’ portraits.

Most people recognize Barbee’s unique style of photographic portraiture, which clearly sets him apart from the competition. “I think Barbee’s experience and our personal service to our customers sets him apart. Our customers are like our family and before it’s over, they’re friends,” Weiland offered.

Barbee started at Trane in 1971 as a draftsman, prior to doing photography. His wife then suggested, ‘Honey, we need a good camera’ and the future was cast. Barbee purchased a 35 mm Pentax K-100 on a whim, and recalled, “And boy, I fell in love with photography.”

When his equipment began to overrun their home, he started looking for a studio. Soon, Barbee was never seen anywhere without camera in hand. “I mean I just loved it. I fell in love…” Barbee began to read books voraciously on photography and learned all he could regarding lighting, posing, and color quality. Not long afterward, Barbee had amassed a collection of photographs and photographic equipment. He moved to the Tradewinds South Shopping Center, staying there for five years.

When asked what the first few years of business were like, Barbee stated, “I loved it – it was great – the romance of the wedding. The clothes were perfect and the music, the settings and the looks. It was very enjoyable and I looked forward to it – posing people, meeting families, talking to people. Of course we don’t do weddings anymore. As you get older, weddings are tough. Carrying the lights and the equipment…”

Barbee has a lot of experience with children with ADHD, and claims he can reach and approach kids with ease, settling them down for a portrait where most other photographers have a much larger hassle based on his experience. Barbee stated, “Each session we turn into a successful portrait session. I want my kids to look forward to coming back and have a fun, good experience – if they have a negative experience they’ll remember it.”

His personal philosophy in portrait photography: “The image should last for years. If you take a picture and it’s outdated – that’s not what I’m looking for – I’m looking for a photo that can be handed in down through the family generations. Why I’m really proud and I’m looking for a lasting product.”

Barbee was drawn to photography in part due to painting, an influence seen in some of his most artistic portraiture. In his work, when asked whose style he pays tribute or are role models in his own style of work, he said, “There are so many people I grew up looking at. Life magazine in the 40s and 50s. Monty Zucker. He knew lighting better than anyone. I admire Beverly Parker and Susan Bryant. I don’t try to be like her, but I do have their work in my home. I like to think those things then contributed to my appreciation of photography.”

Both Barbee and his wife are members of the Music City Professional Photographers Association and the TN Professional Photography Association, though Barbee has been more actively involved. Barbee has been on the TN Professional Photography Association Board for ten years and worked his way to the President of both organizations in the past.

When the industry shifted toward computers, Barbee had to readjust: “Photography is changing – it made the biggest leap from film to digital simply because it is digital and you can do more things with it, and you can add your own touch with it. With film you are somewhat limited, even though I admire what others have done with film and what I did with film, because everything had to be just right. It had to be just right when it was sent to the lab. Fifteen shots was a shoot then.

Barbee’s advice to upcoming photographers: “Mind body language: if you’re a really good photographer—you know when you’ve got the image. We look through the back of the camera now, but if you know your lighting, your subject, like you should, you can create a good image in a few shots. You just know when it’s there.”

Barbee’s is an appointment-only studio; walk-in’s are rarely accepted. The studio is located at 1855 Memorial Drive. To set up an appointment or view Barbee’s digital gallery, please visit http://www.barbeesstudio.com or call (931)-648-9391.