Bristol: The Twin Towns That Birthed Country Music

Bristol, Tennessee. Last month I was driving through a small downtown in northeastern Tennessee and realized that my two left tires were directly on top of the state line. On my right side was still Tennessee, but on my left side was the state of Virginia. The yellow line was the borderline. It occurred to me that these shop owners on opposite side of the street were not only in two different states, but subject to different laws and taxation. TIMELINE 1851: birdcage-style cast iron lantern, one of very few such lanterns still in use in America. 1922: 1923, there was a lot of things that happened that made Bristol really have a particular impact. 1925: 26, that started to transform the way those records would sound to people. 1926: they had been primarily reliant on the acoustic horn technology for recording. WHY THIS MATTERS The story of Bristol is a reminder that the events that shaped America didn't always happen in the biggest cities. What unfolded here left marks on the community that are still visible today. The full story is more complicated, and more human, than the version most people know. Episode 105 | Hometown History | Hosted by Shane Waters If you liked this: Episode 175 (Athens, Tennessee) Hometown History explores forgotten stories from small-town America. The overlooked events, hidden triumphs, and buried tragedies that shaped the country we live in. New episodes every Tuesday. Find every episode at mythsandmalice.com/hometown-historyAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy