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By Charlotte Underwood
LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF)- Campbell County Historical Society Board member Bill Claiborne spoke at the March 17 Campbell County Rotary Club meeting held at the LaFollette Methodist Church. Claiborne was invited to speak about the 250th Semi quincentennial and “local plans for celebrating our patriotic, Americana heritage in conjunction with our multi-county 4th of July Event. The “Norris Highlands 250 Freedom Fair and Veterans 4th” will be at Cove Lake State Park on July 4th.
“About a year ago the Campbell County Historical Society launched a campaign to unite counties around our Norris Highlands region for the purpose of advertising our assets for tourism and to acknowledge our nation’s 250th birthday,” Claiborne said. These counties include Campbell, Anderson, Claiborne, Morgan, Scott and Union.
Over the past year, workshops have been held in every county of the Norris Highlands Region, with special guest speakers associated with Tennessee tourism and the state’s Semi quincentennial Commission, as well as museum directors, park officials, elected officials and a variety of historians.
According to Claiborne, two things have been prominent in the focus concerning these workshops. This has included inventory of Revolutionary War history by recording and sharing info on patriots’ graves, veterans’ markers, proposed parks.
“We’re also compiling data on veteran’s issues, area museums and other stories like the Clinton 12, the Coal Creek War and TVA which fall into a category of “Revolutionary” events from our region that have impacted the country and, in some cases, the world. It’s really an extraordinary legacy we have here!” Claiborne said.
This information will be used to produce a brochure that will hopefully be placed at the Tennessee Welcome Center in Jellico “for travelers looking for a side trip into the beautiful backwoods to learn about these wonderful, inspiring stories.”
The other focus of these workshops has been organizing a big 4th of July event at Cove Lake State Park that will be “part History Fair and part Festival.”
“A Veterans Picnic will coincide with our activities and will be managed by those who organize the monthly Veterans Breakfast meetings in Jacksboro,” Claiborne said.
The six participating counties (Campbell, Anderson, Claiborne, Morgan, Scott and Union) “have been asked to bring exhibits with them to showcase our area’s history; a mini version of the Freedom Trail.”
Organizers are also looking into the possibility of a parade as well, but “nothing’s confirmed yet.”
“We will also be involved with a “Voices of Veterans” film project at the Park on July 4th to chronicle individual stories from veterans who attend our event and wish to participate. This will serve as a “time capsule” for our region during this 250th year,” Claiborne said.
For more information, visit the Facebook Page, American Revolution in Tennessee. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-03/25/2026-6AM-IMAGES SUBMITED)