CLARKSVILLE, Tennessee — Railroad historian and author Todd DeFeo will present “An Angry Mob and a Hollow Tree: A Look at Clarksville’s Unexpected Railroad History” at the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in Clarksville, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 6.
Clarksville’s railroad legacy is as rich as it is surprising. Once home to three intersecting railroads and a bustling streetcar network, the city’s relationship with rail transportation has been both passionate and contentious.
Its first railroad, the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, was famously mocked as “beginning in the woods and ending in a hollow tree.” When that line faltered, determined city leaders rallied to build a second, ironically named for three states it never reached.
DeFeo, a noted railroad historian, has authored several books chronicling the region’s rail history, including detailed accounts of the Memphis, Clarksville & Louisville Railroad, the Indiana, Alabama & Texas Railroad, and Clarksville’s streetcar system. His engaging presentations are known for their rare anecdotes and deep research, bringing to life the people and events that shaped the city’s transportation story.
He is the founder of The DeFeo Groupe and serves as publisher and editor of Sightseers’ Delight and Railfanning.org.
Event Details:
- What: An Angry Mob and a Hollow Tree: A Look at Clarksville’s Unexpected Railroad History
- Who: Author Todd DeFeo
- When: 3 p.m. on Saturday, July 6
- Where: Customs House Museum & Cultural Center in Clarksville, Tennessee
For more information, please contact the Customs House Museum or visit www.customshousemuseum.org.
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