Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park |
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Sgt. York house
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| Type | Tennessee State Park |
| Location | Pall Mall, Tennessee |
| Created | 1967 |
| Open | Year round |
| Website | Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park |
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Alvin Cullom York Farm
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Pall Mall, Tennessee |
| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | Alvin C. York |
| Part of | Sergeant York Historic Area (ID73001763) |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001773 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated NHLD | May 11, 1976 |
| Designated CP | April 11, 1973 |
The Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park is a special place in Pall Mall, Tennessee. It's a state park that honors a famous American soldier, Alvin C. York (1887–1964). He lived in this area his whole life.
The park is located along the Wolf River. It includes York's old farm and the mill he once owned. You can also see his house, his general store, and the post office. The Wolf River Cemetery, where York and his family are buried, is also part of the park. There's even a church and a Bible institute he helped build.
Alvin York is known as one of the bravest soldiers in American history. He was a World War I hero. In 1917, he was called to join the army. He first tried to avoid fighting because of his religious beliefs. But his request was not approved.
On October 8, 1918, during a battle in France, York and his group were ambushed. Many of his fellow soldiers were killed. York then led the remaining soldiers in a counterattack. They managed to capture 132 German soldiers.
For his incredible bravery, York received the Medal of Honor. He became very famous. When he returned home, many people offered him money for endorsements or movies. He usually said no, as he felt it was wrong to profit from war. A group called the Nashville Rotary Club bought him the farm in Pall Mall in 1922. After York passed away in 1964, his wife gave the farm to the state of Tennessee.
Exploring the Park: What to See
The Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park is in a beautiful valley. The Wolf River flows through this area. The York farm is in a wide part of the valley, right by a bend in the river.
The main road here is U.S. Route 127. It connects Pall Mall to nearby towns like Jamestown and Byrdstown.
You'll find York's house, the mill, and the old post office along US-127. The Wolf River Cemetery, the Wolf River Methodist Church, and the York Bible Institute are on Wolf River Loop. This road is about a mile south of York's house. A hiking trail, about 0.6 miles (1 km) long, connects these two parts of the park.
Historic Buildings and Attractions
The park has several important historical buildings. They show what life was like for Alvin York and his family.
The York House: A Family Home
The York house is a large, two-and-a-half-story home. It was built in 1922. It has a style called Colonial Revival. The house is about 40 feet (12 meters) long and 31 feet (9.4 meters) wide. It has chimneys at each end. The front porch has square columns.
The first floor of the house is now a museum. It used to have a living room, sunroom, dining room, library, and kitchen. There were five bedrooms upstairs. You can also see a barn with two tall stone silos nearby.
The York Mill: Grinding Grain
The York Mill is located across the street from the York house. It sits by a bend in the Wolf River. This mill was built around 1880. It has a two-story wooden building on top of stacked rocks.
A special dam helped move water through a channel. This water then turned a large turbine, which powered the mill. The mill is not working anymore. But when the state bought it in 1967, they added a new roof and paint to keep it looking good.
Wolf River Post Office: A Community Hub
The Wolf River Post Office started as a general store in 1925. Alvin York himself opened it. It was used as a post office until the 1970s. The store even had a small gristmill attached to its side.
Wolf River Methodist Church: A Place of Worship
The Wolf River Methodist Church is northeast of the York house. It's on the other side of the river, along Wolf River Loop. The church congregation started way back in 1840.
Wolf River Cemetery: Final Resting Place
The Wolf River Cemetery is also on Wolf River Loop. It's across the street from the Wolf River United Methodist Church. This cemetery was first called the Mt. Pleasant Burying Ground. It was started in the early 1800s. The oldest known burial here is from 1826. Alvin York and his family are buried here, along with many of their ancestors.
York Bible Institute: A School for Learning
The York Bible Institute was built by Alvin York in the 1940s. He used money he earned from the 1941 movie Sergeant York to build it. The institute was open for only a short time before it closed.
Other Interesting Sights
You might also see a "swing bridge" in the park. It was built in 2000 by a group called AmeriCorps*NCCC. This bridge crosses the Wolf River and connects the two parts of the park. The park also has a small display of an old "moonshine still." It shows what these devices looked like in the past.
Images for kids
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York Mill.
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York's grave at Wolf River Cemetery.
