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USA South
OAK RIDGE, TENNESSEE, USA – In a land filled with legends and colorful characters, one of Appalachia’s most fascinating curmudgeons has to be John Hendrix, the “Prophet of Oak Ridge.”
More than 40 years before the Y-12 Security Complex or Oak Ridge, or the Manhattan Project existed or were even conceived, Hendrix, a mystic who roamed the East Tennessee woods around the turn of the 20th century, foretold of what would become of his beloved Bear Creek Valley and Black Oak Ridge just to the north.
He first predicted that soon a railroad would be built running from Knoxville through the central part of Anderson County. This prediction proved accurate and boosted Hendrix's confidence in foretelling even more amazing prophecies.
After claiming a voice told him to do so, he slept on the ground for 40 nights. He emerged from the woods on the 41st day and told anyone who would listen about the things he had seen in his visions.
"Bear Creek Valley some day will be filled with great buildings and factories and they will help toward winning the greatest war that will ever be. And there will be a city on Black Oak Ridge. Big engines will dig big ditches, and thousands of people will be running to and fro. They will be building things, and there will be great noise and confusion and the earth will shake."
And so it came to pass.
While Hendrix died in 1915, his legend lives on in these parts. Those who want to pay homage can find John Hendrix’s grave at 123 Hendrix Dr. in Oak Ridge, TN, 37830. A stone marker shows the spot. Please be aware that the grave is located on private property, but the owners keep the prophet’s grave clean and the vegetation cut back and don’t mind respectful visitors. There was some talk of the new owner turning that area into a prayer walk, but that hasn't happened yet as yet.
To get to the John Hendrix grave site from the welcome center in Oak Ridge:
Turn left onto Oak Ridge Turnpike. Turn right onto Lafayette Rd., then left onto Hendrix Creek Drive. You'll actually cross the famed railroad tracks mentioned in Hendrix's prophecy at this point. You'll drive up into a subdivision where you’ll find Hendrix Drive.
For more information about visiting Oak Ridge, visit the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.OakRidgeVisitor.com.
For more information on visiting Anderson County, Tennessee, visit their tourism council's website at www.YallCome.org.
USA South
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He first predicted that soon a railroad would be built running from Knoxville through the central part of Anderson County. This prediction proved accurate and boosted Hendrix's confidence in foretelling even more amazing prophecies.
After claiming a voice told him to do so, he slept on the ground for 40 nights. He emerged from the woods on the 41st day and told anyone who would listen about the things he had seen in his visions.
"Bear Creek Valley some day will be filled with great buildings and factories and they will help toward winning the greatest war that will ever be. And there will be a city on Black Oak Ridge. Big engines will dig big ditches, and thousands of people will be running to and fro. They will be building things, and there will be great noise and confusion and the earth will shake."
And so it came to pass.
While Hendrix died in 1915, his legend lives on in these parts. Those who want to pay homage can find John Hendrix’s grave at 123 Hendrix Dr. in Oak Ridge, TN, 37830. A stone marker shows the spot. Please be aware that the grave is located on private property, but the owners keep the prophet’s grave clean and the vegetation cut back and don’t mind respectful visitors. There was some talk of the new owner turning that area into a prayer walk, but that hasn't happened yet as yet.
Practicalities
To get to the John Hendrix grave site from the welcome center in Oak Ridge:
Turn left onto Oak Ridge Turnpike. Turn right onto Lafayette Rd., then left onto Hendrix Creek Drive. You'll actually cross the famed railroad tracks mentioned in Hendrix's prophecy at this point. You'll drive up into a subdivision where you’ll find Hendrix Drive.
For more information about visiting Oak Ridge, visit the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.OakRidgeVisitor.com.
For more information on visiting Anderson County, Tennessee, visit their tourism council's website at www.YallCome.org.
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