Tazewell, Tennessee, 1833...
Have you ever heard of the 1833 Meteor Showers? The Library of Congress gives the following description:
"The Leonid Meteor Storm Of 1833 was seen across the United States in the night and early morning of November 12th and 13th, 1833. Those who were awake to witness the storm were in awe as between 50,000 and 150,000 meteors fell each hour."
Sounds truly amazing, doesn't it? Well, Mary A. Hansard lived during this time and recollects the event for us in her book "Old Time Tazewell". I think it's wonderful to have a local perspective on a nationally known historical event...
Here's a hand drawn illustration provided by the Library of Congress along with a snippet from Mrs. Hansard's book...
"In the year 1833 a most remarkable phenomenon occurred. I suppose that it is recorded in history. It was called the falling of the meteors. It happened in the night, and as I was only a small child, I was not an eye witness to the awful scene. I heard my parents and others describe it next morning, as being the most awful sight that was ever looked upon with mortal eye. They said that the firmament on high was one solid glare of fire and light, and it looked as though every star in the sky was falling to the ground, and that they were certain the Day of Judgment was at hand. There were many wicked men on their knees that night praying to the Lord, and calling on others to pray for them, that had never been known to bow in prayer before. Such wild confusion had never been seen in Tazewell before. Next morning after all was over there seemed to be a solemn gloom resting on everyone's countenance. It seemed that they were expecting more to occur. But everything moved on as usual. But I do not suppose that the scenes of that night were ever erased from the memory of those that were eye witnesses to the frightful event."
From "Old Time Tazewell" by Mary A. Hansard
