World's Largest Cedar Bucket
The World's Largest Cedar Bucket is a 1,556 imperial gallons (7,070 L) red cedar bucket in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[1] The bucket is approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, with diameters of 6 feet (1.8 m) at its base and 9 feet (2.7 m) at its top.[1]
History
[edit]The bucket was built in 1887 by the Tennessee Red Cedar Woodenworks Company from Murfreesboro, Tennessee.[1] It was originally displayed in Murfreesboro, until it was displayed at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair and the 1904 Saint Louis World's Fair.[1] The cedar bucket factory burned down in 1952, and local grocer Crigger’s Market bought the item to display it.[2] It was auctioned off in approximately 1965 and it was purchased by a Rossville, Georgia, amusement park.[1] It was returned to Murfreesboro in 1976 to be displayed at Cannonsburgh Village.[1]
Arson
[edit]On June 19, 2005, the bucket was burned by arsonists.[3] The fire was put out before any adjacent buildings were burned down.[3] Roadside America described the condition of the bucket as "Severely damaged, the bucket is now blackened and splintered charcoal shards held together by metal bands."[3]
Rebuilding
[edit]On October 22, 2011, a refurbished bucket was unveiled at the 35th annual Harvest Days Festival in Cannonsburgh Pioneer Village. In a partnership between Roy Haney’s sawmill in Cannon County and the Rutherford County Blacksmiths’ Association, high quality, rare red cedar was collected to restore the bucket to its former glory.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f "World's Largest Cedar Bucket". World's Largest Roadside Attractions. 2002. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ Marchesoni, Lisa (2007). "'OK, what's happened to rebuilding 'The Bucket?'". Murfreesboro Post. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ a b c Campbell, Regan (November 3, 2005). "World's largest cedar bucket now in Oxford's backyard". Daily Mississippian. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved 2009-02-06.
- ^ Willard, Michelle (October 23, 2011). "The Bucket is Back". Murfreesboro Post.