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Forks of the Pike Community
Ask any native of DeKalb County, or one who has lived here for very long, and they will most likely know about the painted mule on the rock bluff overlooking Smith Fork Creek. But, that same person may not have a clue as to where Forks of the Pike is located.
Just a few miles past the famous "mule" is a place named after a section of Highway 70 that forks…hence the name "Forks of the Pike." One of the sections of highway leads to Woodbury and Murfreesboro, the other to Alexandria. Several years ago, a highway construction project eliminated several curves in the section of Highway 96 leading to Murfreesboro, which perhaps minimizes the significance of the Forks of the Pike intersection. But looking back, according to the 1895 census, Forks of the Pike had a population of 25 people, a post office from 1879 until 1905 and a school called Four Corners as early as 1904 that later merged with the school in Liberty.
Carnell Roy Hyde explains the importance of Forks of the Pike to her and her heritage. "Forks of the Pike is significant to me because it's where my ancestors settled on a land grant. My father, Jim Roy, grey up there and learned the profession of land surveyor from his father.
"Another occurrence that is significant to me is the marriage of my parents, Jim Roy and Myrtle Keaton, as they sat in a buggy right in the intersection known as Forks of the Pike on December 24, 1905.
"My mother once told me that women took great care of what they would wear to the fair. It was a time to buy a new outfit in which to promenade at the yearly event."
Just a few miles past the famous "mule" is a place named after a section of Highway 70 that forks…hence the name "Forks of the Pike." One of the sections of highway leads to Woodbury and Murfreesboro, the other to Alexandria. Several years ago, a highway construction project eliminated several curves in the section of Highway 96 leading to Murfreesboro, which perhaps minimizes the significance of the Forks of the Pike intersection. But looking back, according to the 1895 census, Forks of the Pike had a population of 25 people, a post office from 1879 until 1905 and a school called Four Corners as early as 1904 that later merged with the school in Liberty.
Carnell Roy Hyde explains the importance of Forks of the Pike to her and her heritage. "Forks of the Pike is significant to me because it's where my ancestors settled on a land grant. My father, Jim Roy, grey up there and learned the profession of land surveyor from his father.
"Another occurrence that is significant to me is the marriage of my parents, Jim Roy and Myrtle Keaton, as they sat in a buggy right in the intersection known as Forks of the Pike on December 24, 1905.
"My mother once told me that women took great care of what they would wear to the fair. It was a time to buy a new outfit in which to promenade at the yearly event."