12/28/2025
Well Guys -- I have finally reached a landmark that I have "wondered" how it would feel for a long time. I am entering my "50-th year" of being "open for business" here at "YESTERYEAR - MIDDLE TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR RELICS" at the BATTLE OF STONES RIVER - MURFREESBORO, TENNESSEE !!! I have so completely enjoyed helping get folks started researching, saving relics, collecting, relic hunting, and generally loving preserving Civil War History that the time has flown. Some of my proudest moments are (1) Back in 1972, I had just graduated college at MTSU, with a degree in Chemistry, and was interviewing for a job - pretty much all Chemistry jobs when out of the blue, I get a call from the Principal of Ringgold High School, Ringgold, Georgia. The Math/Chemistry teacher had become seriously ill, and had to resign. He explained to me how many young lives would be impacted. I had not had ONE education course in my entire life, but he explained to me that he could get me a one year "Emergency Teacher Certificate". The "impacting young lives" thing stuck with me. I accepted the teaching job, and was off to Ringgold, GA. Once there, the coaches there learned that I had played baseball in highschool years, and they were missing a baseball coach, and for an extra $50. per month - I became "Coach Hicklen" !! I was already Relic Hunting, and loving Civil War history by this point, and some of the students/baseball players began on weekends going with me, and looking for Relics. It didn't hurt that "The Battle of Ringgold Gap", and a portion of "The Battle of Chickamauga" fell on farms owned by families of some of my students. One of my students (Keith Rowland) - who was also on the baseball team, and loved relic hunting so much that he got his Dad into it, and they hunted together for many years. Many years later Keith thanked me for introducing him to Relic Hunting. He said that he was heading down some wrong roads, and he credits Relic Hunting for turning his focus around !! Now THAT makes you "HAPPY" !! And, then there was this "Muddy Boot" young student from MTSU that had to show me the .69 cal three ring bullets he had just found. I liked the newly recovered .69 cal. three ringers very well, but what I REALLY LIKED was this young man's EXTREME LOVE AND ENTHUSIASM of collecting and the era. This young man was "RAFAEL ELEDGE", and in no time I realized this young man had every last thing he needed to "EXCELL" in what we do. I hope he and Catherine know that I could not be more proud of them !!!! And Well - that brings us to tonight. This coming year will close out 50 years of being "OPEN" (although the last few have been by appointment, and "online". I am announcing my intention to "Completely Retire" at the end of this coming year. I am hoping that gives me a few years to just chill, dig a few relics, fish a little, and get into trouble with the grandbabies !!!! My Love, and Thanks to everyone For A Mighty Fine Life, and my most sincere thanks to God for Placing in my life All The Wonderful People That He Has, and for the gifts and abilities that he has richly blessed me !!!! LOVE YOU GUYS, AND DO MEAN IT !!!!!
