Smitty shares snowy day memories of 1940s La Follette

Original WLAF announcer Smith “Smitty” Rea helps WLAF celebrate its 70th anniversary today

LAFOLLETTE, TN (WLAF) – WLAF alum Smith “Smitty” Rea, Jr. phoned from his home in sunny, warm Florida on Wednesday afternoon to share a snowy day memory from his youth in La Follette. “I see you’ve had some snow back home, and I wanted to tell you what we did on days like that,” said Smitty as he opened the conversation.

Riggs Hill was the place to be. “The police would block off South Tennessee Avenue from Beech Street up Riggs hill to West Chestnut Street. They’d place saw horses at the top and bottom of the hill, and we’d sled all day,” said Smitty.

Smitty recalls that the Mauney family lived in the brick house that still stands on the hill above South Tennessee Avenue, across from the municipal building. Mrs. Mauney would cook up potato soup in these big Army pots on an outdoor stove and serve up cardboard bowls to us cold kids recalled Smitty.

It’s quite a raw winter’s day today here in La Follette. For Smitty, it’s a central Florida day of sun and 70s. Thanks for the memories, Smitty. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 01/20/2022-6AM-REPUBLISHED – 05/17/2023-6AM)