Leonard Bowles and Irvin Cook

Leonard Bowles and Irvin Cook

I heard about Bowles and Cook first on the Smithsonian Folkways “People’s Pick’s” playlist series that got kicked off by my friend Daniel Bachman in 2015. He described their music best in his notes, writing: It seems appropriate that this is the first song on the playlist because it was the first I ever heard…

Rev. Ernest C. Martin

Rev. Ernest C. Martin

Ernest C. Martin was a bluegrass and country gospel musician and evangelist from Clay City, Kentucky. Born on January 27, 1914, in Clay City, he began his career in music at an early age, playing the banjo, guitar, and banjolina, and singing in church, school dances, and pie suppers. He gained his first steady radio…

Poor Valley Pentecostal Holiness Church, Rose Hill, VA

Poor Valley Pentecostal Holiness Church, Rose Hill, VA

Primitive church building, serviced by a group of teenagers from Virginia, close to the Kentucky border. I assume the church was built and active in the summer and fall of 2013. These kids were signs followers and seem to have taken it quite serious. The church building looks like a remodeled shag, has outhouses and…

“Get Right With God” road sign, Indiana, Mississippi, March 1977 by William R. Ferris
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“Get Right With God” road sign, Indiana, Mississippi, March 1977 by William R. Ferris

It’s hard to tell if this is a genuine Mayes cross. I’ve seen images of crosses with a similar typeface attributed to him. Those were older, and given the bad paint job and the time frame of William R. Ferris photo, this might be one of those older crosses, painted over by someone who “took…

All for Jesus Singers

All for Jesus Singers

The book The Persecuted Prophets by Karen W. Carden, Robert W. Pelton mentioned the existence of a music group called the All for Jesus Singers that went “on tour”. This is at least the second mention of a named music project out of the serpent handling community, beside Tommy and Lou Coots. Although only the…

Two Faux Signs?

Two Faux Signs?

I found these two photos that resemble Harrison Mayes’ work, but I’m not 100% certain. His typography has undoubtedly influenced them. Photographer Don Dudenbostel posted some more photos and some background information on this photography forum.

Connecting the Dots: The Music of Serpent Handlers – the Coots Duo and the Coots Duet.

Connecting the Dots: The Music of Serpent Handlers – the Coots Duo and the Coots Duet.

This photo above, is clipped from the National Geographic Snake Salvation series. Initially I took a screenshot because I collect these kinds of photos, but later I came back for another reason. I discovered the Alabama Astronaut podcast, which explores the music of the serpent handlers. There they mention the Coots family, and that Jamie…

Faux Mayes Cross in Kingston/Rockwood, TN

Faux Mayes Cross in Kingston/Rockwood, TN

A rather unusual, more primitive concrete marker on Hwy 80 in Rockwood, TN near Kingston, TN. The cross misses the typical lettering and message, instead it appears rough and with a different wording than Mayes on each side. One side says JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, the other is barely readable but states …BUT THE BLOOD……

The Cross Bench – Ford’s Woods Park, Middlesboro, KY

The Cross Bench – Ford’s Woods Park, Middlesboro, KY

From “A Coal Miner’s Simple Message” The cross bench is a very special sign that lots of people have enjoyed. This particular one-of-a-kind sign (bench) weighs two thousand pounds and is built in the shape of a cross. This shows the cross bench as it was first cast at Harrison’s homeplace. Later, it was moved to downtown. Presently, it is placed at…

Get Right With God – Happy Ending (Sign, Speedwell, TN)

Get Right With God – Happy Ending (Sign, Speedwell, TN)

Sign by Henry Harrison Mayes in near Old-Hwy 63, Speedwell, TN Location: 36.52185783000347, -83.74941173203882 According to “A Coal Miner’s Simple Message” Book, a cross was relocated from Middlesborro to Speedwell, TN to Bill Hatfields property. I wasn’t able to find it via street view or satellite images, but I found a painted Mayes sign. Hatfield…

Henry Harrison Mayes Roadside Cross in Cecile, OH

Henry Harrison Mayes Roadside Cross in Cecile, OH

Couldn’t locate the cross on google streetview but it must have been around here: https://goo.gl/maps/nmemsHV5fMZEdULQ7 Cross is now at the museum https://goo.gl/maps/NNfPR6GDEWtiZMrK7   Public sentiment leads to old cross staying, new cross planned – Blessings in disguise Tuesday, July 28, 2015 11:00 AM By NANCY WHITAKER Progress Feature Writer CECIL – The old cross sign…

Henry Harrison Mayes - Jesus is coming - heart shaped marker in Conway, AR

A mark of faith – Conway couple now possesses sign that was obsession of Tennessee man

As many other markers, the Conway, AR marker was moved from the original location due to a highway expansion project. It was moved from around Squirrel Hill a mile East. Below is a facebook post by someone and a news article from the Log cabin Democrat Newspaper, about the destiny of the cross. FRED PETRUCELLI/…