Somewhere on Highway 70 going east to Smithville, there’s a mule painted on the side of a bluff. It’s black and very noticeable if you’re looking for it. It’s been there forever seemingly. I remember seeing it in the 80s when my parents would drive us every month to my grandparents’ house in Sparta. Then later on during my adult years, long after my grandparents had passed, I still see the mule on my way to Short Mountain in Woodbury.
I always look for the mule on my way to Smithville. Smithville itself is just a mere pitstop. It was where my family would get ice cream at the Dairy Queen (when the DQ was the only restaurant there). I have no friends or family in Smithville. More or less just a pit stop. Turn left at the DQ to get to Short Mountain. Or drive straight on through to get to Sparta. That’s all.
Still, there is development on Highway 70. They’re building a 4 lane road seemingly from Watertown to Sparta and beyond. And I still think there’s more cars on Highway 70 between Mt. Juliet and Lebanon, yet we only have a 2 lane road with no serious consideration for development.
There was talk that the mule might get axed. But it looks like it won’t. Read this article for more info. I realize the article is over a year old. But I’ve got the original paper edition sitting on my desk right now. So I’m obligied to write about it.