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Area 2
Ronnie McDowell was born and raised in Portland, Tennessee! Ronnie, of course is a internationally-known recording artist. Ronnie is also an accomplished artist, and many of his historical paintings are based on scenes from Portland's past. As you enter Portland on TN 52 coming from I-65, turn left on TN 109. In a few blocks, you'll see Main Street. This is the scene of Ronnie's painting "Saturday Afternoon Drawing." The tradition of a Saturday afternoon drawing continues during the yearly Strawberry Festival where $3000 in prizes are given out on Main Street.
At the other end of Main Street, you'll see the CSX Railroad. Across the tracks is the former location of the L&N railroad depot which you'll see in Ronnie's painting "I'll Be Home For Christmas." (Unfortunately, the station was torn down in the 1970s.)
In the lobby of Portland City Hall (see #4 on map below), you will find Ronnie's original painting "Strawberry Time" along with signed and numbered limited edition print #1 of 1000 of "I'll Be Home For Christmas." Both of these were donated to the people of Portland by NMT Web Designs, LLC, the people who do this web site!
If you go into the lobby of the Farmers Bank at the corner of McGlothlin Street and TN 109 (see #2 on the map below), you'll see a mural that Ronnie painted on the wall above the tellers' windows.
For more information on Ronnie, please visit his web site:
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