Day 27 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Wednesday May 28th, day 27 of our 2025 summer adventure we planned a trip to see "that beautiful bean." Naturally, I had to walk first. Also, Tim & Debbie had to head to Camping World. It would not be a week camping, if someone did not have to go to Camping World for something! 

In Chestnut Hill, TN, the AJ and Sallie Bush Homeplace is a beautifully preserved window into the past. AJ Bush lived with his wife, Sallie, in this home that they built together in 1909, just one year after the incorporation of Bush Brothers. Not lacking in charm, the AJ and Sallie Bush Homeplace allows for visitors to understand what the lives of AJ and Sallie Bush were like during the beginnings of Bush Brothers. We could not tour it, but once a  year, the historic Homeplace opens to the public to experience an old-fashioned Christmas. 

We had to take some outside pictures, with all the fun props!

Bush Beans plant, museum, gift shop and cafe are located on Route 411 in Chestnut Hill, Tennessee. We were greeted by an awesome ambassador and he took our group picture!

We explored the very building where AJ Bush operated his General Store. We saw the movie and learned about Bush Brothers & Company’s 100-year-old canning history and how Bush became the number one name in beans. After the movie, we walked through the century-old history of an iconic family business. 

Some of the girls had to get their weight in beans! We are not showing the whole number!

There are so many interactive exhibits in the Bush’s Story located in their free museum, Tim & Debbie had to play Bean-Tac-Toe!

Sheryl loved to see where all the beans were produced!

 

We enjoyed lunch in the cafe. Our meals ranged from beans and cornbread, chili and grilled cheese, club sandwich and fried bologna. All of it was delicious! Naturally, we all had to shop in the store. They always have some items here that we cannot get in the store. We all bought too many beans!

I noticed a sign for the first time. Ball Corporation, Chestnut Hill. Founded in 1880, Ball Corporation was originally known for the glass canning jars your grandmothers used to use. Today, Ball makes packaging that enables delivery of safe, nutritious food and beverages and convenient household products to consumers around the world. Ball Aerospace is known for its contributions in support of space and Earth science, exploration, national security and intelligence programs. Ball is one of the world's largest manufacturers of food cans, aerosol cans, paint & general line cans, and specialty metal tins. Fruits, vegetables, soup, meat, beverages, or pet food. Ball is North America's largest producer of 3-piece steel aerosol cans, Europe's leading supplier of extruded aluminum aerosol cans and the world's largest producer of aluminum slugs. The Chestnut Hill plant located in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, produces two-piece food cans and aerosol cans. The plant’s 143 employees produce more than 1 billion, 100 percent recyclable steel cans annually on eight food lines and one aerosol line. Never knew a Ball plant was this close to Bush Beans.

We ended the day with some fellowship, a campfire, and anniversary apple pie. 

What a perfect way to end another great day! 

Happiest of Anniversaries to Gary & Sheryl!