January 13, 2026 The Cast-Iron Lodge Museum

Hello and a warm welcome. If you have never been to the Lodge Cast Iron museum in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. The address is 220 E. 3rd Street, South Pittsburg, TN 37380 I definite must on your bucket list or a great little family trip. I have been wanted to go here for many years. When Jr had said we would have to find our own ride to Florida. Knowing we would have to take it slow more frequent stops and less driving and more time at the places of interest or the motel. Some nights we stopped early and relaxed in the hotel. We stayed at the construction motels. Since Bruce was a contractor he was quite familiar with ones to stay at. He even had some points still left from those days. So we stayed a couple of nights for free. We made food from scratch of groceries we brought with us.  Dusty on occasion would go to a restaurant near by like Taco Bell or something like that. We all really enjoyed the museum. Bruce would have bought every pan in the museum store. 

We believe in the wisdom of “go big or go home.” The museum is home to a very special skillet—the world’s largest, in fact—measuring over 18 feet from handle to handle and weighing 14,360 pounds. That’s big enough to fry about 650 eggs! Come camera-ready. ~ From their website https://www.lodgecastiron.com/pages/museum?srsltid=AfmBOoouj3o556kB-BDovaDV7W1Ey8mOsO6T-Haow9hem2ggjENdeODQ

Bruce looks thrilled haha 😂 he was probably thinking how am getting out of here with my money still intact. It could be a dangerous place for your pocketbook. 

Dusty and I had a good time 

Bruce grew up eating Moon pies so of course he still buys them. That an a RC Cola. He said he used to cut grass as a kid and that was his payment. It was Mark Sawyers grandma. RIP both of them. Mark was Bruce’s childhood best friend. He was even still coming to our house not long before he passed away. We miss him. His picture comes up on my photo screen and it’s always a great memory. We love you Mark. 

It was definitely hot out I know the mirror is dirty 

The Grateful Dead pans were made to test a few products to see what people liked. These were really never released. Making them the rarest. My oh my it would have been nice to have one. I do have a Rosie the Riveter and a Yellowstone one. 

Love the sun one too. So many different styles. 

BBB Big Bad Breakfast 🍳 was right at the museum it was about an hour before closing as I think they closed at 2 pm. We decided to eat there. It was so delicious. We even bought the grits which I can’t tell you the best EVER!!!! I have ate grits my whole life aka as Georgia Ice cream why idk. It was just what I heard growing up. These grits were by far the best ever!!! We bought a bag to go home with. The server was the best!!! 

Looks so good I could eat that right now. They were very accommodating for gluten free as well. 

I have grown up with VW my first car I drove was a VW Thing. It was a 1973 orange VW Thing. I loved that car. It was so good to me. I drove it everywhere. We would even take it on huge mounds of dirt and it wasn’t a 4x4. The only issue I had was the steering wheel damper went out. The windshield wiper motor only worked if I hit on it. My step father had VW station wagon that was pale yellow. Then I had a 73 VW super beetle baby blue. Then I had a 1999 purple beetle that was my favorite. Bruce sold it and I wasn’t happy about it. The girl that got it was super happy about it. She was an artist too so I was happy she got it. Then I had a 2000 silver beetle we traded that one in so Bruce could get a Nissan Xtera that lasted a very long time. 

My neighbor growing up had the VW bus. It was a forest green color. I used to dream about going on rides in it. They had two sons one older than me and one younger. I played over there sometimes and they would invite us over for their family trips to watch the slide shows. They always did great vacations in their VW Vanogon. My cousin Sydney had a VW Karmann Ghia. Which leads to another story I have for you today. My grandparents on my dad’s side owned a prosperous family hardware store. Pretty much the whole family worked there. I would work there during the summer months packing out tool boxes in the barn. The barn was a huge Pennsylvania Dutch style. It was magnificent. Huge! I worked with a girl who was in high school I was gonna be going into the eighth grade. A summer so hot you could just see the heat as if you were in the hottest desert. Kathy R and I had the best time that summer. When Sydney was working at the hardware store being two years younger than me she would drive to work in her VW Karmann Ghia. Hers was dark green. She was adorable. I spent a many days playing with her she was a great cousin. She was so funny could make you laugh and we both enjoyed ghost stories. One day she came driving her VW around the back of the store just a waving at me. She later married a firefighter. I miss her so much. She passed away many years ago after a premature pregnancy delivery. My uncle G said he left her bedside and had told her he would see her tomorrow gave her a kiss and said I love you. No sooner had he got to the elevator and they were screaming we have a code. They couldn’t save her she was so young and the kindest person ever. I love you Sydney. We all miss you. RIP. 

          Sorry to share this but it’s part of my life and how these sad moments shape us today.  I took having nine children for granted and yes being in the medical field understanding what can happen. It’s just during those difficult times and periods of our lives that we must endure for our children and family members. Grieving for her was a difficult process. I think of her often and recently saw a picture of my Uncle at my aunts 82 nd birthday. My aunt D sends me pictures all the time of my dad’s side of the family. 

Sending much love and hugs. Tomorrow as you are read this we will be in flight to San Diego. San Diego here we come for Cooper’s Marine Corps graduation. Stay tuned for more updates and pictures. All the best. 

Love ya, 

Dawn Gallop 

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