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Podcasts
Interview With Mark Houston, Park Manager, Cumberland Mtn State Park, Cumberland Homesteads Buildings Episode 125
April 17, 2026Cumberland Mountain State Park, just to the South of Crossville Tennessee, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1988. The park is a contributing element to the larger Cumberland Homesteads Historic District. The park represents the heritage of the New Deal era and the work product of the Civilian Conservation Corp. The wider district represents the legacy of Elenore Roosevelt’s Cumberland Homesteads Project.
Recently the Cumberland Mountain Park has assumed ownership and management of an important collection of buildings which were central to the Homesteads project. These include the prominent Water Tower and offices which were the early headquarters of the Homesteads. ( see below picture)
Today we talk with Park Manager Mark Houston about the Park and the challenges presented with these historic structures now under his purview.
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Interview With Irish Author Jonathan Smyth, The Cavan Diaspora and Insights Into Irish Heritage , Episode 124
March 7, 2026
Interview with Alisha O”Dell, Wild Hearts, Home Fires and Boykin Spaniels Episode 123
February 6, 2026
An Interview With Alex Wyss, Executive Director, The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy, David Crockett Birthplace Campaign, The “Go Ahead Fund”, Episode 122
December 12, 2025
Threats to the Social Security System, Interview with Attorney William Benjamin ( Eposode 118)
April 29, 2025
Celebrating 50 years of Parks and Recreation in Gatlinburg, Interview with Marty Nicely and Laurence Evans (Episode 119)
April 28, 2025
About Mark
Mark Thomas Fraley is a lawyer (now retired) in Nashville, Tennessee (USA). Prior to starting law practice in 1987, Mark was active in the field of Parks and Recreation. He was the first Parks and Recreation Director for the cities of Gatlinburg and Sevierville Tennessee. He was the founding program administrator for the Parks and Recreation Technical Advisory Service (PARTAS) and served as Assistant Commissioner of Conservation and Director or Parks and Recreation for the State of Tennessee. In 1987 Mark was designated a “Fellow” of the Tennessee Recreation and Parks Association.
Mark practiced law in Nashville Tennessee from 1987 until retirement in 2017. He had a general practice with an emphasis on Social Security Disability claims. He was a faculty member of the Nashville School of Law ( 1997-2009) teaching the course on Social Security Law.
Education
University of Cincinnati, 1974, Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy)
Nashville School of Law, 1983, Doctor of Jurisprudence
Licensure
License to Practice Law, Tennessee Supreme Court (1983) BPR# 10448
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (1987)
Admitted to Practice, U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, (1994)
Pictured with his wife Helen E. (Beth) Tanner.
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