Jerry Pevahouse
Ed Provine and Sammy Thomason, Two Notable Memphis Diggers
Ed died from an accident last year. Sammy is still active in the Memphis area. He usually dug with his two brothers Bill and JR Thomason and nephew William Earle Beck. He saw JR buried alive 20 ft down when a well they were digging collapsed in KY. JR didn't survive. William Earle died of cancer a few years ago and besides collecting bottles was a well known collector of soda advertising. Ed had one of the best quality collections of rare Memphis area bottles and jugs. His collection is currently being sold off by his wife. Sammy is holding a rare jug from the Grand Junction, Hardeman County, TN pottery. Ed is holding a rare cast iron weight with advertising for an Arkansas brewery. Photo taken at the St Louis bottle show in the early 70s.